Following the post-pandemic era's limitations, Australia’s hospitality sector has finally begun to experience a rebound. A growing number of venues have reopened, and now guests expect catering, kitchens require modern equipment, and Australians as a whole demand a higher level of service.
The well-known National Kitchen Equipment (NKE), an Australian commercial kitchen equipment retailer, has joined the collective rebound effort by announcing its nationwide expansion. Its goal is to support local businesses, expand employment opportunities for Australians, and deepen its partnerships with manufacturers.
For decades, NKE has been supplying Australian cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses with commercial catering and kitchen equipment. The company management already owns showrooms in Woolloongabba and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, and now they are planning to develop their e-commerce platform, too.
NKE’s team consists of chefs, ex‑restaurateurs, and other professionals personally familiar with how kitchens work. This experience is what allows them to serve their customers well, as they understand what they need, which catering-related issues they might face, and how to solve them.
As the company’s founder said, “Our journey began in 2007 with a simple mission: to provide Australian businesses with a comprehensive range of high-quality, reliable commercial catering equipment without the premium price tag.”
On the way to fulfilling this goal, NKE organized direct imports from Europe and Asia, partnering with the most reputable manufacturers. It’s been fostering connections with local Australian organizations, too, which helped it expand its reach and appeal to all kinds of customers.
The absence of middlemen is what helps the company offer hospitality equipment at lower prices. At the moment, NKE is offering the following selection of kitchen tools from top global brands:
- Catering equipment: Drink coolers and dispensers, coffee makers, slushie machines, bakery and pizza tools, food processors, meat slicers, and others
- Cooking equipment: Gas, electric, and concession equipment that includes fryers, steamers, cookers, pans, warmers, waffle makers, grills, ovens, etc.
- Refrigeration options: Many models of freezers and fridges, cool room shelving, ice makers, sandwich bars, and aging cabinets
- Dishwashers: Benches, ware washing, glass washers, conveyor and pass-through dishwashers
- Small wares: Hand-picked thermometers, air sanitizers, caddies, food carriers, cleaning equipment, and many other minor tools
Furniture is also on offer. NKE’s clients can order chairs, stools, tables, shelves, umbrellas, and work stations: the choice of brands and models was significant even before the pandemic.
The decision to expand its services means that NKE is about to adjust its business approach. Its current plans include working with a higher number of world-renowned brands and offering more options and opportunities to its clients.
Their new focus lies on proposing energy‑efficient refrigeration and cooking systems. NKE expects that, considering the extent of damage the world continues to experience and the rising energy costs, the decision to emphasize sustainability in its operations will help it attract more clients.
Moreover, it can make a difference in the Australian hospitality industry since, after the pandemic, the choice of vendors and suppliers has dropped, and people are often limited in what equipment they can purchase. NKE plans to make them one of its core target audiences, adjusting its marketing accordingly and closing this existing sustainability gap.
The company intends to keep growing its pool of connections by targeting specific demographics. It has already worked with aged-care facilities, and since durability and energy efficiency are its new values, it stands every chance to appeal to younger populations as well.
Another point of expansion concerns practical pre‑sales guidance on energy efficiency, kitchen layout, and compliance with Australian guidelines, as well as post-purchase support. The company is already investing in hiring and training additional equipment specialists who will be delivering this new part of its services.
Such an approach means that Australians interested in purchasing hospitality-related equipment can receive professional suggestions and guidance from NKE before buying any product. If they change their mind later, they will walk away with no equipment, but they will still hold new, crucial knowledge and understanding of what they need.
NKE reaffirmed its determination to follow Australian regulations and incorporate them into its work. Its post-service option also falls under this category.
In other words, if NKE’s clients struggle with mastering the equipment they purchased or need more guidance on how to conserve energy, they will have the right to contact the company and ask it for help. This decision has the power to reduce downtime businesses face in the hospitality industry and help them save some of their costs.
NKE is fully dedicated to embracing digital innovations. It has already upgraded its e‑commerce platform to make the buyers’ experience more diverse, intuitive, and fulfilling. Specifically, people visiting its website can now compare the specifications and prices between different brands to decide which one will meet their needs better.
There is a new interactive option allowing people to contact NKE in case they notice that the products it offers cost less on another website. The company is willing to register such a complaint and propose a better deal to this customer.
Model comparison is also available. Delivery options are being expanded to fulfill the needs of an even bigger number of businesses, which will allow NKE to cover more regions and supply more organizations with cost- and energy-efficient catering and kitchen equipment.
As a final point of expansion, NKE strives to support local employment by introducing new opportunities into it. It is seeking to grow its team by including experts in customer service, technical support, and logistics.
New hospitality experts are welcome, too, as their expertise can strengthen the guiding part of NKE’s service. The company remains open to innovations, digital and otherwise, so it embraces suggestions from hospitality-driven enthusiasts.
With these decisions, NKE has already begun to contribute to Australia’s hospitality rebound. It has a chance to become its driving force within the next year if it continues to deepen relationships with its Australian and global partners and clients alike.
About National Kitchen Equipment
National Kitchen Equipment is a leading Australian distributor of high-quality commercial catering equipment. Established in 2006 in Burleigh Heads, we supply equipment to businesses and homes across Australia. For more information, visit www.nationalkitchenequipment.com.au.
Media Contact
Colm Donovan
General Manager, National Kitchen Equipment
colm@nke.com.au
