Donper America Becomes Part of Argosy Group
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Argosy Group International (AGI) finalized an agreement to acquire foodservice equipment manufacturer Donper America. The acquisition fits with AGI's philosophy of providing state-of-the-art equipment engineered to be efficient and cost-effective for the foodservice operator.
According to AGI, the Donper America line has quickly become a favored choice by foodservice operators in the frozen yogurt business that want equipment that works just as efficiently for self-service by customers as it does behind the counter. Donper America was early to understand the importance of branding for foodservice operators offering self-service options and provides customized, cutting-edge graphic treatments for its equipment, AGI added.
"We entered the soft-serve market because the resurgence of frozen yogurt has energized the category. We believe there is a need for customer-focused innovation," stated Dan Doromal, vice president of marketing at Donper America. "If you merge an exponentially growing company in the soft-serve space (Donper America) with industry expertise in engineering and operations (AGI), innovation is a given. The result is a win-win for both companies, as well as the foodservice industry."
Moving forward, AGI plans to uphold its commitment to Donper America's customers and is dedicated to continuous improvement in product development and customer-driven innovation. AGI will continue to service current Donper America customers and sell the Donper America brand.
"As AGI expands, a commitment to provide foodservice equipment that sets the standard for innovation and quality will carry through in all aspects for design, service and manufacturing," the company stated in a news release announcing the acquisition.
Orlando-based AGI also announced the launch of its own soft-serve machine, the Argosy 8000i. This new equipment boasts state-of-the-art technology that simplifies both daily operations and routine maintenance tasks through an upgraded, touchscreen control panel and an innovative, service-friendly design, according to the company.
The Argosy 8000i was designed for operational efficiency based on feedback from both operators and service technicians who wanted a soft-serve machine that was quicker to clean and maintain. The AGI team spent an extensive amount of time in customer operations to understand the features that would make a soft-serve machine stand out. Time and time again, operators communicated that minimizing downtime, increasing reliability and simplifying maintenance were key factors.
"This soft-serve machine is truly unlike any other. We've been able to take the best the industry has to offer and add to it," said Bill Black, director of engineering at AGI. "By utilizing best practices and processes from the foodservice and non-foodservice manufacturing industries, we developed a machine that optimizes the operator's user experience and the service technician's process to troubleshoot. This machine eliminates many of the steps that were required to maintain the machines of the past."
Argosy Group International provides a portfolio of innovative foodservice equipment products for foodservice operators in the frozen dessert business. Its brands include Argosy, Donper America and Frozen Yogurt Solutions.