High-tech furnace builder reinvents microwave for professionals
Almost every German has already consumed meals that were prepared in a so -called combi steamer from the Landsberg company. Because the computer -controlled, refrigerator -sized cooking devices can – if desired at the same time – cook, roast, bake, steam. You control you Craft in precise perfection, so you three-star chefs as well as butchers for liver cheeks.
Combine-fold manufacturer Rationally grows in Germany despite the gastrocrisy
As is well known, people also have to eat in economically difficult times, and despite the catering crisis, they do this to the delight of rationally out of the house more and more. While the German economy is stagnating, the combination steam pioneer increased six percent last year in turnover to 1.2 billion euros. Even in Germany, the global group grew by two percent, although the German hospitality industry complains about loss of sales: the industry still generates 13 percent less than before the corona crisis.
“When meals in daycare centers, community kitchens, unimersen and more and more in supermarkets, we also see in Germany Growth opportunities, ”says company boss Peter Stadelmann. In the catering trade, which has to struggle with high energy costs, shortage of skilled workers and increased purchase prices, also rationally “part of the solution”, adds CFO Jörg Walter. Because the self-cleaning « Icombi » stampers worked more and more efficiently with their automatic programs.
Rationally offers one of the largest professional recipe databases free of charge
According to Stadelmann, 100,000 rational devices are now digitally networked. The company offers chefs for free one of the largest professional recipe databases in the world. In the industry, rationally has been considered to be the undisputed world market leader among combine dampers, who have long been the heart of many professional kitchens.
In order to assert its market position, Rationally now also relies on microwave technology. In addition to hot air and steam, the combination steam called the « ihexagon » uses enemy microwaves as an additional cooking method to prepare dishes for up to a third faster. Since the term « microwave » does not have a good reputation for professional chefs, Rationally invests vigorously in demonstration events that were promising. Stadelmann emphasizes that you have staying power for new introductions. Because the company’s combi steamers ran in professional kits for twelve years before investing in new devices.
Rational: turnover in China shrinks due to KFC giant mandate last year
This year, too, Rationally wants to grow in the « medium single -digit range », as CFO Walter said in view of the difficult geopolitical situation. The stock exchange reacted to the cautious forecast with a clear minus of temporarily seven percent of the rational share. It was also negatively admitted that the company in China for the first time posted a minus of two percent instead of growth. However, this is due to a special effect because the Chinat daughter of Kentucky Fried Chicken the year earlier bought a thousand devices especially for their largest branches, emphasized Stadelmann.
In 2026 Rationally, Rationally plans to launch its own combination steam model in China and invests ten million euros in production on site. However, the largest investment in the company history takes place at the headquarters in Landsberg: 35 million euros are based on the construction of a largely automated service and spare parts center. « The Landsberg location was always very important for us and will remain, » emphasizes Stadelmann.
The number of employees rose by around 200 to 2740, including 1550 in Germany. EBIT insert profit rose by 13 percent to 314 million euros.
