How to Buy Top E&S Brands on a Budget

Prices seem to be going up on everything, but the budget’s the budget, right? It’s easy to be tempted to invest in a lesser imitation to get by in the short term, but it’s not much of an investment if it needs to be replaced far sooner than it should.

Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to compromise quality for affordability? Sometimes you don’t. Check out these high-value options from some of the best brands in foodservice.

Food Pans, Storage Containers, and Seal Covers by Cambro

What they’re famous for:

There’s a reason that the brand name Cambro is synonymous with food storage containers that last and last. Known for durability, visibility, and a tight seal that prolongs shelf life, Cambro Camwear food pans, storage containers, and seal covers are a staple for cold and ambient applications. They also do what metal can’t: prep, store, transport, and serve all in one pan.

How to get these benefits for less:

Like Camwear pans and food storage containers, Cambro Translucent Food Pans and Food Storage Containers pair up with corresponding Cambro Covers to extend shelf life with a tight seal, protect against cross-contamination, and support stable stacking. These containers’ translucent material isn’t as crystal clear as Camwear, but contents are still visible, a big plus for operational efficiency and inventory management.

Forged-steel Knives by Mercer Culinary

What they’re famous for:

Strength, wear resistance, edge holding, high carbon steel, and comfortable handles are the hallmarks of Mercer Culinary’s comprehensive knife selection. Mercer’s philosophy is “Steel is the heart of the blade,” so they choose their materials carefully, working with high-carbon steel for both sharpness and ease of re-sharpening. Mercer offers both forged and stamped knives to give chefs a wide variety of options to meet their performance and budgetary needs.

Forged knife-making is an extensive, labor intensive manufacturing process in which a single piece of steel is heated to a high temperature. This process provides a full tang extending through the length of the handle, excellent strength, and a cutting edge that stays sharper longer and is easier to maintain. Forged knives such as Mercer's MX3 and Genesis have a bolster between the blade and the handle, which adds weight and balance to the knife and protection for your fingers.

How to get reliable performance for less:

Millennia branded cutlery by Mercer are stamped knives that are machine cut from one large strip of high-carbon Japanese steel. This manufacturing process makes the knives more cost-effective to produce. A raised Santoprene® textured handle provides an excellent grip while an integrated finger guard improves safety.

Stamped knives are usually thinner and lighter, offering an economic alternative to traditional forged cutlery that still provides reliable strength, wear resistance, and edge holding. It’s important to note, however, that given their lighter characteristics and thinner profile, more downward force may be required compared to heavier forged blades and more regular maintenance will be needed than forged cutlery. See more about the importance of blade sharpness and how it contributes to food quality and shelf life here.

Manual Can Openers by Edlund

What they’re famous for:

Edlund S-11 ManualCan Openers have gone the distance with over 24 years of foodservice success and a billion cans opened, all without a single complaint. 

NSF listed and dishwasher safe, this rustproof workhorse has a stellar reputation for rugged durability, reliability, hygiene, and a whopping 5-year warranty.

How to get reliable performance for less:

The new Edlund Edvantage #1 Manual Can Opener also features tool-free disassembly with an easy, pull pin take-apart design. Its 4-sided knife can be flipped and rotated a half turn to ensure a sharp, efficient blade to provide up to 10,000 openings before it needs replaced. 

A comfortable ergonomic knob and Edlund’s new exclusive Edvancoat™ technology support smooth and comfortable operation and double the wear life of the gear. This budget-friendly model comes with a 2-year warranty.

Camshelving Premium Series by Cambro

What it’s famous for:

Durability, hygiene, adjustability, and a lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion are just a few of the reasons why the Camshelving motto is “Shelving for Life”. A steel core surrounded by a reinforced polypropylene exterior give the posts and traverses of Camshelving Premium Series a combination of cleanability, tremendous strength, and weight bearing capacity up to 3,200 pounds per unit. 

Shelf plates are removable for hand or machine washing and feature an embedded antimicrobial for added protection. This versatile storage system can be used in any environment, hot or cold, wet or dry.

How to get similar features for less:

Ideal for kitchens, coolers, walk-ins, or dry storage, Camshelving Basics Plus Series is made of break-resistant composite material that offers many of Camshelving Premium’s benefits but with a smaller price tag. Holding up to 1,800 pounds per unit, with units capable of sharing a single post in a straight line without losing weight capacity, Basics Plus also comes with that all-important lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion.

These are just a few of the many ways to stretch your E&S budget without sacrificing quality and performance. Whatever your budget, we’ll help you find solutions that offer smart investments tailored to the unique needs of your business. Contact us.