Tell us about the RATIONAL business
The RATIONAL Group is the worldwide market and technology leader for hot food preparation in professional kitchens. Founded over 40 years ago, in 1973, the company employs more than 850 people in Germany and a total of over 1,500 worldwide.
RATIONAL’s primary corporate objective has always been to offer the maximum possible benefits to its customers. Regular innovation has guaranteed its leading position by far in terms of technology and market share.
Rapid growth has seen our worldwide market share increase to 54% and 70% in the UK. Our goal is to be the easiest catering equipment supplier to deal with.
With over 700,000 units sold worldwide, more than 120 million meals are now prepared every day in RATIONAL units in all parts of the world.
25 years in the UK and Ireland!
RATIONAL UK is celebrating 25 years in the UK and Ireland. Founded in 1991 in Luton, Bedfordshire we have enjoyed continued success year after year. In the early years everything was recorded manually as the subsidiary did not have computers. There were two regional sales managers, one chef and a handful of support staff, we didn’t have service partners but seven sub-contractors covering the entire country.
Today, the RATIONAL UK team consists of over 50 experienced and professional individuals, including 23 Regional Chefs and support from 200 Service Engineers nationally – service is a critical factor to our success.
What makes the RATIONAL combi oven the market leader?
In 2014 RATIONAL underlined its market-leading position with the launch of its latest combi oven – the SelfCookingCenter® 5 Senses. It’s the first intelligent commercial cooking appliance that actually interacts with chefs, getting to know the way they work so that, together, the chef and their combi will always deliver the best possible cooking results.
RATIONAL SelfCookingCenter® 5 Senses, model 101
The RATIONAL combi oven can roast, poach, bake, toast, braise, steam, grill and pan fry – all at the touch of a button and all with consistent quality. This market leading combi oven saves time, energy and money, whilst cooking food perfectly, every time – making it the ideal choice for caterers.
Instead of using numerous cooking appliances at the same time, chefs can now cook everything in just one square metre of space with the SelfCookingCenter® 5 Senses, replacing up to 50% of standard appliances and reducing the kitchen footprint by at least 30%.
How do hoteliers and restauranteurs get to know more about RATIONAL?
Chefs can test drive the 5 Senses combi oven at a RATIONAL CookingLive demonstration. They take place every month at over 120 venues across the UK, so there is sure to be one happening near you. Led by chefs who are experts in the latest combi oven technologies and techniques, participants can cook with the RATIONAL and sample the results. To attend a demonstration call 01582 480388 or or book your place here.
Key accounts are supported by the dedicated team comprising Melissa Pereira, Account Director and Huw Davies Corporate Chef; offering commercial support, product roll outs, bespoke solutions, and menu development to maximise the breadth of foods cooked in the RATIONAL. Huw also is the culinary point of contact providing dedicated food development, training and mobilising our chef team.
What’s RATIONAL’s service package?
After purchasing a RATIONAL combi oven customers will benefit from the comprehensive full service package, including; 2 years warranty, parts & labour, over 200 RATIONAL trained engineers and a 24/7 same day response on critical breakdown.
There’s also ChefLine – offering a telephone consulting service to answer any RATIONAL application or recipe questions, available 365 days a year.
Chefs membership to ClubRATIONAL is free and allows access to exclusive industry services and benefits, including; recipes and cooking tips from around the world, access to the video library – showing how easy it is to prepare and cook all kinds of products, monthly newsletters and operating, installation and application manuals.
