Joe Stritzl

The Crown Story

From his first day at Bardeau limited in 1955, Joe Stritzl started his career in the Foodservice Industry. Working his way up to becoming General Manager at Bardeau, Joe parted from the company in 1980 seeking to grow his own ideas around steam and to start a company focused solely on the production of steam cooking equipment. Bardeau later would be sold and become Cleveland Kettles.

In the mid 90’s, Southbend’s operating company in Canada (Escan) shifted its production of steam vessels to Crown Foodservice Equipment. At the same time, Crown purchased and improved the gas kettle designs from Southbend (Escan). This was the beginning of the long tenured relationship that existed between Crown Foodservice and Middleby. Crown now had a complete line of both gas and electric vessels to offer the marketplace.

Over the years, Crown has produced OEM product for numerous major companies in Foodservice. To name several; Middleby (Southbend, Blodgett, and Market Forge), ITW (Vulcan, Hobart Canada), Entree (Solaris), Steam Can, Accutemp, and prior Garland/ Welbilt, Legion, as well as accessories to Groen. Needless to say, Joe Strizzl and Crown Foodservice Equipment has been the back bone of steam cooking system in the Foodservice Industry for years.

With the addition of Crown Foodservice Equipment into the Middleby Corporation, Middleby now not only continues its long history of providing high quality steam products to the industry, but now also offers the strength and dependability of backing up the brands with the factory itself. This addition allows certain dependability Middleby has become known for. It shows, as do all Middleby brands, that we remain focused on our customers first, and drive our businesses as such.

2019 NAFEM marked for us the gathering of our industry every other year, but this year we celebrate the launching of Crown Steam Group and the Crown brand name to be sold to the Foodservice community for the first time. Not only will Crown represent the great products it has historically been known for producing, but will also manufacture the unique and high-quality Market Forge Brand. Together, with Crown, Market Forge and Firex, no other Steam company offers such a broad line of steam equipment packed with depth and technology, as exists with the Crown Steam Group.

Crown Steam Group, A Middleby Corporation Company
1100 Old Honeycutt Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Tel: 919-762-1000
Fax: 919-762-1121

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    Office/Sales

    Front Desk: 919-762-1000

    Office/Sales Staff
    John PerruccioGroup PresidentMobile: 561-843-1133
    Phil TribelGeneral ManagerDirect: 919-762-1046
    Nick DennisDirector of OperationsDirect: 919-762-1022
    CL WoodwardVP of Business DevelopmentMobile: 773-960-2289
    Jason HallVP of Regional Sales and Culinary DevelopmentMobile: 704-617-2874
    Chris ReevesVP of Sales - Southbend - CanadaMobile: 651-968-7998
    Bryant WoolcockVP of Regional Sales - Mid-Central/Gulf StatesMobile: 717-773-2219
    Robert TribfelnerVP of Regional Sales - NortheastMobile: 989-891-6543
    Steve FabrettiVP of Regional Sales - SoutheastMobile: 570-582-7022

    Customer Service

    Helpline: 919-762-1000 Option 1

    Customer Service Staff
    Jocelyn PerkinsTeam Manager - Crown Steam GroupDirect: 919-762-1037
    Tawnya AustiffCustomer Care SpecialistDirect: 919-762-1077

    Technical Service

    Helpline: 919-762-1000 Option 2

    Technical Service Staff
    Rob TaylorDirector of ServicesDirect: 919-762-1021
    Jeff BartleyTechnical Service - West CoastDirect: 919-762-1034
    Charles WhiteTechnical Service - SoutheastDirect: 919-762-1043
    Jim SuvakTechnical Service - MidwestDirect: 919-762-1036
    Roger McLaneTechnical Support SpecialistDirect: 919-762-1082
    After HoursTechnical Service - After Hours Cell PhoneMobile: 919-909-1384
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