Biozone Scientific partnered with the Rottinghaus Company, the largest franchisee of SUBWAY® stores globally, to address hygiene issues and reduce operational costs related to their ice machines. The Rottinghaus Company, headquartered in La Crosse, WI, operates over 400 SUBWAY® stores across the Midwestern United States. They were facing significant expenses and operational challenges in keeping their ice machines clean and compliant with health standards.
Rottinghaus discovered that the cost of cleaning and maintaining their ice machines was alarmingly high, far exceeding the initial purchase costs of the machines. Frequent cleanings were necessary to prevent contamination from bacteria, fungus, mold, and yeast, which could lead to health inspection infractions, poor beverage quality, and potential harm to customers. The manual cleaning process was also a drain on employee time and resources, as it involved disassembling the machines, applying chemical sanitizers, and disposing of contaminated ice.
After testing various methods without success, Rottinghaus found a promising solution at a SUBWAY® franchise owner exhibition—Biozone Scientific’s Icezone system. Icezone uses Photoplasma™ technology to create an environment inside the ice machine that inhibits the growth of biofilm and other contaminants. This automated, chemical-free system not only reduced the need for frequent cleanings but also provided a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to ice machine maintenance.
Rottinghaus initially tested the Icezone system in one of their stores. After a five-week trial, they found that the ice machine remained as clean as it was after its last professional cleaning. Encouraged by these results, they expanded the testing to eight additional sites. The consistent performance led to the decision to install Icezone in all of their ice machines.
The implementation of Icezone resulted in:
Enhanced hygiene and compliance with health regulations
Significant cost savings on ice machine cleaning and maintenance
Reduced service calls related to ice machine issues
Extended lifespan of the ice machines
Through their partnership with Biozone Scientific, Rottinghaus successfully tackled the challenge of maintaining clean and safe ice machines across their SUBWAY® stores. The Icezone system not only delivered measurable cost savings but also improved operational efficiency and ensured a higher standard of hygiene. This case study demonstrates Biozone Scientific’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance both operational performance and public health.
Visit our Icezone Page for more information, and try our ROI calculator whilst you’re there – you never know how much you could save!
