What Hobart UK does

Hobart UK is a Peterborough-headquartered commercial catering equipment manufacturer and service provider, operating as a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a US Fortune 200 conglomerate with over 50,000 employees globally. The company designs, manufactures, distributes, and services warewashing, cooking, and food preparation equipment under multiple sub-brands (PREMAX, PROFI, Bonnet, Elro, Maestro, Ecomax, HYLINE), serving verticals including hospitality, healthcare, education, airline catering, marine, industrial cleaning, sports and entertainment, and food retail. Equipment ranges from glasswashers and undercounter dishwashers to flight-type conveyor systems, combi ovens, high-speed steamers, planetary mixers, slicers, peelers, and tunnel washers for industrial parts cleaning.

Core technology centres on resource-efficient mechanical and thermal engineering, with patent-pending AI capability introduced via SmartVisionControl in the 2025 FLOW Line Collection — computer vision that automatically identifies wash ware type and soiling level to optimise water pressure, flow, and belt speed. Additional proprietary features include TOP-DRY integrated drying, PERMANENT-CLEAN automatic soil removal, GENIUS X² filtration, Lateral Wash utensil cleaning, Integral TwinControl oven management, and a Smart Connect App for remote monitoring. The company operates two divisions — Equipment Sales and Service — with a UK-wide regional sales contact network, live demonstration facilities, dedicated service packages (PLUS, EXTRA, MAX), and an in-house finance arm via ITW Leasing & Finance offering 99% approval rate interest-free plans and 3–5 year contract rentals.

The business model combines hardware sales (PREMAX/PROFI product lines, Bonnet cooking equipment), recurring service revenue (maintenance, compliance, breakdown response, spare parts), consumables (HYLINE detergents and rinse aids), and financial services (interest-free payment plans and contract rentals). GTM is sales-led with field enterprise sales, inside sales via phone and contact form, and channel partnerships through finance. Revenue mechanics rely on quote-based equipment pricing supplemented by multi-year service contracts and locked-in chemical consumables, creating a hybrid of one-time capital equipment revenue and recurring annuity streams.

Name

Hobart UK

Legal name

HOBART UK

Website

https://hobartuk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hobart UK, a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works (Fortune 200), manufactures and services commercial warewashing, cooking, and food preparation equipment under the PREMAX, PROFI, and Bonnet brands. It serves UK hospitality, healthcare, airline catering, education, and industrial customers via direct sales, service contracts, consumables, and in-house finance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Catering Equipment

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333), Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423490)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Cooking Equipment & Parts Wholesale (AFAIALAJ), Janitorial & Sanitation Supplies (Foodservice) Wholesale (AFAIALAD)

Keywords

• Commercial catering equipment
• Commercial dishwashing systems
• Industrial cooking equipment
• Food preparation machinery
• Warewashing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Kitchen Equipment Sales: Sale of commercial dishwashers, warewash systems, cooking equipment (combi ovens, steamers, charbroilers), and food preparation equipment (mixers, slicers, peelers). Products sold through Equipment Sales division with PROFI and PREMAX product lines targeting different market segments.
2. Service and Maintenance: Nationwide manufacturer service solutions including installation, planned preventative maintenance, breakdown response, compliance checks, and fixed price repairs. Service packages include PLUS, EXTRA, and MAX Service Cover options.
3. Chemicals and Detergents: HYLINE hygiene range including warewash detergents, rinse aids, and hygiene tablets specifically formulated for HOBART dishwashers
4. Interest-Free Payment Plans: 12 or 24 month Interest-Free Purchase Plans allowing customers to spread cost of equipment with 99% approval rate
5. Contract Rental Plans: 3 and 5 year rental options with tax-deductible payments and option for secured indefinite use at end of term

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hobart UK manufactures and distributes commercial warewashing, cooking, and food preparation equipment for professional catering operators, sold under the HOBART, PROFI, PREMAX, Bonnet, Elro, Maestro, FLOW Line, and Ecomax brands. The company operates two divisions, Equipment Sales and Service, providing specification, installation, planned preventative maintenance, breakdown response, compliance checks, spare parts, and in-house finance solutions through ITW Leasing & Finance.

Product overview

HOBART UK is a commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of warewashing, cooking, and food preparation solutions. The core product lines include PREMAX (premium) and PROFI (professional) categories across dishwashers, glasswashers, utensil washers, and conveyor systems. The warewashing division features undercounter and hood-type dishwashers, the innovative Two-Level Washer (global first), the new FLOW Line Collection with AI-powered SmartVisionControl, and complete accessories including racks, tabling, water treatment systems, and HYLINE chemical detergents. The cooking division includes Bonnet-branded combination ovens (Chef'sCombi, Equajet, Precijet+, Combi Tower, Minijet), High Speed Steamers, charbroilers, Precipan/Equapan multifunctional braising pans, MaestroFlex modular cooking suites, and salamander grills. Food preparation equipment comprises planetary mixers (N, HSM, A200, H series), combination cutters, blenders, slicers, peelers, and vegetable preparation units. Industrial cleaning includes tunnel washers and chamber cleaning systems. Financial services through ITW Leasing & Finance offer interest-free payment plans and contract rental options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bonnet: Premium cooking equipment brand including combination ovens, high speed steamers, charbroilers, and multifunctional cooking equipment
• Elro
• Maestro
• PREMAX
• PROFI
• HYLINE
• FLOW Line
• Ecomax by HOBART

Products and services

• PREMAX Warewashing Range (PREMAX/PROFI glasswashers, undercounter and hood-type dishwashers, utensil washers, conveyor dishwashers)

Quantifiable outcome

• Water consumption reduced to 1.0 litre in PREMAX FP undercounter dishwasher
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BCFminorOthersBrand partnership - one of HOBART's recognised industry partners in the catering equipment sector
• CedabondminorOthersBrand partnership - recognised industry partner
• CEDA-ConnectminorOthersConnected to CEDA (Catering Equipment Distributors Association) - industry partnership
• LACA (Lead Association for Catering and Hospitality)minorOthersIndustry association partnership for catering and hospitality sector
• NACC (National Association of Care Catering)minorOthersPartnership with care catering association supporting nursing homes and care facilities
• PSCA (Prison Service Catering Association)minorOthersIndustry association partnership for prison service catering

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Middleby Corporation: US-listed diversified manufacturer of commercial foodservice equipment (cooking, warewashing, refrigeration) whose brands (e.g., TurboChef, Celfrost, Manitowoc) compete across Hobart UK's warewashing, cooking, and ice/refrigeration categories in the UK.
• Electrolux Professional: Listed Swedish-Italian manufacturer of commercial foodservice and laundry equipment with strong dishwashing and combi-oven portfolios. Competes with Hobart UK across warewashing, cooking, and food preparation segments in the UK market.
• Meiko: German manufacturer of commercial dishwashing, cleaning, and food waste handling equipment with a comprehensive UK sales and service operation. Overlaps directly with Hobart UK's warewashing, cooking, and food prep portfolio.
• Hoshizaki: Japanese manufacturer of commercial ice machines, refrigeration, and dishwashers with a substantial UK operation. Overlaps with Hobart UK in commercial kitchen environments, particularly on the refrigeration and warewashing side.
• Welbilt (now part of Ali Group): Manufacturer of cooking and foodservice equipment brands (Convotherm, Merrychef, Frymaster, Garland, Manitowoc), now within Ali Group. Overlaps Hobart UK's cooking and warewashing offers for UK hospitality and institutional customers.
• Rational AG: Global market leader in combi ovens / thermal cooking equipment and a key competitor to Hobart UK's Bonnet combi-oven range (Equajet, Precijet+, Combi Tower). Targets the same professional foodservice customers with a tightly focused premium product line.
• Miele Professional: German premium brand with a dedicated commercial division for dishwashers, laundry, and laboratory/medical cleaning systems. Competes with Hobart UK in commercial warewashing and complements it via shared service-channel economics.
• Winterhalter: German-headquartered specialist in commercial dishwashing and warewashing, offering glasswashers, utensil washers, and rack/flight-type systems with comparable premium positioning and a strong UK & Ireland presence. Most direct head-to-head competitor to Hobart UK.

Broad incumbents

• Ali Group: Italian multinational parent of dozens of foodservice equipment brands (Comenda, Scotsman Ice, Frymaster, Hoshizaki EMEA partners, etc.). As the world's largest commercial kitchen equipment conglomerate, it competes with Hobart UK across the full kitchen stack through its owned brands.

Regional players

• Falcon Foodservice Equipment: UK-based manufacturer of commercial cooking equipment (ranges, combi ovens, fryers, griddles) targeting British hospitality and institutional operators. A regional competitor to Hobart UK specifically within the cooking equipment category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HobartUKWW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/hobart-marketing-3521a199
• Instagraminstagram.com/hobartukcooking

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hobart UK