Middleby acquires EVO America

ELGIN - The Middleby Corp. has acquire EVO America, Inc. a Portland, Ore.-based designer and manufacturer of ventless cooking equipment for the commercial food service industry.

Terms of the acquisition were not announced. EVO America has approximately $8 million in annual revenues.

"The EVO acquisition further adds to our expanding portfolio of ventless cooking solutions," said Selim A. Bassoul, Chairman and CEO of The Middleby Corpo. "We see a growing demand for diversity in ventless cooking options as operators understand the significant costs associated with the installation of traditional ventilation.

"Additionally, customers are increasingly in search of solutions that minimize restrictions imposed by externally vented hoods and duct work, as they cook in nontraditional locations and add new equipment to existing kitchens," Bassoul added. "EVO has a patented ventless technology that can be incorporated into innovative designs that will provide our customers with a smaller footprint and greater flexibility. We believe there is strong growth potential as we integrate the EVO technology with other Middleby brands and cooking solutions and introduce EVO to Middleby's sales and distribution channels."

Elgin-based Middleby Corporation is a manufacturer and supplier of equipment in the food service industry. It sells equipment to commercial and residential customers under several brand names including Viking, TurboChef, Toastmaster, Follett and Crown Food Equipment.