MAKING SURE THERE’S BREAD ON THE TABLE
The history of bread is as old as civilization itself. Wheat was first cultivated in the Middle East, and depictions of breadmaking in Ancient Egypt dating from the Neolithic period have been discovered. By the time of the Greeks and Romans, bakeries had become commonplace in towns and cities across Europe and beyond, often offering a choice of pastries as well. Today, bread remains a staple of the diets of most Europeans and North Americans, and specialty breads are enjoying a boom.
Hungary’s relationship between the nation and its bread has been called a centuries-old love story. There is perhaps no better example of the nation’s passion for high-quality bread and pastries than the success of baking entrepreneur Péter Tóth. In 1992, he set up a modest bakery in his own house in the small village of Lipót, in the northeast of the country. In the years that have followed, the Lipóti Bakery has grown to include more than 350 outlets across Hungary, selling a wide variety of breads and pastries, including favorites such as Transylvanian potato bread and nearly seven-pound farmer’s bread.
To supply all these outlets, the family company of Lipóti Tóth & Társai has established a network of plants around the country. The latest, in Hatvan, 37 miles east of Budapest, opened in the Spring of 2023 at a cost of around $55M. The country’s largest factory of its kind, it produces bread, pastries, and confectionery products and employs 260 people.
Cooling technology solutions are essential in this ultramodern plant, and Güntner’s products play a crucial role. In total, more than 40 different Güntner units have been installed from various ranges, including V-shape VARIO Condensers, Cubic VARIO Air Coolers, Flat COMPACT Condensers, and Slim COMPACT Air Coolers. These are used to provide cooling in the -4°F cold chambers and also in some parts of the production line, where levels need to be kept below room temperature. The system also uses Güntner’s hydroBLU™ adiabatic cooling technology to ensure maximum efficiency during the hot summer months.
The love of bread and pastries is equally strong in Italy, particularly at breakfast time. “Every morning, a cappuccino and a cornetto pastry is a must,” says Stefano Vidal, sales manager for Güntner in Italy. Helping to maintain the supply of quality morning treats in the north of the country is Mantua Service Due, a distributor of frozen and non-frozen foods for bars, pastry shops, and bakeries. Originally founded in 1984, the company has become a leading supplier of commercial food producers in northern Italy, both at home and abroad.
Mantua Service Due is proud of its efficiency and punctuality and also of the quality of the products it delivers, which are stored and transported in optimum conditions according to Italian and EU regulations. Recently, the company decided to completely refurbish the cold rooms and cooling systems at its two storage facilities through refrigeration specialists Verco Milano, who chose to install six Güntner Cubic VARIO Air Coolers. Perfect for this situation, the units maintain the highest hygiene standards and have hinged drip trays and fan plates to allow easy access for cleaning. Mantua’s breakfasts are in safe hands.