ITW Food Equipment Group Announces First Winner of Save Your Kitchen 2026

Ft. Worth, TX (April 10, 2026) – ITW Food Equipment Group, parent company of Hobart, Traulsen, and Vulcan, is pleased to announce Bethlehem Elementary of Bethlehem, Connecticut as the Round 1 winner of the 2026 Save Your Kitchen contest. The district’s winning entry was submitted by Maryellen Lattanzio, Foodservice Manager for Bethlehem Elementary School.

The Region 14 School District serves the towns of Bethlehem and Woodbury, with 1,541 students across two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Bethlehem Elementary, where the new equipment will be installed, is celebrating its 100th anniversary next school year, and the district’s Ellis Clark Regional Agriscience Program has been a cornerstone of the community for over a century.

The Food Service Department's mission is clear: to provide students and staff with delicious, nutritious meals that fuel success in and out of the classroom. According to Lattanzio, maintaining reasonable operating costs while still delivering high‑quality meals remains one of the district’s biggest challenges. Equipment updates like those from the Save Your Kitchen contest help alleviate these pressures.

“We are so excited to have won the Save Your Kitchen contest,” said Lattanzio. “This opportunity allows us to replace aging equipment and helps with the ongoing challenge of rising operating expenses.” To support their efforts, Region 14 has selected the Centerline by Hobart EDGE13A automatic slicer and a Traulsen RHT232WUT reach‑in refrigerator, and will also receive a Vulcan VBP15 heated holding cabinet as part of their prize package.

Region 14 has long relied on ITW Food Equipment brands, including Hobart and Vulcan, and values the reliability and durability they deliver. The new equipment awarded through the contest will replace older models at Bethlehem Elementary, which will allow the foodservice team to stay better focused on their mission of providing high‑quality, healthy foods for students.

The district is known for its innovative foodservice staff, a team that excels at developing menu items both students and faculty enjoy. With proper tools and reliable equipment in place, their dishes receive consistently excellent reviews.

Looking ahead, Region 14 is working to expand its Farm to School initiatives, bringing more locally grown products into school menus and strengthening community partnerships.
When asked why other districts should consider entering the Save Your Kitchen contest, Lattanzio shared: “Entering the promotion is a great opportunity for K‑12 foodservice programs to replace aging kitchen equipment with new, high‑quality products.”

ABOUT TRAULSEN
Traulsen, an ITW Food Equipment Group brand, has been providing the most trusted refrigeration equipment for food service and food retail operations since 1938. Traulsen engineers a broad refrigeration product offering that includes reach-ins, roll-ins, undercounters, blast chillers, prep tables, merchandisers, and milk coolers. Traulsen is part of ITW Food Equipment Group LLC (a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works) and is proud to be an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2008. To learn more about Traulsen, visit www.traulsen.com or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/traulsen.

ABOUT HOBART
At Hobart, an ITW Food Equipment Group brand, people and food are our passion. We believe great food brings people together, and the relationships we share feed our inspiration to be the best we can be for one another. As a food equipment manufacturer and service provider, we’ve been dedicated for more than a century to supporting those who are not only passionate about creating great food but are inspired by the people they serve and come to know on a daily basis. Likewise, it is our mission to provide premium food equipment that food service and food retail professionals can trust to work hard and deliver quality, consistent results day in and day out, empowering them to focus on what they love most- creating great food for great people. Backed by our nationwide network of 1,500 factory-trained service technicians, we’re always nearby to install, maintain, and service your equipment. Hobart is part of ITW Food Equipment Group LLC (a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works) and is proud to be an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2008. Explore Hobart by visiting www.hobartcorp.com, connecting with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hobartfoodequipment, or by contacting your local Hobart representative at 888-4HOBART.

ABOUT VULCAN
Masterful design. Precision performance. State-of-the-art innovation. For more than 160 years, Vulcan has been recognized by chefs and operators throughout the world for top-quality, energy-efficient commercial cooking equipment that consistently produces spectacular results. Trust Vulcan to help make your culinary creations turn out just right-each and every time. Vulcan is part of ITW Food Equipment Group (NYSE: ITW). For more information, visit vulcanequipment.com.