Duke Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
Duke Manufacturing Co. designs and manufactures foodservice
equipment for major restaurant chains, schools, and institutions. It is one of the 150 largest privately-held companies in St. Louis, Missouri
. The company has two Missouri
manufacturing facilities and distribution and service centers in Exeter
, Prague
, and Shanghai
.
. The original building was at almost the exact location where the Gateway Arch
now stands. After only two years, the need for more space forced the company to move to a larger building two miles north.
During World War II
, Duke produced galley
equipment for Landing Ship, Tanks, which transported troops and supplies around the world. The company was honored with the Army-Navy "E" Award for excellence in the production of war equipment. Employees were recognized, as well, with their own "E" emblem pins to wear. Less than 4% of companies engaged in war work were given this honor.
Duke entered research and development partnerships with multinational restaurant chains in the late 1990s. These agreements produced innovative and energy-efficient serving and cooking equipment. The growth of the restaurant chains prompted Duke to expand internationally. Duke equipment can now be found in more than 100 countries.
In November 2010, Duke announced the acquisition of SteelKor, LLC, another St. Louis-based manufacturer of equipment for the foodservice
industry.
fabrication. The equipment is used in quick serve restaurants, full serve restaurants, convenience store
s, corrections
facilities, colleges, schools, hospitals, and hotels.
SteelKor's products include the X-Green Produce Safety System and the X-Clean and X-Stream commercial warewashers.
Duke is ISO 14001 certified for manufacturing processes that have a minimal environmental impact. In 2009, the emphasis on energy efficiency earned the Energy Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Foodservice
Food Service or catering industry defines those businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home...
equipment for major restaurant chains, schools, and institutions. It is one of the 150 largest privately-held companies in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The company has two Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
manufacturing facilities and distribution and service centers in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Company History
In 1925, Marsh P. Duke founded Duke Manufacturing Co. in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The original building was at almost the exact location where the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
now stands. After only two years, the need for more space forced the company to move to a larger building two miles north.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Duke produced galley
Galley (kitchen)
The galley is the compartment of a ship, train or aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It can also refer to a land based kitchen on a naval base or a particular formed household kitchen.-Ship's kitchen:...
equipment for Landing Ship, Tanks, which transported troops and supplies around the world. The company was honored with the Army-Navy "E" Award for excellence in the production of war equipment. Employees were recognized, as well, with their own "E" emblem pins to wear. Less than 4% of companies engaged in war work were given this honor.
Duke entered research and development partnerships with multinational restaurant chains in the late 1990s. These agreements produced innovative and energy-efficient serving and cooking equipment. The growth of the restaurant chains prompted Duke to expand internationally. Duke equipment can now be found in more than 100 countries.
In November 2010, Duke announced the acquisition of SteelKor, LLC, another St. Louis-based manufacturer of equipment for the foodservice
Foodservice
Food Service or catering industry defines those businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home...
industry.
Products
Duke Manufacturing Co. produces buffet serving systems, prepared food product holding equipment, ovens, broilers, and stainless steelStainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
fabrication. The equipment is used in quick serve restaurants, full serve restaurants, convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s, corrections
Corrections
In criminal justice, particularly in North America, correction, corrections, and correctional, are umbrella terms describing a variety of functions typically carried out by government agencies and involving the punishment, treatment, and supervision of persons who have been convicted of crimes....
facilities, colleges, schools, hospitals, and hotels.
SteelKor's products include the X-Green Produce Safety System and the X-Clean and X-Stream commercial warewashers.
Duke is ISO 14001 certified for manufacturing processes that have a minimal environmental impact. In 2009, the emphasis on energy efficiency earned the Energy Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Energy.