Niggemann Foodservice Technik GmbH & Co. KG – acquired just over one year ago – is making every effort to realize the ambitions set by the Franke Contract Group when it purchased the German company: the first of these was the strategic expansion of the Contract Group Division, and the other was to diversify the existing customer base. After a little more than a year in the Franke Group, there has already been considerable change at Niggemann. Many of the measures needed to integrate the company into the Franke Group have been introduced or successfully completed.

The company is based in Bochum and has had a strong presence in the Foodservice Equipment sector for more than 30 years, focusing principally on the sale of North American catering equipment, such as fryers, conveyor ovens, and ice-cream machines. Niggemann also produces kitchen equipment for quick-service restaurants, offering a comprehensive package for all the needs of a modern, professional kitchen.

Niggemann has already successfully completed some of the complex administrative measures needed to integrate it into the Franke Group. Many of these steps were necessary to implement the tried and tested processes and systems that Franke has developed over the years. As a first step, the entire computer infrastructure had to be completely replaced. The opportunity was taken to simultaneously integrate the company system into the Franke global Intranet. Another measure taken by Niggemann was to set up a central Logistics Center in the Harpener Heide, Bochum. In the process, all the old centers had to be closed and operations transferred to the new centralized facility. Production operations were also comprehensively adapted. This meant completely overhauling the production layout, and in turn the flow of materials. Capital investment totaling approximately ¤ 1 million was authorized. What is more, Niggemann was the first company in the Contract Group Division to introduce the futureoriented standard solution PBS (Production Business System) for the merchandise management system.

For the moment, the latest addition to the Franke Group, with its 100 members of staff, is primarily focusing on further centralization of the production and logistics operations, and on acquiring new restaurant chain customers in Europe – a task entrusted to local market managers. The first of these local managers have already begun work for Niggemann in Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Austria and Switzerland.