A Stratford-based maker of intelligent controls, timers and sensors for commercial cooking appliances has acquired two Florida-based control systems manufacturers as it seeks to diversify its customer base.
Kitchen Brains announced Wednesday that it purchased Micro Control Systems (MCS) and Sensing Technologies Inc. (STI), both headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition marks Kitchen Brains’ first since private equity firm Source Capital acquired the company in 2022. It significantly expands the manufacturer’s market beyond commercial cooking equipment that has been its focus since 1969.
MCS, founded in 1994, designs and manufactures controllers, sensors and compressors for commercial HVAC, refrigeration, nuclear HVAC, data centers and pool applications.
STI produces precision sensors for HVAC and mission-critical industrial uses.
Both companies will begin integrating into Kitchen Brains’ technologies immediately, according to an announcement.
“MCS and STI represent exactly the kind of companies we want to build with — technically advanced, customer-focused, and led by people who understand what it takes to solve real-world problems,” said Christian Koether, CEO of Kitchen Brains.
Kitchen Brains manufactures intelligent controls, timers and sensors for commercial cooking appliances used by quick-service restaurants, convenience stores, hospitals and stadiums worldwide. The company’s systems monitor time, temperature and food holding, automating cooking processes and alerting staff to issues like open freezer doors or products held beyond safe limits.
Kitchen Brains’ Stratford facility employs about 110 workers. The company recently invested close to $2 million in new manufacturing equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing production capacity by 40%.
Kitchen Brains also operates a technology center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has offices in London, Shanghai and Singapore. Its products are used in more than 125 countries.
