Launching a Successful Taco Program Using the Flatbread Toaster

SITUATION:	A convenience store chain with more than 250 stores in the western U.S. was revamping their foodservice menu to include street tacos and needed a piece of equipment to cook the tortillas for these new items.
EXECUTION:	While visiting a rep group, the chain’s corporate chef was introduced to a prototype of the Flatbread Toaster from Antunes. The GST-1H unit uses Antunes’ award-winning toasting technology to quickly heat pitas, flatbreads and tortillas or cook raw tortillas. With its continuously moving belts, operators can immediately feed in product on demand without causing any delays in service, and the integrated heated landing zone keeps product warm until they are ready to be served. The chain was interested in demoing a unit, and within a month, the chain was testing the GST-1H in their corporate kitchen, followed by a store location. Antunes worked with the chain to modify the unit’s cooking time to meet their needs. They are using a raw flour tortilla, cooking it with a 12-second pass through, and a raw corn tortilla that is passed through twice for a total of 24 seconds of cooking time.
RESULT:	The launch of the taco program was a great success for the chain, exceeding expectations for customer reception. With this success, chain leadership decided to move forward with a market test of eight GST-1H units, which are performing well and helping the chain facilitate this growing part of their foodservice operation. “Whereas other methods of heating flatbreads have some variability, our Flatbread Toaster delivers a consistent quality product each time to give operators the quick and efficient solution they need to serve their customers,” said Tony Vassos, director, product management & marketing for Antunes.
ABOUT:	Antunes is a leading custom solutions provider of countertop cooking equipment and water filtration systems for the global market. Headquartered in Carol Stream, Illinois, Antunes is driven by a commitment to offer innovative products, premium quality and personal service rooted in lasting partnerships—to ultimately deliver on its unifying promise: to drive success for every customer.