QBTEC welcomes Florigo, Hegro and De Kuiper into its equipment family

QBTEC, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of professional frying and cooking equipment, has expanded its frying-range portfolio with the addition of the Florigo, De Kuiper and Hegro brands. The development strengthens QBTEC’s position within the European frying-equipment market while opening new opportunities for product development and technology investment.

The change marks a new chapter for Florigo in the UK, which will continue operating through its established dealer network. The brand has confirmed that its design ethos, craftsmanship and service model remain unchanged.

A targeted expansion within the frying-range segment

The transition applies exclusively to the frying-range brands formerly operating under the Ducate umbrella. Florigo, De Kuiper and Hegro now form part of the QBTEC family, while Ducate’s other divisions, including the Utrecht-based cooking-range businesses, remain entirely out of scope.

QBTEC already includes several well-known European equipment brands, such as Kiremko, Perfecta, Smitto, Qook!, Adieu and HiFri. The addition of the three Ducate frying brands broadens QBTEC’s portfolio and further consolidates its expertise within the professional frying-equipment category.

Integration plans and future direction

QBTEC has outlined early integration aims focused on strengthening its scale and supporting long-term innovation across all its brands. Internally, the company described the development as a significant step in accelerating progress in key areas such as automation, digitalisation and robotics. These are seen as essential investments for the future of professional frying and cooking equipment.

The company also signalled that collaboration across the expanded group is intended to enhance its ability to deliver value for customers, with a continued commitment to producing sophisticated, well-designed and high-quality products that reflect evolving market needs.

Impact for UK hospitality and fish and chip operators

For operators in the UK, the change is expected to offer continuity alongside expanded technical resources. Florigo will remain active through its existing dealer partners, which have been central to its presence within the fish and chip sector.

Being part of the QBTEC family provides Florigo access to a wider engineering environment while preserving the design principles that have defined the brand for more than two decades.

Looking ahead

QBTEC describes the future as one of collaboration and shared expertise across its expanded frying-range portfolio. For Florigo, the move represents an opportunity to continue evolving its product offering while maintaining the standards and identity familiar to customers across the UK.