Paul Anderson, MD of Meiko UK Limited, reflects on 30 years of trading for the global technology and service company and provides a sneak peek into what the brand will be showcasing at HRC 2024. 

Improvements in Meiko sustainability are being announced. Running cost savings of up to 21% have been achieved on latest generation M-iClean undercounter dishwashers. And, for Meiko's new range of UPster rack transport dishwashers, savings of up to 35% less water, detergent, and rinse aid and up to 20% reduced energy consumption are also being unveiled.

“Meiko has stunned the market by announcing major improvements in the energy efficiency and water consumption of our latest generations of dishwashers,” says Paul Anderson. “What better way to celebrate 30 years of service to the UK catering market than to announce the result of Meiko’s extraordinary quest for ultimate dishwashing sustainability.”

Also new for 2024 is Meiko’s UPster H500 ActiveClean hood dishwasher with built-in water softening, which saves space and cost by eliminating the need for a separate softener.

Single and double basket M-iClean hood dishwashers highlight Meiko’s use of multiple heat recovery systems. Automatic hoods will save 40 minutes of labour per shift and ergonomically help to look after staff.

Meiko’s newest potwashing machine is the Meiko slimline M-iClean PF-S, which takes up less than one square metre of floorspace and is available with optional heat recovery.

Meiko is also introducing the BioMaster Slim food waste recycling system, an all-round solution for small and medium restaurants and catering businesses that fits almost anywhere and handles cooking oil as well as all kinds of food waste.

Paul Anderson on Meiko's 30th anniversary

There are many in our industry who weren’t even born in 1994, many colleagues are sadly no longer with us, and many businesses have come and gone during that time. So, for a business to survive 30 years is no mean feat.

The history of Meiko UK has been well documented, launched by Bill Downie in January 1994 with just 10 employees, in a small unit near Heathrow airport, it is now a multimillion-pound provider of warewashing and food waste management solutions for caters in all sectors of hospitality.

But what has enabled Meiko UK to survive 30 years and grow to be the huge success it is today?

Meiko’s DNA starts from its parent company in Offenburg (now over 95 years old), where Meiko is a foundation company with no shareholders, allowing its profits to be reinvested in research, development and training apprentices.

Meiko’s sole objective is to make the world cleaner and environmentally better. This means listening to its customers, changing and adapting to the challenges facing them from decade to decade, whether it be staffing, food trends, the economy or the needs of the planet.

This ethos carries over to Meiko UK and continues today.

It is Meiko’s UK’s staff who make the difference, a number of whom have been with the business since day one. Anyone dealing with Meiko UK, Germany and all the offices around the globe, all say the same, Meiko’s staff and the way Meiko does things is different, they are a family who really does care.

Yes, Meiko design, develop and manufacture some of the most technically advanced products, all with the needs of the customer and planet in mind. However, ‘People do business with people’, and whether you are an end user or a partner, Meiko works as part of the team, always ready with help, advice, cost analysis and planning, through to training and full after sales support. We just want it to be right for the customer.

At Meiko UK we could not be prouder to celebrate three decades supporting our industry with innovation and service that genuinely make a difference to people's lives.

Here’s to continuing the legacy we have at Meiko, a way of doing business which survives the test of time.

Help Meiko UK celebrate their 30th by visiting them at HRC 2024 (stand H1811).