Hoshizaki Develops a New Reheating Cabinet Ideal for Small-Scale Facilities

Developing the potential market with an affordable product with the industry’s smallest size^*1 that needs no installation work^*2

HOSHIZAKI CORPORATION (Head office: Toyoake City, Aichi; President & CEO: Yasuhiro Kobayashi; hereafter “Hoshizaki”) has newly developed an undercounter reheating cabinet for small-scale facilities, capable of reheating foods that have been chilled and keeping them warm in time for serving. The new product will be available through its sales companies in Japan in fall of 2024.

Increase in small-scale care facilities, and the “2025 problem” where a severe shortage of nursing care personnel is expected

As the population of elderly people in Japan grows, the number of small-scale care facilities is increasing,^*3 including group homes for those suffering from dementia, private residential-type nursing homes, and serviced senior citizen housing. A shortage of nursing care personnel is anticipated^*4 due to the fact that post-war "baby boomers" will become 75 or older, which is known as the “2025 problem.” Demand should grow for food provision methods that preserve tastiness and food safety while reducing personnel needs and saving labor.

Undertaking product development to meet latent customer needs discerned from market trends

Hoshizaki pays close attention to market trends based on its own sales data. Seeing the increase in reheating equipment shipments over the past year, the company sought out the views of customers through Group sales companies, with a view to creating a better product. What emerged from these surveys is that the existing products are sold mainly to relatively large-scale facilities, whereas smaller facilities are unable to introduce them due to cost and space considerations and the need for installation work.

Anticipating latent market needs, the company thus began developing a smaller, more compact and affordable reheating cabinet. While the existing product was developed by Group company Nestor, the new reheating cabinet was developed as a Hoshizaki original for the first time.

Among the most compact in the industry, uses a single-phase 200V power supply, and needs no plumbing work, for ease of introduction in small-scale facilities

The new product, among the most compact in the industry,^*1 adopts an undercounter configuration with the top usable as a work table. Besides operating on a single-phase power supply like the one found in ordinary households, it comes with its own water tank, eliminating the need for plumbing work. It can thus be used with almost no constraint of room space or specifications, making it ideal for food provision for around 15 to 30 people.

The reheating cabinet is equipped with the functions for chilled storage, reheating, and temperature holding (hot keeping) in one unit. It ensures that food, whether prepared in the facility or purchased, will be at the proper serving temperature at the designated time. Heating with hot air and humidification with steam make rice plump and delicious, and this method is less prone to burns and other accidents compared with heating in hot water. Preparing food the day before reduces the number of personnel needed in the early morning. Since food is kept at a temperature of at least 65°C, at which the growth of pathogens is inhibited, food safety is also maintained.

In developing a market for this product, Hoshizaki also plans to collaborate with companies that handle fully prepared foods. By partnering with other companies rather than going it alone, the company intends to contribute toward the solution of problems for society including labor shortages and the assurance of food safety.

*1 As of June 20, 2024, based on Hoshizaki survey

*2 Equipped with single-phase 200V power supply; needs no plumbing work

*3 Material for the 221st meeting of the Subcommittee on Long-term Care Benefit Expenditures, Social Security Council, Health and Welfare Bureau for the Elderly, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

*4 According to the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Demand for Caregivers Based on the Eighth Long-term Care Insurance Plan” (announced July 2021), it is estimated that approximately 2,430,000 workers will be needed in fiscal 2025, an additional 320,000 workers compared with the number for fiscal 2019.