Caption Text
Our Story
Howard – McCray is a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration products specializing in product display. With over 136 years of experience, a mature infrastructure and well-trained staff, Howard – McCray can assist you in solving your display requirements.
We trace our roots back to 1887, when McCray was founded in Kendallville, Indiana, by Mr. Elmer E McCray. Realizing the need to cut down the tremendous loss from food spoilage and to protect the public as well, McCray and his father built a cold storage room and in 1882 received a patent for their invention. McCray specialized in Wooden Ice Displays.
Howard was founded in 1949 by Albert Fogel and set up a factory in Philadelphia, PA moving to a new facility in 1961 at Grant Avenue when Albert’s son Howard Jeffrey Fogel (Jeff) joined the company.
In August of 1973 – Litton Industries announced the closure of McCray in Kendallville, IN and closed the factory in March of 1974. Litton sold all the assets of McCray except for the McCray Trademark. After being in business since 1887 – it brought to closure – the first known commercial refrigeration company in North America.
During 1974 – Albert & Jeff saw the market changing for Howard. The company was completing an order for Burger King (Undercounter) and Glass doors (Dr. Pepper) and competition was growing in these categories – Under counters & glass doors. Howard had NO Display Case Deli or Open Merchandisers to offer. In August of 1975 – Albert Fogel met with the Litton Team in Kendallville, IN to inquire about obtaining the “McCray Name”.
Jeff Fogel stated: “My father visited the old McCray factory in August 1975, and everything was gone – nothing left in the old McCray factory – no fixtures, no machines & no people”. “So, my father & I decided to buy the McCray name- which we did in late August of 1975” The McCray trademark was assigned from Litton to Howard Refrigerator Company on 8/29/1975 according to the US Patent & Trademark office.
In January of 1976 – McCray Refrigerator Company INC., was formed in Pennsylvania and Jeff Fogel became its first President. In 1976, Jeff proceeded to build an engineering team to design and manufacture the first DELI CASES for McCray being built in Philadelphia. Since Mr. Fogel owned the property at 2501 Grant Avenue, a 30,000 Square foot addition was added to the building to house the new McCray compony in Philadelphia. The addition was completed in early 1978.
Mission Statement
HowardMcCrayfocuses on Retail Display cases includes service cases, open merchandisers & glass door units. Primarily, we concentrate on Small Market Format. We build to order and can add signature features to our standard units. Howard-McCray is aggressive in the introduction of new customer concepts using RAPIDdevelopment & introduction.
Image Caption
Design work started in 1977 for the NEW deli cases for McCray. The 40E series and 35 Series were being developed. 40E would target the larger markets while the 35 Series would target the smaller corner delis.
Prototypes were built in 1978 & 1979. Testing was completed in late 1979 and McCray obtained its final UL approval in January of 1980.
The first McCray display cases were sold in early 1980 – after almost 8 years of no McCray in the market. Albert & Jeff Fogel successfully RELAUNCHED the McCray brand.
The 35 Series was the first self-contained series offered in Deli- Red Meat & Fish display cases in 4Ft-6Ft-8Ft-10Ft & 12Ft lengths for food service segment. At only 35” deep – it would fit through most doors. The secret to its success was the self-contained compressor system that would not require plumbing as it used an embedded condensate pan. Hermetic compressors allowed McCray to FIT the condensing unit & evaporator pan in a small compressor compartment.
Jeff & Albert continued exploring the demand for small market requirements and developed a series of products over the next 10+ years to meet these demands:
Produce Cases 32E series introduced in 1982.
Open Display End Cap (Happy Case)- introduced in 1982.
RIF/RIN – Endless Reach Ins – remote – introduced in 1983.
32E Deli Series – introduced in 1985.
34E Deli Series – introduced in 1989.
Hot Food Cases – introduced in 1992.
Glass Door Ice Cream Freezers – introduced in 1998.
The width of these new products would allow them to fit through the small market doorways and later on lead to a natural fit for the growing “C” store market in the 1990’s. While the competitors concentrated on SUPERMARKETS. – McCray expanded into the small markets – MOM & POP grocery stores.
Jeff & Albert merged the companies in 1986 – becoming Howard/McCray.
Jeff retired in January of 2001 and the company was sold to Howard/McCray LLC later in 2001.
Unfortunately, the company was forced to close AGAIN on December 10, 2003, as the bank foreclosed on the company & closed the doors.
A group of employees were able to SUCCESFULLY negotiate with the bank and reach an agreement to buy the assets of Howard/McCray LLC from the bank on December 12,2003 and formed the company – HMC Enterprises LLC. HMC officially opened on December 12, 2003!
The new management team consisting of 5 former employees lead the change at the company and successfully – RELAUNCHED McCray for a 2nd time. McCray developed a strategy to continue product expansion and added the 40E Curved Glass & the 35E Series Open Merchandiser lines. In 2018 – McCray introduced its new Straight Front Deli series 34N. In 2023 – McCray launched its NEW Low Base Open Cases and its NEW Rear Load Open Merchandisers.
HMC moved to its current location at 831E. Cayuga Street in 2007 where it still manufactures today. McCray products are PROUDY BUILT in PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Management also expanded its product offering in 2003 to complement the McCray products – becoming a distributor for Fogel products. In 2018, it formed a partnership with Clabo-Italy to distribute Italian designed & manufactured EURPOEAN STYLE DISPLAY cases.
Howard – McCray has built its reputation on manufacturing a quality product while maintaining a personal relationship with all of its customers, regardless of their size. The Management Team will continue to build on the legacy built by Mr. Fogel and Mr. McCray.
