restaurant supplier has central location

Since 1977, Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies Inc. has had a strong relationship with the Toledo area food service industry.

"We were a one-stop shop locally, but not nationally," said sales manager Amador Reyna, Jr.

But in 2002, Jameel M. Burkett, whose father and grandfather founded the company, joined the firm and was given license to make changes.

Mr. Burkett, vice president of operations, earned a degree in information systems at the University of Toledo and was convinced new technologies could help. He put the company on the Internet and set up an online store on eBay.

The moves spurred 1,200 percent sales growth in four years.

"California is now our largest market," said Mr. Burkett, who plans to create a catalog next year to display the firm's 50,000-item inventory.

His father and the company's chief executive, Mike Burkett, admitted surprise at how high the firm has risen in a short time.

But in a highly competitive industry, the company has another edge - its 178,000 square foot warehouse and showroom in Toledo, Mike Burkett said. "People nearby like the fact that they can drive here and inspect our refurbished equipment for themselves," he added.

One of those people is Jim Strachan, of Marco's Franchising LLC, which will open 50 pizza stores in 2006. Marco's this year chose Burkett as its preferred supplier of pizza ovens and dough mixers.

"When you're buying used equipment it's important to be able to check it out before you make the purchase," Mr. Strachan said. "They're giving me a year warranty on parts and service, as opposed to the standard 30 days."

Some restaurant suppliers sell only new equipment, others only used items. Burkett sells both, catering to start-up customers who usually are cash poor and large chains with millions to spend.

But just as vital as selling is the firm's purchasing of used items to refurbish. It buys from liquidators and obtains commercial-grade refrigerators, stoves, ovens, and other items from large retailers such as Kmart and others as they close stores or phase out snack bars.

The local company cleans the equipment, inspects it, replaces worn parts, paints it, and then issues a warranty.

The company was started by Mike Burkett and his father, the late Jameel Burkett.

The Burkett family knows the company's location near Swayne Field Shopping Center is in a less attractive area of Toledo, but the site is highly visible from I-75 and centrally located. It built a brightly lit showroom in its warehouse last year. "People can't believe it once they step inside," Mr. Reyna said.

Jameel Burkett and Mr. Reyna, both in their mid 20s, were friends before joining the firm four years ago. Both are highly competitive and worked together in sales at the former Gateway Computer store in Toledo.

Jameel Burkett wondered how the local firm would do if it got more aggressive. He obtained used equipment from an international retailer during a Kansas City trip, leading to a subsequent deal with the retailer for equipment from 250 of its stores.

"Sometimes you get lucky. We were in a great place at the right time," Mr. Burkett said.

Contact Jon Chavez at:

jchavez@theblade.com

or 419-724-6128.

Small Business Profile is a weekly feature on local companies. To be considered, send information about your company to Small Business Profiles, Business News, The Blade, P.O. Box 921, Toledo, Ohio 43697-0921.

First Published October 9, 2006, 9:34 a.m.