With heavy duty gas and electric griddle, charbroiler and hot plate categories, as well as our world-class toasting, panini sandwich grill and hot dog product solutions, Star is among the largest manufacturers of heavy duty commercial cooking equipment in the world. Star Manufacturing was founded in 1921 in St. Louis, Missouri and quickly became a leading supplier of a wide range of restaurant equipment – our name became synonymous with hot dog (“red hots”) machines, fryers, popcorn makers and toasters. Over time we outgrew our manufacturing plant in St. Louis, and opened our current factory in Smithville, Tennessee in 1982, eventually expanding it in 1990