Tabletop Trends: What’s new in Food Prep?
What’s new in Food Prep?
Blenders, knives, slicers, dicers, toasters, mixers… even the humble label has been given an upgrade that can help the kitchen meet challenges as varied as staff shortages and food waste. What’s trending? What do dealers and customers want? And how can the latest food prep ideas enhance kitchen life?
The latest trends…
There’s a focus on efficiency, smart tech, and versatility. Kitchens are choosing appliances with automated programs, energy-efficient designs, and multi-function capabilities in the hunt for faster, consistent results. Fewer staff plus less space means kitchens need solutions to speed up food processing and to help the operation run smoothly. Multifunctional equipment that’s easy to use and can quickly transition to new tasks is ideal.
When it comes to knives and other cutting utensils, kitchens are looking for durable, precision tools that help operators maintain portion control and deliver consistently high‑quality presentation. They’re also prioritising easy‑to‑clean, hygienic materials that support fast service and compliance. Ergonomics and safety are even more important in compact prep areas where versatile, multi‑purpose tools are preferred.
There’s a shift in attitude towards sustainability. The push for ethically sourced and sustainable materials in kitchen equipment is much more visible now than it was even a couple of years ago. Operators are asking questions about where equipment comes from, how it's made, and what happens to it at end of life. Sustainability used to be something businesses could choose to engage with — a nice story to tell. That's changed. It's no longer a differentiator, it's a baseline expectation from customers, staff, and increasingly from legislation too. Kitchens that aren't thinking about this are starting to look behind the times rather than just missing an opportunity.
Many smaller independent customers are still primarily driven by price and practicality — but even here, customer expectations around things like plastic-free packaging and responsible sourcing are starting to shape buying decisions.
What are dealers and their customers looking for?
Equipment that delivers on performance, reliability, ease of use and ease of cleaning. Quiet operation is another key feature. They’re also looking for brands they can trust and suppliers who can offer a comprehensive support package – from a good stock of equipment, including spare parts, through to product demonstrations.
Of course, customers still want good quality at a competitive price. However, larger buyers are increasingly asking suppliers about sustainability credentials, supply chain transparency, and ethical sourcing as part of their procurement process. These areas are showing up in tender documents and supplier questionnaires.
Helping meet kitchen challenges
Specialised equipment can help tackle staff shortages, by taking over manual tasks like vegetable slicing and dicing. There’s also the cost saving angle, through using fresh ingredients rather than buying in pre-prepped. As well as saving labour, the equipment offers accurate, consistent results for greater yield, better quality and higher margins.
Food waste is probably one of the biggest conversations in professional kitchens right now, whether that's using every part of an ingredient, smarter portioning, or investing in equipment that helps reduce waste. Food prep appliances can allow chefs to do small batches quickly, rather than preparing in bulk in advance, which can help avoid food waste. Machines designed to handle delicate products such as soft fruit also reduce waste, while left over ingredients can quickly be turned into in sauces and other recipes using mixers and blenders.
Sharp, consistently reliable knives and cutting tools make a huge difference to portion accuracy and yield, which is one of the simplest ways of cutting waste. Clean, precise cutting allows kitchens to get the most from every ingredient, especially premium produce. Other considerations with knives include ergonomic handles, which can reduce strain and minimise RSI-related downtime.
Something as straightforward as proper food labelling can make a genuine difference. Knowing exactly what's in your kitchen, when it was prepped and how fresh it is means less waste and better stock rotation. If the team can instantly see when something was prepped, how long it's got left and any allergy information, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of food management.
Appliances with programmable settings help deliver consistent results, reducing errors and the need for constant supervision, while easy-to-clean, durable designs also cut maintenance and downtime, helping kitchens run efficiently, even with fewer staff. Fast food prep equipment allows chefs more time for creative output and adding value to the plate.
Which type of customer is food prep equipment best suited to?
Just about everyone, from coffee and sandwich shops, through to pubs, restaurants and bars, and on to schools, hospitals, care homes and central production kitchens. What all these places have in common is the need for equipment that works hard and doesn't let them down mid service.
Many thanks to the FEA member companies who helped put this article together. Listed below are some of their new and popular food prep products – check out the carousel above for pics, and click on the company name to visit the website.
The Ariete 1.5L Vintage Glass Jug Blender, available in beige, green and blue, is ideal for use in small cafes and tea rooms, student accommodation, and holiday properties. It’s suitable for mixing milkshakes, smoothies, soups, sauces, and more and its stainless steel blades are durable and strong enough to crush ice. Meanwhile the Kenwood Food Prep Range includes the MultiPro Express Food Processor, which chops, grates, slices and blends in no time, preparing lots of ingredients at once in smaller commercial kitchens. The Kenwood 7L Chef Baker XL Stand Mixer whisks, kneads and mixes, plus it can weigh ingredients, all in one appliance. It’s great for small cafes and bakeries and the multiple accessories available enable the user to roll pasta, mince food, blend, and more.
FEM Foodservice Equipment Marketing
The Hamilton Beach Commercial Expeditor 600R food blender puts control in the hands of chefs. Its one-touch chopping function with speed control ensures perfect consistency every time, while the powerful 3 HP motor handles everything from salsas and compotes to flours, soups, and dressings. The intuitive touchpad with variable speed dial, combined with the patented Wave~Action system, keeps ingredients moving for smooth, fully emulsified results. The large capacity 1.8 litre BPA-free co-polyester container with laser-etched measurements, sealed lid with dosing cup, and jar pad sensor make prep safe, precise, and mess-free. Durable metal drive couplings, a temperature gauge, and quiet operation under 81 dB(A) make the 600R built to handle high-volume kitchens with ease and reliability.
The Sycloid X Toaster delivers high‑speed, energy‑efficient performance in a compact, contemporary design. Producing up to 450 slices per hour, it ensures consistent, golden results across white, wholemeal, multigrain, raisin and even sourdough breads. Its innovative Smart Heat toasting chamber offers 30–40% greater energy efficiency than rival models. A black satin finish adds modern appeal, while the lightweight, portable build suits both front and back‑of‑house use. Easy‑clean construction removes the need for crumb trays, and the cool‑to‑touch body enhances safety. A quiet brushless DC motor and one‑year parts and labour warranty underline Roband’s reliability.
The Dito Sama Prep4You Combined Veg Slicer & Processor Variable Speed 3.6L is a combined vegetable slicer and food processor. It offers a compact solution with variable speed for precise control. The unit is supplied with a vegetable slicer for slicing, shredding, dicing and grating and a 3.6 litre food processor for mixing, blending, mincing and grinding.
Wood Bread and Pastry Knife: this 22 cm knife with a wavy edge fuses functionality with artisanship and form. The ergonomic wooden handle sits effortlessly in the hand. Along with the smart combination of blade length and width, it’s expertly constructed to ensure maximum precision and comfort with every slice. With the natural warmth and patina of wood, it’s an elegant addition to the kitchen and table.
Our new Food Prep Labels cover day dots, use by, allergen and shelf life. They’re a simple but genuinely effective tool for reducing food waste and keeping kitchens compliant. Also new are our Eco-Friendly Utensil Range, made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. Each utensil is equivalent to roughly seven recycled bottles. They're high heat resistant, durable and built for professional use. They were recently awarded a green ethical label by Ambiente 2026's independent jury.
