We are invested in two foodservice equipment companies that we believe are well positioned to profit from the world’s evolving eating habits. The Middleby Corp. (NASDAQ:MIDD) manufactures cooking and warming equipment for commercial restaurants and institutional kitchens, as well as food processing and residential kitchen equipment. Middleby’s top-tier brands enjoy leading market positions. The company uses technological innovations to design and manufacture differentiated equipment for which customers are willing to pay a premium. It has a history of acquiring leading brands and technologies, including Viking Range, AGA Rangemaster Group plc, and most recently, Lynx Grills, and using its business expertise to improve their financial performance. Since 2001, Middleby has been led by Selim Bassoul, a passionate manager with a highly regarded leadership style who is widely credited with turning the company around.
From Baron Funds' Second Quarter Insight: Finding Growth in Industrials.
