RATIONAL (RAA) 20th International Investment Forum (IIF) summary

Strategy and customer proposition

• Focused on cooking in commercial kitchens, serving professional operators preparing 20 or more meals per service.

• Customer benefit is the strategic priority; equipment is supported by consulting, training and service to help customers use it effectively.

• Versatile equipment helps community caterers reduce investment in specialized units, save space and simplify training, cleaning and service.

• Quick-service restaurants and retail are the fastest-growing customer segments, amid a shift toward snacking and takeaway.

Products and digital services

• iCombi Pro combines hot air and steam with sensors and software to reach a chosen cooking result, supporting use by less-trained staff.

• iVario uses direct-contact heat for applications including pan cooking, boiling and frying; together, iCombi and iVario cover nearly all professional-kitchen cooking applications.

• iHexagon combines steam, hot air and microwave; it saves an average 30% in cooking time and is an early-stage growth contributor, with applications still being developed.

• ConnectedCooking enables remote control, software and recipe updates, and service notifications; more than 130,000 units are connected.

• Training includes cooking demonstrations, starter sessions, academy programs and a 24/7 ChefLine; the service network has over 1,200 partners and trains 6,000–7,000 technicians annually.

Market opportunity and growth

• Estimated addressable base: 4.8m kitchens for iCombi and 1.6m for iVario; respective penetration is 25% for combi ovens and 8% for multifunctional cooking devices.

• Market share is around 50% for both product groups; traditional equipment remains the main competitor, leaving room to grow through customer outreach and sales hiring.

• Europe represents around 50% of sales, with estimated penetration of 40%–50% overall and about 80% in Germany; overseas penetration is around 10%, with higher growth expected there.

• iVario growth is supported by customer education and expansion, particularly in the Americas; its 8% penetration remains far below iCombi’s 25%.

• Long-term historical growth averaged around 8% CAGR; sustainable growth is viewed in the mid-to-high single digits, or roughly 6%–9%, subject to hiring and training sales teams.