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Choosing a Hoshizaki ice maker can feel confusing at first, especially when similar model numbers appear with small differences such as PE, WPE, U, F, E, 23, 25 or 32.

This guide explains what the main parts of Hoshizaki ice maker product codes mean, helping you understand the difference between air cooled, water cooled, self-contained, modular and specialist models.

How Hoshizaki Ice Maker Codes Work

A typical Hoshizaki model code may look like this:

IM-65PE-U-25

This can usually be broken down into:

• IM – Ice Maker range
• 65 – model size or capacity range
• PE / WPE / CPE / APE – cooling type and product style
• U / F / E – feature version
• 23 / 25 / 32 – cube size, where shown

Not every model includes every part of the code, but the letters and numbers usually give a good indication of the machine type.

What Does IM Mean?

IM stands for Ice Maker. This is Hoshizaki’s cube ice maker range, designed to produce clear, consistent ice cubes for commercial use.

What Do the Numbers Mean?

The number...

When the weather warms up, customers are often looking for something cold, refreshing and a little bit different. Frozen drinks are a great way to add a seasonal option to your menu, whether you run a café, bar, dessert shop, takeaway, leisure venue or outdoor catering setup.

One simple summer serve idea is a frozen Grapefruit Gin Fizz. It is sharp, refreshing and ideal for warmer days, with the option to adapt the recipe for alcoholic or non-alcoholic menus.

Grapefruit Gin Fizz Recipe Idea

Blue Ice suggest the following recipe for a Grapefruit Gin Fizz:

• 100oz grapefruit juice
• 50oz prosecco
• 33oz gin
• 75oz lemonade
• 25oz simple syrup

The result is a bright, citrus-led frozen cocktail that works well as a summer special, beer garden drink or event serve. For a non-alcoholic version, the gin and prosecco could be removed or replaced with suitable alcohol-free alternatives.

Why Use a Frozen Drinks Machine?

Frozen drinks are a strong menu addition because they feel more premium than a standard...

As easy as 1, 2, 3...

Our award-winning interest-free credit process couldn't be simpler! In just three steps, you have access to market-leading products without the initial capital outlay.

Purchasing on interest-free credit means that you’ll have more cash in your bank to get your business back on its feet. There is no minimum order value, so even if you’re just looking for an undercounter, we’re here to support you.

Commercial refrigeration runs all day, every day, so energy efficiency is an important factor when choosing equipment.

A fridge or freezer with a better energy rating can significantly reduce electricity consumption and lower running costs over time.

For many businesses, the savings on energy can quickly outweigh a slightly higher purchase price.

Understanding energy ratings helps you make a more informed choice when comparing commercial refrigeration.

With jacket potatoes surging in popularity across the UK, more people are considering starting a jacket potato trailer, van or pop-up food business. Social media has shown just how profitable a simple menu can be when it’s done properly, but success comes down to the right setup behind the scenes.

This guide breaks down the essential equipment you need to start selling jacket potatoes professionally, without overcomplicating things or overspending.

Why jacket potatoes work so well for traders

Jacket potatoes are one of the most reliable street food options available. They are filling, affordable, easy to customise and suitable for a wide range of dietary requirements. Customers understand them instantly, which means faster ordering and quicker service.

For traders, they offer strong margins, low food waste and a menu that can be scaled up or down depending on demand.

Choosing your setup: trailer, van or fixed site

Before buying equipment, decide where you’ll be operating.

A trailer...

The humble jacket potato is having a serious revival. Once seen as a safe but slightly boring menu option, baked potatoes are now firmly back in the spotlight across the UK. Searches for jacket potatoes in the UK have increased by nearly 200 percent, highlighting just how strong the current jacket potato trend has become.

A big part of this renewed interest comes down to high profile street food traders who have turned the spud into a social media star. If you have noticed longer queues at jacket potato vans or more cafés adding them back onto menus, you are not imagining it.

The social media effect

Much of the surge in popularity can be traced to viral food traders such as Spudman and Spud Bros. Their videos regularly attract millions of views by doing something very simple exceptionally well.

Perfectly crisp skins, split open and fluffed up, finished with generous toppings. This style of content works brilliantly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and it has directly influenced...

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