Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Caterquip and what do you do?
Caterquip UK Ltd, supply catering equipment. Either:
- B grade, which is equipment that is new but cannot be sold as new because it is either last year's model, superficially damaged or ex demonstration.
- Reconditioned equipment which is equipment that has been in use commercially, bought by us, professionally reconditioned and then made ready for sale at heavily discounted prices.
We have been trading since 1996. During that time we are proud to have served over 3,000 customers.
How do I know that this equipment is going to last – and how old is it?
They are two good questions. Typically most commercial catering equipment functions well for many years, well past changes in ownership of most hotels and restaurants, and often it is changes in kitchen layout that dictate that equipment needs to be changed rather than the equipment performance. So the short answer is most equipment will last well past the needs of most buyers.
A lot of equipment comes onto the specialist second hand market because of changes in ownership of venues, or often because of changes in operational requirements. We don't buy and resell equipment that won't give you many years of experience, accepting of course that even new equipment sometimes has problems.
Why should I consider buying second hand equipment, I've always bought new?
You'll save a lot of money buying second hand equipment, and in our experience it will function perfectly well. We actually can't understand why anyone will buy new, because whatever your business or facility we're sure you've got lots of other pressing needs for your precious money.
You might consider buying new catering equipment to buying a new car. As soon as you drive the car off the forecourt, it does the same job, but it's worth a few thousand less immediately. Catering equipment is no different, it doesn't quite keep that sparkling brand new look for very long, yet it does the same job.
If you really want to buy new, we have a sister company that supplies new equipment, are very competitive and give a great service. But wouldn't you rather save a few thousand pounds?
Is Caterquip a reliable company and can I trust them?
As we say above, Caterquip UK Ltd has been established since 1996, and now have 15 staff, a UK network of service partners, purpose built workshops and a wide range of stock. We have been the largest company supplying reconditioned catering equipment to the UK market for the last 5 years.
Our customers have helped us establish this position as we have turned the "second hand dealer" perception into a professional industry by offering great value for money and customer service that is second to none.
You'll see lots of testimonials from our happy customers throughout our website.
What is reconditioned catering equipment?
Reconditioned catering equipment is equipment that can be restored to a standard where it can be resold and used by our customers with confidence. Once it is back at our depot, we put it through our workshop where it is thoroughly:
- Assessed
- Serviced
- Repaired
- Rigorously tested
- Thoroughly deep cleaned, polished and presented in shrink wrap.
Throughout the whole process we identify faults that either exist or could develop and we resolve these problems by replacing faulty or ‘tired' parts with new ones.
What is Caterquip's cleaning process?
We have a ‘deep' cleaning process that involves completely stripping out the piece of equipment, dipping the non working parts in a special built tank containing a COSHH assessed and environmentally friendly cleaning solution. From here they are rinsed, painted and presented. We have a high powered steam jet cleaner that cleanses all the harder to reach parts of the equipment safely and thoroughly.
Where do Caterquip purchase equipment from?
In the 12 years of trading we have built up highly productive relationships with a number of top brand manufactures, suppliers and distributors - check out our partner's pages to see the companies we work with. We have a team of buyers sourcing equipment and each item must be subjected to our 5 point check list before we will buy it. (Age, Condition, Work Load, Quality & Brand) This process forms the bedrock of our business and enables us to provide our customers with reliable top branded equipment at affordable prices
What is B grade equipment?
B grade equipment is brand new and represents incredible value for money. Because of exclusive arrangements with the key manufacturers, Caterquip is able to buy equipment in large quantities creating superb financial savings for our customers.
Sometimes the equipment still carries a full manufacturers warranty with it,
- Because it has been used for demonstration purposes
- It was last year's model and is now superseded by this year's model.
- It may have been returned on delivery because it has a dent in the panel.
In any event the equipment is bought by us, fully assessed, restored to full working condition and resold at a fraction of the original brand new price.
Do you provide design & planning services?
Although we do not have our own planning department you can always get help and advice to help with kitchen layout. Over the 12 years we have been in business we have gathered great expertise with design, operational and budget planning. We can supply you with accurate, though not to scale, power-point floor plans illustrating realistic kitchen ergonomics.
Should you require CAD drawings however, we work closely with a design team who will prepare them for you at typically affordable Caterquip prices.
How can I be sure I am getting the right equipment for my needs?
During the Sales Process, we can forward you photographs, technical specification and accurate measurements to ensure you are buying knowledgably and confidently. Our expertise compels us to never knowingly oversell and recommend the wrong type of equipment. If you are unhappy with your purchase upon delivery, we simply charge for delivery and return costs.
Can I view the equipment before I buy it?
Yes, we are based in Peterborough on the A1 motorway and you are very welcome to come along and view any of the equipment, the kettle is always on and we are happy to show you around our facility. Although we are not set up as a show room the equipment is still viewable. We are open Monday to Friday from 8.30 until 5.30, Please call for an appointment to make sure the right person is available to show you around.
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Do you deliver equipment?
You can have your equipment delivered anywhere nationwide. We have a fleet of brightly branded vehicles with special lifting equipment driven by polite uniformed drivers and drivers' mates who will help you position your equipment. At this time however our drivers are not trained to install equipment but we can advise a local install engineer to contact you.
Can I get training on catering equipment that I have not used before?
We work closely with a national company that is able to come to your premises and give you a complete overview of the equipment you have bought and how to use it.
What sort of warranty do you provide?
You will receive as standard a 3 month full parts and labour warranty on all of the equipment you purchase. In our experience problems are rare and usually present themselves within this time period.
What happens when the warranty runs out?
Caterquip have a network of engineers covering the UK. These engineers have become an essential part of our growth, supporting our promise to our customers and helping maintain customer satisfaction.
When your warranty expires we pass on the details of our engineer in your area to you so you can deal with them directly.
Can you help me by giving advice on my project?
We appreciate the difficulties you may experience when setting up a catering operation and will do our best to answer any questions you might have. Our managers all come from a catering background and together we have many years of operational and design experience to guide you through your first steps.
You can be provided with floor plans to illustrate how your kitchen will function. You'll find that we put emphasis on swift turnaround times when serving you from quote to delivery. You can get advice on many related issues which will help bring your project to fruition, and often, because of our perspective can point out things that you might not recognise until it is too late. Advice is always free. You can always call us.
How can I pay for my equipment, and what are your terms?
You can pay by all major credit / debit cards. You can also pay by cheque, bank transfer and cash. Our terms are 50% payment upon order and the final 50% on delivery. Credit terms are available subject to status.
I am a little worried about paying money to a company that I don't know well
The key to a long term relationship is transparency, honesty and commitment to customer service. We strive for perfection but occasionally things can go wrong. However we try to resolve everything to the satisfaction of our customers. If you wish to investigate our track record we publish customer testimonials and our credit ratings as published by Dunn and Bradstreet / Experian on our website. We have been in business for 12 years and we intend to evolve our goods and services to meet all future requirements. We will only achieve that goal if we give you confidence, value for money and great service.
What type of customers do you supply?
You'll find we'll look after your needs whether you are large or small.
Our more well known clients include: BBC Eastenders (The Beale/Massoud kitchen), Portsmouth Football Club, Walsall Football Club, PGL, P & O Ferries, Gordon Ramsey, Warner Leisure, Brook Hotels Group, Potters Leisure, City Limits Leisure, The Hilton Group, Marks & Spencer, Whitbread Brewery, Charles Wells Breweries, Oakham Ales.
You'll also find we supply all types of catering establishments – including hotels, restaurants, golf courses, sporting facilities, schools, hospitals, location caterers and care homes.