PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — In a strategic move designed to reinforce its market penetration and elevate customer service standards across the American South-Central region, Hoshizaki America Inc. has officially announced a new manufacturer representation partnership with Forbes Hever & Wallace (FH&W).
The collaboration, finalized in August, unites a global leader in commercial icemaking and refrigeration equipment with a prominent, highly regarded regional representative firm. Under the terms of the agreement, Forbes Hever & Wallace will spearhead the promotion, sales support, and market development for Hoshizaki America’s extensive portfolio of commercial ice equipment and reach-in refrigeration products—notably including the flagship Steelheart and Valiance product lines—across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
This strategic alignment comes at a time of dynamic growth and shifting operational demands within the commercial food service industry. By combining Hoshizaki’s world-renowned manufacturing precision and reliability with FH&W’s deeply rooted regional relationships, the partnership aims to deliver enhanced value, streamlined distribution support, and superior refrigeration solutions to dealers, consultants, operators, and end-users throughout the tri-state territory.
Main Facts: The Core Partnership
The collaboration between Hoshizaki America and Forbes Hever & Wallace is built on a foundation of mutual industry leadership and shared commitments to customer satisfaction.
- The Partners: Hoshizaki America Inc., based in Peachtree City, Georgia, is a globally recognized innovator and manufacturer of commercial ice machines, refrigerators, freezers, prep tables, and dispensers. Forbes Hever & Wallace is a premier manufacturers’ representative agency with a stellar track record in the commercial food service equipment sector.
- The Territory: The partnership covers three vital economic and culinary hubs in the South-Central United States: Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
- The Product Scope: FH&W will exclusively represent Hoshizaki’s premier ice equipment lineup alongside its robust reach-in refrigeration catalog, which features specialized, high-performance brands such as Steelheart and Valiance.
- The Objective: To leverage FH&W’s extensive market knowledge, localized industry experience, and established relationships with key stakeholders—including equipment dealers, foodservice consultants, multi-unit operators, and independent end-users—to drive accelerated growth and deeper brand engagement.
Chronology: How the Collaboration Unfolded
While official announcements were made public in August, strategic alignments of this magnitude are typically the result of months of careful market analysis, alignment of corporate values, and rigorous evaluation processes.
Phase 1: Strategic Evaluation and Territory Assessment
Earlier in the year, leadership teams at Hoshizaki America conducted a comprehensive review of their distribution and representation networks across the South-Central region. Recognizing the explosive growth in commercial culinary developments, hospitality projects, and institutional food service operations in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, Hoshizaki sought a representative partner capable of matching the territory’s rapid economic expansion with localized expertise.
Phase 2: Identifying the Ideal Partner
Forbes Hever & Wallace emerged as a prime candidate due to its stellar reputation within the region. Known for its consultative sales approach, technical aptitude, and deep-seated ties to local dealer networks and foodservice consultants, FH&W possessed the precise infrastructure required to support Hoshizaki’s diverse customer base.
Phase 3: Agreement Finalization and Product Integration
During the summer months, executives from both organizations finalized the terms of the representation agreement. This phase included comprehensive product training sessions, aligning sales pipelines, and integrating Hoshizaki’s commercial ice and reach-in refrigeration portfolios—specifically highlighting the Steelheart and Valiance series—into FH&W’s active outreach programs.
Phase 4: Public Announcement and Market Rollout
In August, Hoshizaki America officially released the news to the commercial refrigeration and food service industries, marking the formal beginning of joint operations across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Sales teams from both companies immediately initiated collaborative planning sessions to ensure a seamless transition for regional clients.
Supporting Data & Industry Context: The South-Central Foodservice Landscape
To fully understand the significance of this partnership, one must examine the unique economic and demographic characteristics of the South-Central region, as well as the technical specifications of the product lines being represented.
The Economic Powerhouse of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
The South-Central United States represents one of the most vibrant and resilient food service markets in the world.
- Texas boasts several of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States (including Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio), driving unprecedented demand for restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, and institutional dining establishments.
- Oklahoma and Arkansas feature thriving tourism, expanding healthcare systems, and rapidly modernizing educational campus dining halls that require rugged, dependable commercial refrigeration equipment.
In such a high-demand environment, equipment downtime is not an option. Food service operators require reliable icemaking and food storage solutions backed by responsive, knowledgeable local representatives who can assist with equipment sizing, specification writing, and after-sales support.
Spotlight on Represented Product Lines: Steelheart and Valiance
Under the new agreement, Forbes Hever & Wallace will heavily champion Hoshizaki’s specialized refrigeration lines, which have earned industry-wide acclaim for durability, energy efficiency, and innovative design:
- Steelheart Series: Engineered for heavy-duty commercial kitchen environments, the Steelheart line features robust stainless steel construction, advanced digital temperature controls, and high-efficiency refrigeration systems. Designed to withstand the rigorous demands of bustling restaurants and institutional kitchens, Steelheart refrigerators and freezers provide exceptional temperature recovery and food safety compliance.
- Valiance Series: Known for offering an optimal blend of performance, versatility, and value, the Valiance line caters to operators seeking dependable storage solutions without compromising on modern technological features or energy efficiency.
- Hoshizaki Ice Equipment: Renowned globally for legendary reliability, Hoshizaki’s ice makers (producing crescent, cube, flake, and nugget ice) utilize advanced sanitation technologies and energy-saving mechanisms that lower utility costs while ensuring continuous ice production.
Official Responses and Executive Perspectives
Leadership from both Hoshizaki America and Forbes Hever & Wallace have expressed immense enthusiasm regarding the potential of this partnership.
Sean Evans, South-Central Regional Sales Director at Hoshizaki America, underscored the strategic value of the collaboration in a company press release:
“We’re excited to welcome Forbes Hever & Wallace to the Hoshizaki team. They bring a great understanding of the market and the customers we serve. I’m looking forward to our teams working together and combining that local expertise with Hoshizaki’s product offering to make an even greater impact across the territory.”
Industry analysts note that Evans’ emphasis on "local expertise" highlights a critical trend in commercial equipment manufacturing: the necessity of decentralized, highly knowledgeable representation. While Hoshizaki provides world-class engineering and manufacturing prowess, firms like FH&W supply the boots-on-the-ground relationships necessary to navigate localized building codes, kitchen design trends, and client-specific operational challenges.
Representatives from Forbes Hever & Wallace similarly echoed these sentiments, noting that adding Hoshizaki’s premier ice and refrigeration brands to their portfolio significantly strengthens their value proposition to regional dealers, consultants, and end-users. By offering a comprehensive suite of market-leading products, FH&W is uniquely positioned to serve as a single-source consultative partner for comprehensive kitchen solutions.
Implications for the Commercial Food Service Industry
The partnership between Hoshizaki America and Forbes Hever & Wallace carries wide-ranging implications for various stakeholders across the commercial refrigeration and food service ecosystems.
1. For Equipment Dealers and Distributors
Dealers operating in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas will benefit from streamlined communication channels, enhanced local inventory availability, and more responsive technical and sales support. With FH&W acting as an accessible liaison, dealers can secure quicker quote turnarounds, access expert product recommendations, and navigate complex project specifications with greater ease.
2. For Foodservice Consultants and Specifiers
Kitchen designers, architects, and foodservice consultants require precise data regarding equipment dimensions, utility requirements, energy ratings, and thermal performance. The combined expertise of Hoshizaki’s engineering teams and FH&W’s regional application specialists will ensure that consultants receive accurate, timely documentation for projects ranging from independent boutique restaurants to massive multi-unit hospitality complexes.
3. For Restaurant Owners and End-Users
Ultimately, the primary beneficiaries of this partnership are the operators on the front lines of food service. Restaurants, bars, hotels, schools, hospitals, and convenience stores rely heavily on continuous ice production and precise temperature control to maintain food safety and deliver exceptional guest experiences. By streamlining the sales and support pipeline for Hoshizaki’s Steelheart and Valiance refrigeration units and industry-leading ice machines, operators can minimize equipment acquisition friction and maximize operational uptime.
Looking Ahead
As Hoshizaki America and Forbes Hever & Wallace embark on this joint venture, the broader commercial refrigeration market will be watching closely. In an era where supply chain resilience, product reliability, and localized expertise are paramount, strategic partnerships that bridge the gap between premier manufacturing and regional representation serve as a blueprint for sustainable industry growth.
With a shared dedication to quality, innovation, and customer-centric service, the alliance between Hoshizaki America and FH&W is well-positioned to set a new benchmark for excellence throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the wider American South-Central commercial food service landscape.