One supply chain,
six links open
The equipment and the process are in place. Commercial production starts September 2026 at our plant in Irwindale, California. Several links between the farm and the kitchen are still open, and we’re looking for the companies to build them with.
The Welbilt and WheaTech Group standardization R&D center, Leling, Shandong. The roasting parameters are developed and held there.
Who supplies what
Welbilt / Convotherm
Our equipment partner, part of Ali Group. The roasting program was developed jointly and is embedded in the unit.
- Joint development of the roasting program and its parameters
- Manufacturer service network on every installed unit
Da Dong
WheaTech is Da Dong’s sole licensed supply-chain and technology partner in the United States. The roasting process and the preparation standard, developed by the supply-chain company behind the group, are licensed to us for this market.
- United States rights to the process and preparation standard
- Updates to the standard as they develop them
Funtree, Inc.
A group company and our retail channel in the United States — grocery, club and specialty. funtree.com ↗
- Established retail and distribution relationships
- Regional agents extending coverage market by market
To be announced
A well-known American foodservice distributor with national coverage, serving mainstream operators outside the Asian grocery system. Separate partner, separate agreement — it does not run through Funtree.
- National coverage across mainstream, non-Asian foodservice
- Name released once both sides agree
About Ali Group and the equipment partnership
The group behind Convotherm
Ali Group is an Italian industrial group founded in 1963, chaired and led by Filippo Berti, with more than 115 equipment brands. It bought Welbilt outright in 2022 for $3.4 billion.
The world’s largest chains specify this group’s equipment. Two of them, from Welbilt’s own product documentation: a dedicated equipment catalog for McDonald’s, and a Starbucks model of the Merrychef high-speed oven.
Three things sit inside the partnership: a standardization R&D center carrying both names, a roasting program developed jointly, and joint market development and service.
Figures as published by Ali Group. Welbilt acquisition value as announced in 2022. mcd.welbilt.us ↗
Links still open
A supply chain, not a product. Six links are open.
Duck farms and hatcheries
We’re not building farms or hatcheries and we’re not raising our own flock. We buy. We’re looking for growers for the long run.
- Send us: samples, a description of your operation, certifications, specifications and capacity
- You get: our requirements and our expected volumes
Cold chain and logistics
What leaves the plant is prepared duck, frozen or chilled — not raw poultry. Lanes open as distribution does, starting on the West Coast.
- Send us: the regions you cover, your temperature capability, equipment and capacity
- You get: our shipping plan as each market opens
Regional distributors and foodservice channel
Distributors and channel partners who already carry restaurant accounts.
- Send us: your territory, your customer base, warehousing and delivery capability
- You get: our volumes and lanes — and territory is still open
Kitchen equipment service network
Installation, preventive maintenance and on-site response — on the roasting units and on the rest of the equipment that goes in alongside them. We need more depth in the metros we open first.
- Send us: the metros you cover, your certified technicians, your response capability
- You get: installed-base information and technical training
Operators and retail buyers
Restaurant groups and retail buyers willing to start with one store and one item.
- Send us: your locations and the format you have in mind
- You get: the duck, the equipment, the run card and our certification at our plant
Culinary and training partners
Chefs, culinary schools and training providers. As the network grows, certification has to keep up.
- Send us: your training capacity and the languages you teach in
- You get: the process standard and our certification program
How it starts
Contact
Tell us where you sit in the chain: what you do, where you operate, what volume you move.
Mutual review
You review our plant, our specifications and our program. We review your operation, your certifications and your capacity.
Trial run
A first piece of work under real conditions and limited scope: one batch, one lane, one store.
Agreement
Volume, territory and terms, written once each side knows how the other operates.
Your link in the chain
Farm, freight, distribution, service, kitchen — write to us about any of them.