NEWS


changed hands. Another notable period of his pre-SBS career was his tenure as a sales manager for PTS in the East Midlands region. In 1999, Smith joined Smith


Tony Smith celebrates 25 years at SBS


Smith Brothers Stores recently celebrated the 25-year tenure of sales


director Tony Smith. Reflecting on his journey, the company acknowledged his significant achievements and the impact he has made on the organisation.


Smith began his sales career at R Pochin and Sons, now known as Pochin, a plumbing and heating distributor in Leicestershire. Demonstrating a natural talent for sales and a deep understanding of customer needs, he worked at the same premises for over 18 years, beginning in 1981, even as ownership


Brothers as a sales manager, bringing with him experience from the plumbing and heating sector. His aptitude for numbers, a trait inherited from his late father, John Smith, quickly earned him recognition from senior members within the business. In 2005, Tony became sales director, where he set out to inspire the staff, driven by the SBS ethos of staff, stock, and service. In addition to focusing on sales, he served as the Midlands director, making decisions for six of the branches. His dedication was instrumental in expanding the business and branch network from three Midlands-based branches to twenty-one across the UK. He


also plays a role in maintaining strong relationships with the supply chain, ensuring the best products and services were offered to customers. Outside of his professional life, Smith is the captain of the over-60s Leicestershire table tennis team. Under his leadership, the team reached the top of the Premier Division, boasting an impressive track record of winning all but one of their matches over the last three years. He is also a world-ranked pinball player with the International Flipper Pinball Association, participating in tournaments to earn ranking points.


FEA helps secure exemption to new F-Gas regulations for refrigeration equipment


T


he Foodservice Equipment


Association (FEA),


in collaboration with its European partners in EFCEM, (the European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers)


has been successful in their attempt to gain a temporary exemption to certain types of refrigeration equipment covered by new EU regulations covering F-gases, due to come into force on the 1 January 2025.The implementing regulation will be published soon in the Official Journal of the European Union(OJEU). The new regulations aim to phase out the use


of refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP) like R452A, which is currently commonly used in a wide range of commercial foodservice refrigeration. Due to a lack of compatible components and technology that can work with


alternative refrigerants, FEA has been working with EFCEM to lobby EU legislators to exempt certain critical equipment from the new regulations, to allow manufacturers time to develop new technology and alternative refrigerants. The exemption means that specific types of self- contained refrigeration equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP of 150 or more can continue to be sold until the 30 June 2026, provided they are labelled pursuant to Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573. The exemption includes:


• Ice makers with a production capacity from 200 to 2000kg per 24 hours


• Blast cabinets with a load capacity between 25 to 100kg


• Retarder prover cabinets with an absorbed power between 1kW and 2kW


• Chilled trolleys with a rated power input from 1.5 kW to 10.5 kW


Download the ACR News app today


• Artisanal gelato makers with a cooling capacity greater than 2kW.


“FEA fully supports the aims of the new regulations, but certain types of refrigeration equipment present big challenges when it comes to replacing refrigerants without compromising on standards of quality and safety,” said Andy Threlfall, technical and policy director at FEA. “The exemption that we and our partners have managed to secure ensures that equipment that is vital to many parts of the food service sector can remain available while alternatives are developed.” Threlfall emphasised that it is important that the time covered by the temporary exemption is not wasted. “We hope that manufacturers take full advantage of this period of grace to evolve their equipment and find alternatives that comply with the F-gas regulations by 2026,” he said. “Developing and deploying new technology will be a vital part of meeting the industry’s Net Zero targets.”


www.acr-news.com • January 2025 11


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40