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Our History 

 

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Expanding into 7 states, Delfield refrigeration is now part of the portfolio as Austin Hansen steps in as the 16th President of MAFSI.
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Austin's youngest son, Mark, has recently become a valuable addition to the sales team. With the introduction of Dean fryers to our product portfolio, they eventually rebranded to Frymaster.

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In 1996, Austin Hansen makes the decision to step back from the industry and embark on a new chapter in his life.
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In 2010, Wayne Jones and David Schwefler joined as Partners, further strengthening our team.

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2014 Merger with RepSouth - Dennis Elliot is added as Partner

The Hansen Group embodies a rich legacy of over six decades dedicated to serving the hospitality industry. Founded in 1957 by Austin Hansen, the company initially focused on providing expert consultation for concept development in the Southeast. Austin's profound expertise in addressing the comprehensive needs of foodservice equipment operations quickly gained recognition. Partnering with Cambro as the first manufacturer, Austin expanded his reach across eight states, later adding Fischer Steam Equipment and Delfield to his portfolio in the early 1960s.

The company's success continued to flourish over the years, with the addition of key members like Cris Hansen, Phil Kenny, Mark Hansen, Jim Myers, and Tony Thompson. This core group rebranded as The Hansen Group, solidifying its position as a leading Rep firm in the Southeast. In 1996, Austin retired, passing the baton to Cris and PK, who later welcomed Wayne Jones and Dave Schwefler to the team.

Under new leadership in 2010, Wayne and Dave steered the company into its third generation of ownership. A milestone merger with RepsSouth in 2014 brought Dennis Elliot on board as an additional partner. After a successful tenure, Dennis handed over leadership to Kristin Bishop, marking a historic moment as the first female partner in THG history. In 2023, Michael Riley joined as the fourth partner, overseeing the THG West territory. Today, The Hansen Group Team remains committed to delivering top-notch service to customers across Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, the Florida panhandle, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Proudly representing manufacturers known for producing top-quality products, we offer tailored consultation services, design support, culinary facilities, and hands-on training for dealers and end-users alike..

  1. - Austin Hansen & Associates established in 1957.
    - AH&A becomes Cambro's first representative.
  2. - Developed 7 State territory.
    - Delfield refrigeration is added.
    - Austin Hansen becomes the 16th MAFSI President.
  3. - Phil Kenny "PK" is added to sales team
    - Austin's eldest son, Cris, joins sales team
    - K-12 schools becomes primary segment
  4. - Austin's youngest son, Mark, joins sales team
    - Dean fryers is added, now known as Frymaster
  5. - Cris and PK become partners renaming the company "The Hansen Group"
    - Austin retires
  6. - Wayne Jones & Dave Schwefler join the sales team
    - Enodis (now Welbilt) and Kolpak (walk-in cooler line) are added
  7. - Dave & Dennis Elliot become partners; Cris Hansen retires
    - Wayne Jones becomes managing partner
  8. - Relocation to 25,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Duluth, GA & merge with SEMA Reps
    - The Hansen Group Distribution is founded and established as employee owned
  9. - Becomes Member of National Strategic Alliance: Paradigm
  10. - Dennis Elliot retires
    - Kristin Bishop becomes the first female partner in THG history
  11. - THG announces representation of Middleby brands & new territory
    - THG promotes Michael Riley, Director of Sales to Partner in the Western Territory to lead the team in the MAFSI 14 region.
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