Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin – The award was for large manufacturing companies with 300-750 employees. Highlights from the award include:
Innovation
Alto-Shaam continues to embrace technology as a way to enhance the company’s manufacturing velocity, while still keeping employees and job growth top of mind. Over the last five years, this innovation has provided an up-tick in sales, as well as impressive employee growth, with the company having increased headcount by 50 percent.
Culture
Employees are empowered to be the pulse of their success through the company’s focus on culture and top-down and bottom-up leadership which bridges the gap between the shop floor and front office. Additionally, each employee is invested in the financial health of the organization through participation in the company’s gain sharing program, which rewards employees for their contribution to overall corporate objectives.
Growth
Alto-Shaam continues to see organic growth of the business at a rate of more than 15 percent annually since 2010. Through new product development, customer channel growth and superior customer service, the company continues to be a top performer in global markets.
Recognized for its commitment to innovation, philanthropy, technological advances, commitment to customer satisfaction and quality jobs, Alto-Shaam was one of six Wisconsin companies to be honored this year.
“Alto-Shaam is honored to have been recognized as Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year,” said Steve Maahs, president, Alto-Shaam Inc. “I’m grateful to our employees whose combined efforts have helped us get to where we are today and drive Alto-Shaam to continue as a leader in the industry.”
Founded more than 60 years ago in a garage, Jerry Maahs, Alto-Shaam founder, was just looking for a way to deliver hot chicken to customers during Wisconsin's frigid winters when he developed the first Alto-Shaam oven.
Since then, Alto-Shaam has continually responded to industry needs to ensure that all foodservice providers have access to high-quality cooking equipment. Alto-Shaam has grown to become a worldwide leader and innovator in the global commercial foodservice equipment industry.
“My dad had a true entrepreneurial spirit,” Steve Maahs said. “The Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award allows us to honor his spirit and contributions to the regional manufacturing community. My dad started with nothing, but he created something special for the workers of Wisconsin and foodservice operators throughout the world.”
For more information, visit http://www.alto-shaam.com. Contact Sarah Millard at sarahm(at)alto-shaam(dot)com for more information.
About Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year
Celebrating its 28th year, the Manufacturer of the Year Award program recognizes manufacturers of all sizes and industries for all that they do to drive the Wisconsin economy. Companies were evaluated in areas such as financial growth or consistency, technological advances, product development, environmental solutions and sustainability, operational excellence/continuous improvement, commitment to employees and effective research and development. The Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges.
The accounting and advisory firm of Baker Tilly, the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and the business association Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce sponsor the MOTY awards program. Additional information can be found online at http://www.wimoty.com or by calling (800) 362-7301.
About Alto-Shaam, Inc.
Alto-Shaam’s corporate headquarters, worldwide manufacturing facility, Culinary Institute and Technical Institute are based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. For more than 60 years, Alto-Shaam has been a recognized leader and innovator in the global commercial foodservice equipment industry. With a core business in primary cooking equipment, Alto-Shaam offers an expanded product portfolio that includes award-winning Combitherm® ovens, Halo-Heat® cook & hold ovens, Xcelerate® Hi-Speed ovens, smoker ovens, heated holding technologies, heated display and merchandising solutions, QuickChiller™ rapid chill units, FryTech™ high-efficiency fryers, rotisserie ovens, convection ovens, and drop-in hot and cold wells. Alto-Shaam is also the industry leader in providing integrated food production systems for cook/chill, banqueting and rethermalization applications.
Source: Alto-Shaam, Inc.