Culver's adds "Goose" to the menu

Wisconsin-based Culver's has over 450 restaurants in 19 states and are opening two or three new restaurants every month. RAB began providing LED gooseneck fixtures to Culver's restaurants in March 2012 and have been providing the fixtures to all of Culver's new franchises since then. They illuminate the canopies, walkways and outdoor dining areas. RAB will continue to provide the gooseneck luminaires to all new Culver's restaurants.

RAB provides 18 to 25 LED gooseneck fixtures per restaurant depending on its size.

The gooseneck fixture is a 13W high-performance LED installed to replace a 70W metal halide, one for one. Benefits include:

• The gooseneck head provides an aimable light source. The angle and direction of the light is adjustable.
• Energy efficient and low maintenance for big energy cost savings.
• Modern, attractive design

Franchise owners will experience 90% improved energy efficiency and save over $1,200 per year in energy costs using RAB's LED luminaires vs. incandescent lighting systems. Maintenance and re-lamping costs are also significantly reduced, as RAB LEDs have a 100,000-hour lifespan, which amounts to 27 years at an average daily usage of 10 hours.

Crescent Electric Supply (Madison, WI) is the distributor and Schwind , Lawless Sales (Milwaukee, WI) is the manufacturer's representative.

When Wisconsin-based restaurant chain Culver's, known for their ButterBurgers and fresh frozen custard, sought to upgrade their outdoor lighting, they required fixtures that not only performed well, but also provided a warm and inviting atmosphere that made customers feel welcome.

"When I heard Crescent Electric was looking for an LED vendor for the Culver's account, I immediately sent them a RAB LED gooseneck sample," said Pat Lawless, from Schwind , Lawless Sales. "I knew they would love the world-class quality, direction-adjustable head and attractive design. RAB Lighting's Gooseneck LED luminaires fit Culver's specifications to a tee."

"One of the things that our franchise partners really like about the RAB gooseneck fixtures is that they have the ability to aim the light source," says Steve Datka, Director of Design for Culver Franchising Systems, Inc. "This means that the angle and direction of the light is adjustable. It may not sound like a big deal, but lighting the walkway so our guests feel safe entering and leaving our restaurant is very important to us. So that's a feature that we really appreciate."

Lighting the outside of a restaurant is also about introducing it to the public. Like any other design element, a restaurant's outdoor lighting should reflect its personality and ambiance. It sets the tone for the customer's dining experience. So the overall look of the fixtures is an important consideration.

"RAB's gooseneck fixtures complement the building design, so I knew the Culver's people would like them," said Kris Krueger of Crescent Electric Supply. "We also made sure that the quality was excellent. Ever since we started using them, the RAB fixtures have worked to perfection. They even have a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, which covers the LED, the driver, the gasket and the finish. RAB Lighting is a company that stands behind its products."

RAB began providing LED gooseneck fixtures to Culver's restaurants in March 2012. Culver's has mounted the fixtures on four more restaurants since then and have another seven coming up. They install approximately 18 to 25 gooseneck fixtures per restaurant, depending on the size. Culver's is opening an average of two or three new restaurants every month and plans to continue using RAB gooseneck fixtures to light the outside of their restaurants.

Ross Barna, CEO of RAB Lighting, the Northvale, New Jersey-based leader in outdoor LED lighting, says, "Our LED gooseneck line is designed to bring energy efficiency to Main Street USA. We are excited about the opportunities that store owners have to save money and reduce their maintenance costs while providing great lighting for their customers."

In addition to being attractive and providing a bright light, our LED fixtures are energy-efficient, which helps franchise owners save money. Also, with a 100,000 hour life, they are practically maintenance-free. Owners won't have to worry about replacing bulbs or fixtures for many years to come."

Kris Krueger says, "The most important thing is that the Culver's people are happy with the fixtures, so I'm happy with them, too."