Commercial Kitchen Stop Boost Its One-Stop-Shop Services with Delray Acquisition
Recognizing succession planning as a strategic opportunity for acquisitions, Scott Delaney, a co-founder of Commercial Kitchen Stop (CKS), has been reaching out to other dealers in Florida inquiring about their interest in selling. Recently, CKS found a fit with Delray Foodservice Equipment and Reconditioning, leading it to purchase the other dealer.
Having been friendly competitors since CKS began operations in 2017, Delaney praised Delray’s range of services and the leadership of founder Frank Stolino. After talking with Delray’s customers and seeing how the company works, Delaney said it was clear the dealer would mesh with CKS’ culture and that Stolino shared the same core values of pursuit of progress, extreme ownership, the desire to do the right thing, and a dedication to having each other’s backs.
Stolino also brings more experience to CKS, a relatively new dealer with young owners and a lower average employee age than most other companies in the industry. Stolino will continue working with CKS, bringing more than 25 years of experience to the company. His addition builds on CKS’ strategy of adding industry expertise, as seen by the hiring of Chris Russo — a 30-year veteran of the foodservice sector who founded the Hurricane Grill & Wings brand — as director of sales and marketing in January 2025. “We’ve kind of been gunslingers and just figured it out along the way,” Delaney explained. “Balancing that youthful energy with institutional knowledge is something we want to focus on.”
While the injection of experience was important, CKS also valued Delray’s suite of services. In particular, the Lake Worth, Florida, dealer offers refurbished equipment, an area CKS lacked. Adding that option will enable CKS to offer better pricing to customers and expand its capabilities. The company already offers installation, warewashing and ice machine leasing, and Delaney said the addition of refurbished equipment builds on its goal of being a one-stop-shop. “Delray’s strength in design-build and their strength in reconditioned equipment made it a smart fit,” he said. “It really allows us to broaden the services we can offer the market.”
The acquisition closed on May 22, and Russo has spent much of his time since at Delray supporting the transition. He said the change has rejuvenated the Delray team and enabled them to focus on what they do best: servicing customers and selling food equipment. “From the consolidation standpoint and onboarding, it’s been very successful,” Russo said.
Some functions, such as purchasing, are being consolidated, but CKS and Delray will continue to operate two independent warehouses for at least the next 18 months. That will give CKS time to evaluate how to expand the refurbishment part of the business, which requires more warehouse space and more technicians.
It’s possible CKS will announce another acquisition before it decides to expand its warehouse or move to a new facility. Delaney said the company continues to talk to foodservice equipment and supplies distributors around the Sunshine State and that it sees acquisitions as a strategic way to grow.