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The History of Server Products

In 1949, Alfred Wickesberg discovered theaters needed an efficient way to melt and serve butter on popcorn. While the initial idea disgusted Wickesberg, he saw an opportunity to create a product that could forever change the industry. After a relative loaned him the basement of a flour mill in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Wickesberg got to work and created Server's first product – an automatic butter warmer and dispenser.

Server saw rapid growth with this first product and decided to expand its catalog to meet other customer needs. The company's second product – a hot fudge dispenser – quickly followed along with other products aimed toward quick-service establishments. In 1974, the company began the process of moving out of Menomonee Falls, starting construction on its new location in Richfield, Wisconsin to accommodate its expanding product catalog.

Server's Second President

While Wickesberg was leading the company, his son Paul started working at Server, eventually taking over as president in 1989. During his time as the company's president, it focused on manufacturing innovative and category-defining foodservice products. As a result, Server launched its Express™ Pouched Serving Solutions in addition to dry food dispensers, pumps, and Express™ dispensing units. Server's exponential growth allowed Paul to establish the Alfred Wickesberg scholarship for employees in 1999 to honor his father's memory.

Three Generations of Leaders

As Paul Wickesberg's time at the company was coming to an end, his daughter Kristin Falkner began preparing to continue the family legacy. Falkner started working at Server in 1997 and became Server's president and CEO in 2009 – the same year Server consolidated under one roof in Richfield. In her first couple years leading Server, the company doubled its revenue and became debt free because of Falkner's focus on providing progressive, innovative solutions for quick-service and fast-casual restaurants.

In addition to her commitment to the company's financial success and cutting-edge product line, Falkner started leading the company into a focus on sustainable alternatives. Because of this initiative, Server began to reduce the amount of water, waste, and energy it takes to operate the product line and run the facility. Here are some strategies Server is implementing to be a more environmentally conscious company:

  • Any water made from manufacturing is taken to reclamation facilities for treatment and cleaning.
  • All excess materials are collected from the plant to be recycled and reused.
  • The facility's lighting was switched to fluorescent lamps to reduce energy consumption.
  • Most products are made with recyclable stainless steel.
  • Unlike disposable plastic pumps, Server's products offer sustainable portion control, minimizing food waste.

More Sustainable Initiatives

Along with Server's manufacturing initiatives, the company also aims to create products that enhance sustainability for customers. The company's ConserveWell® technology was designed to help operators reduce the amount of water waste that traditional dipper wells make. ConserveWell dipper wells hold serving utensils at temperatures higher than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, saving the average foodservice business roughly $250,000 a year.

Server is moving away from traditional manufacturing techniques and using a progressive approach that emphasizes technology to create and improve products. Server's upcoming SmartWares™ technology helps operators monitor their Server products to ensure they're running at optimal efficiency. This new technology has several capabilities:

  • Users can simply press a button to dispense products.
  • SmartWares sensors are activated by motion, QR code, or voice.
  • Products are POS capable.
  • WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled units allow staff to monitor equipment quickly and remotely.
  • Operators can analyze and store data in a cloud.

References

  1. A 3rd Generation Company Built on Family Values. Server. Accessed January 2023.
  2. Welcome to Food Intelligence. Server. Accessed January 2023.
  3. Sustaining Initiatives. Server. Accessed January 2023.
  4. EP 19 – Leadership: Get Uncomfortable Being Uncomfortable. Ixonia Bank. Accessed January 2023.
  5. Notable Women in Manufacturing: Kristin Falkner. BizTimes. Accessed January 2023.