It can be challenging to serve an average of 110,000 meals a day using a storage room that hasn’t been updated for two decades. When Mike Genco, Director of Food and Nutritional Services at AdventHealth Ocala in Ocala, Fla., had the opportunity to make changes to the back of house, he made a list that included LED lighting, floors, table space, small wares and shelving.
“The storeroom was a basic. [The shelving] was before shelving was made to be six inches off [the floor] so you could sweep and mop under it for sanitary reasons. It was old fashioned…it was terrible. It consumed a lot of space,” said Genco.
Genco decided to completely redo their storeroom with Camshelving® Elements XTRA High Density Storage System for three key reasons:
1. Increased Space
Genco described the previous state of the storeroom as messy and difficult to navigate due to a variety of carts that were being used as storage inside.
Using the foundation of Camshelving Elements XTRA, our high density storage system uses two stationary starter units anchored to a raised floor track, with mobile units in between to increase storage while maintaining a small footprint.
“[High density] shelving was really high [on my list] just because our space was so limited. I thought we could probably gain 20%,” said Genco.
“Not only did we gain storage shelving space, but—this may sound crazy—there's actually more room to move around and there's no carts in the way.”
Genco called his local Cambro rep, Finn Foodservice, to do an assessment and create a drawing of their space to ensure they were making the most of it.
“When [my rep] was through, it’s just a joy to walk in there. We had the floors waxed again and without a doubt, it was a game changer,” said Genco.
2. No Shelving Covers
In healthcare facilities, guidelines are very strict about keeping the bottom shelf covered to prevent cross-contamination from mopping. When using wire shelving, operators must use a shelving cover to comply with regulations. Camshelving has the option of solid shelf plates, eliminating the need to use shelf covers.
“Probably a huge benefit is not having to cut shelving covers. Because with wire shelving, you need that on the bottom two shelves at least and that becomes cumbersome because those shelves crack, they slide and they get dirty because they catch everything and they crack unlike the Cambro shelves,” said Genco.
3. Low Maintenance
Cleaning wire shelving is one of the most high maintenance tasks you could be asked to do in a kitchen. Using Camshelving, Genco is able to incorporate running shelf plates through their dishwasher as part of their cleaning schedule.
“It’s a very simple process. The material is perfect, it doesn’t absorb anything when it goes through the dish machine. We’ve already done a few just for in-servicing reasons. It cleans well, it dries well and you put it back,” said Genco.
As with any facility, accidents happen. With wire shelving, properly cleaning up after a spill can be extremely difficult.
“With Cambro, you don’t have to take the whole shelf off, it’s in sections,” said Genco. “If you notice in one section there was a spillage, you could take that section off and put it through the machine. It’s smart.”
BONUS: Increased Morale
When Genco tells his team he wants to promote a safe and organized work environment, he means it. He believes you need to equip your team with the right tools and follow through with your word in order to foster a positive culture.
“There’s a sense of pride there, and not only is there pride, we talked about this three or four months prior and now we’re bringing it to fruition, which is a huge trust incentive both ways. It does more than just bring new shelving in,” said Genco.
Genco was no stranger to Camshelving; he’s transformed the shelving in facilities all over the country during his career.
“Even though I’ve done it so many times, it’s always different because it’s so unique to that facility. I’m extremely proud of the outcome,” said Genco.
Click here to find the best Camshelving options for your operation.
AUTHOR: ADRIANA COCHRAN IS THE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AT CAMBRO.
