FAST Partners With Cooper Instrument Corporation

Leading Food Safety Technology Providers Unite to Automate HACCP Compliance in the Commercial Kitchen

STRATFORD, Conn., and MIDDLEFIELD, Conn., May 12, 2000 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST), and Cooper Instrument Corporation announced today a strategic partnership under which they will jointly develop HACCP compliance tools and technologies to assist foodservice operators in reducing the risk of food-borne illness.

Cooper manufacturers a full range of temperature, time, and humidity instruments, while FAST, provides unique process control software and hardware for the commercial kitchen. Both companies have long-standing commitments and extensive product portfolios dedicated to food safety enhancement in the restaurant and hospitality environments.

Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on extension of FAST’s patented Smart Commercial Kitchen (SCK) technology to Cooper's award-winning line of hand held HACCP managers and explore other labor-saving technologies that enhance food safety.

"Operators are struggling with an increasingly competitive labor market while at the same time having to add labor-intensive processes to maintain food safety," said Carol Wallace, President/CEO of Cooper Instrument Corp. "Our partnership with FAST enables us to share expertise and deliver to our customers a highly automated and proactive, yet simple approach to food safety and HACCP compliance."

Ben Koether, Chairman/CEO of FAST said, "To ensure food safety in their restaurants, operators must currently rely on a series of manual steps to collect, document and report critical times and temperatures. Using SCK's open system, our customers can automatically aggregate the data collected from portable HACCP managers with other temperature monitoring devices and systems. This solution touches all points in the restaurant and puts comprehensive food safety information at the operator's fingertips."

Cooper’s latest HACCP manager, the HT3100, is a closed-loop thermometer system that not only measures temperature, but is also a data collector with built-in alarms when detecting high or low temperature ranges on site.

Designed to eliminate the need for manual processes in the kitchen, SCK links appliances and other devices together and collects, shares and interprets data, allowing managers to automate production and preparation rates as well as monitor critical times and temperatures. The latest version of the SCK network (Version 2.0) includes a predictive cooking application that utilizes a Kitchen Status Monitor (KSM) to enhance labor efficiency by prompting the operator throughout the production process and acting as a "virtual" kitchen manager.

FAST and Cooper have demonstrated leadership in the food safety solutions arena. Both companies boast ServSafe certified food safety professionals at every level of their organizations and are actively involved in deploying food safety enhancement technologies to leading operators.

Cooper is a national sponsor of the Educational Foundation for the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe program and is an active member of the International Council on Food Safety.

FAST has recently announced Smart Commercial Kitchen alliances with several leading retail IT solutions providers, including NCR Corp., Tridex/Progressive Software, and Compris Technologies. In addition to Cooper, other leading-edge foodservice manufacturers who are SCK partners with FAST include Garland, Blodgett, Blodgett Combi, Duke, BKI, Marshall Air Systems, Keating, Ultrafryer Systems, and Imperial.

About Cooper
Cooper Instrument Corporation, the "Innovator in the Industry" is a leading manufacturer of temperature, time, and humidity instruments, for a variety of commercial, industrial, and household applications. Cooper is also a national sponsor of the Educational Foundation for the National Restaurant Association’s SERVSAFE® program and active member on the Industry Council on Food Safety. For further information on any Cooper product, contact our Customer Service Department at (860) 347-2256 or E-mail cserv@cooperinstrument.com

About FAST
FAST, headquartered in Stratford, Conn., is the leading manufacturer of appliance controls specially developed for use in the foodservice and related industries. As the pioneer of process controls for multi-unit restaurants 30 years ago, FAST continues to lead the design and engineering of equipment controls that produce premium food quality and are easy to use. FAST is an approved controls supplier at leading quick service restaurants worldwide, including KFC, Burger King, Popeyes, Arby's, Churchs Chicken, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, and others. More information about FAST's products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at www.fastinc.com, requested via e-mail at jdaniel@fastinc.com, or by calling 1-800-327-8766.

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