Hubbard helps cold jet ensure there's not just a dry ice in the house!
A specialist supplier of dry ice has set up a division offering caterers conventional ice as well. And the 'wet' ice machine of choice is a Scotsman MC45 from Hubbard Ice Systems.
Cold Jet of Leicester specialise in the production of pellets of dry ice, produced from deep-freezing carbon dioxide gas, much loved by stage managers and event organisers for mysterious effects on stage, such as Victorian 'pea-souper' fogs.
After a number of requests, the company has set up a specialist catering division, supplying conventional ice cubes for caterers who want packaged ice delivered direct, either to supplement their existing machines or where they cannot install a machine on-site.
"We were listed in Yellow Pages as Ice Suppliers", says Cold Jet director Stephen Smith. "While our existing industrial clients know there is a world of difference between dry ice and wet ice, we began getting a lot of calls from pubs and restaurants asking if we could supply packaged wet ice."
Stephen Smith realised that the company's existing storage and distribution chain was already suitable for supplying wet ice, hence the addition to its product range. "It is never going to take over from our dry ice cleaning business, but it was a natural progression to supply different ice needs", he said. "And we have one big advantage over the other players in packaged ice - we can distribute in low-temperature dry ice packaging so it stays intact right to the point of delivery, and it is thus much more likely the cubes stay separate."
Cold Jet have a policy of only specifying top brands for all their ice production, and after careful deliberations and with guidance, including a full demonstration from Midlands-based equipment supplier Midmark, they selected a Scotsman MC45 machine from Hubbard Ice Systems.
Stephen said he chose the Scotsman MC45 for its high production levels together with the uniformity and clarity of ice demanded by pubs and restaurants. Along with the MC45, Midmark also supplied a Hubbard Scotsman B550 storage bin, capable of storing up to 190kg.
While it needs comparatively little floorspace, the output of the Scotsman MC45 can reach 300kg in 24 hours. This high production is ideal for Cold Jet, which is supplying a fast-expanding number of busy pubs, bars and hotels with 5kg ice bags containing Scotsman's trademark 'thimble-shaped' Supercubes, familiar to bar staff for nearly 40 years.
Cold Jet chose the 5kg size deliberately. Most bought-in ice tends to be in smaller 2kg packs, which might be fine for home freezers but the company's research says that caterers market need the larger size. And, says Stephen, Cold Jet's existing dry ice storage and distribution chain allowed for this easily.
He had warm words for the help with training and installation received from Midmark. "Using a water-based ice maker is something new to us", he says. "But the advice, training and back-up service from Midmark has been brilliant."
