Troy Gongwer
President
Boss Products Inc.
A VISUAL HISTORY
Started in 1967
With a passion for outdoor cooking and a mind for innovative design, family patriarch, Nelson Gongwer, began his venture into creating a multi-generation brand.
A Prototype
Developing a spacious yet portable roaster would required many working prototypes along the way. With over 30 patents filed since the beginning, dozens of different models have been created.
ON THE ROAD
Until taking the show-on-the-road, there wasn't really another way to prove the business could be successful. Traveling in and around the Midwest was crucial to refining the design and function of the early versions of a Port-a-Pit® roaster.
HEADQUARTERS
Close to home, Nelson started to produce the first fleet of roasters in Wakarusa, Indiana. The striped building is in the same location as the current base of operations for Boss Products Inc.
VROOM VROOM
There's just something special about a shiny metallic piece of equipment that attracts onlookers. It didn't take long for locals to catch on to the large capacity roaster design that became a visual icon for making the air smell oh so sweet!
GOOD REPUTATION
After building a solid reputation it didn't take long for organizations to see the benefit in have a Port-A-Pit® roaster on-site to provide center plate and side dish meals for the masses.
CHICKEN CHICKEN CHICKEN
Although the family business started with a generic roaster, it evolved into the main equipment to provide Nelson's Golden Glo® Chicken. Using a family recipe and plenty of barbecue flavoring and cook time, the multi purpose roaster turned into a fleet of roasters to service the Midwest in high demand.
BIRTH OF A FAMILY DYNASTY
What started as a good idea has turned into a three generation family dynasty of businesses that include Boss Products as the manufacturer of high output commercial ovens, roasters and grills, as well as a nationwide success expansion of the Nelson's Golden Glo® and Port-A-Pit® brands.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
When 3 generations of a family have worked their entire adult lives in and around the Food Services industry, there are favorable outcomes for the customers being served. Boss Products is the culmination of decades of experience in remote high volume catering using innovative equipment designed specifically for that segment. Since 2001, we have committed specifically to creating excellent products through using high quality materials, unique and patented designs, and a production process that ensures the best durability in the oven, grill, and roaster supplier industry.
OUR CUSTOMERS
Boss Products serves the domestic and international markets with only the Port-A-Pit® Model 22 only being sold internationally. All remaining products produced are available for purchase anywhere in the world. While we have a long history of providing low volume specialized and unique custom built equipment, we are also keenly focused on providing fleet type orders. We focus on customers in the Food Services Industry as well as the Utility Industry. Our success to date has been largely due to our committed customer service from the beginning of the sale to the delivery and afterward.