Orlando, Fla.–Berner International LLC., New Castle, Pa., the leading U.S. manufacturer and innovator of air curtains, honored foodservice manufacturer’s representative Swanson Girard Associates (SGA), Pineville, N.C., with its Presidential Gold Award for Outstanding Sales Achievement—2017-2018 at the North American Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) Show 2019, Feb. 8, in Orlando, Fla. Joe Banas, national sales manager, Berner, presented the award to Co-Principals, Sean Girard and Paul Swanson.
Other honored award winners were:
- Presidential Silver: LMS Associates, Arlington, Texas–Jeff Glenn, sales manager; and Michael Fiedler, general manager/sales;
- Presidential Bronze: Veitch Group, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.–Jack Veitch, principal; Rick Veitch, principal; and Jody Veitch, outside sales;
It was SGA’s second top honor in a row after winning Berner’s bi-annual foodservice rep of the year award in 2017. SGA increased its Berner air curtain sales 20-percent over that last two years. Although quick serve restaurant (QSR) new store construction was down considerably in SGA’s North and South Carolina territory, the 17-year-old rep firm added more of an end-user focus, especially in the K-12 education and food service distribution markets. SGA used its $200,000, 4,000-square-foot test kitchen built in 2014 to its fullest capacity last year with training and demonstrations for school food service managers, such as Garner Magnet High School, Garner, N.C. The result was a 200-percent increase in education sales. SGA’s most popular Berner models were the Architectural Recessed, Drive-Thru Unit (DTU) and the Sanitation Certified models.
“Swanson Girard has been representing Berner for many years and their success is linked to the great relationships they have developed with their dealers,” said Joe Banas, national sales manager, Berner International.
LMS’s silver award is attributed to a 20-percent sales increase in air curtains that was an organized effort of its 12 road sales people getting face-to-face contact, according to Fiedler. “We meet every food service equipment buyer in person, not just by phone, within our Oklahoma and Texas territories (which excludes El Paso),” said Fiedler. The Commercial Low Profile (CLC) Series was the best seller last year for its top markets of restaurants, major chains, and K-12 schools.
The Veitch Group’s Berner air curtain sales increased 10-percent last year due to a myriad of restaurant chain construction, as well as casino, convention center and school market business in their Florida territory. The CLC Series and Walk-in-Cooler Kit were the top selling air curtains for the 33-year-old foodservice representative firm.
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PHOTO CAPTION: (l to r) Joe Banas, national sales manager, Berner International, New Castle, Pa.; presents Principals Sean Girard and Paul Swanson of Swanson Girard Associates, Pineville, N.C., with the Presidential Gold Award for Outstanding Sales Achievement in 2017/2018 at the North American Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) Show 2019, Feb. 8 in Orlando, Fla.
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About Berner: Berner International LLC is a 62-year-old manufacturer and a leader in the air door/air curtain equipment manufacturing industry. Berner is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), The Green Building Alliance (GBA), the Air Movement & Control Association (AMCA), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). For more information on Berner and its products, please call (724)-658-3551 or visit www.berner.com
