The history of MirOil: half a century of reaching new heights
MirOil started out as a small family business operating out of Allentown, Pennsylvania back in 1973. Bernard Friedman, a U.S. Navy veteran more fondly known as Bernie, was on the verge of revolutionizing the frying industry with his many patented oil filtration and oil treatment products and methods.
1979
MirOil FryPowder is invented
Soon after their establishment, their innovative “rinse and reuse” oil filter had made its way all around the world thanks to its cost-saving benefits. A few years later, Bernie’s brother came to him pleading for a solution to the rising cost of frying oil. That conversation started his curious inventor’s mind on a quest that resulted in the development of FryPowder.
Since being awarded a patent in 1982, FryPowder has single-handedly saved millions of dollars in oil costs in restaurants around the world.
1987
FryPowder is big in Japan
As the MirOil name took the world by storm thanks to the success of FryPowder, the company attracted the attention of Nippon Commerce Co. Ltd., a conglomerate from Japan. During the time, Japan was experiencing a major economic boom, and the two companies took advantage of the opportunity to bring FryPowder to a burgeoning market. This significant expansion marked a pivotal moment for the company as it continued to grow its international presence and build on its reputation for quality and innovation in the food service industry.
Bernard Friedman, still president of MirOil at the time, met with Johichi Saito and Tadahiro Hasegawa from Nippon’s sales division. During their visit, they finalized details of an overseas sales campaign set to commence immediately. That meeting perfectly highlighted the collaborative efforts between the two companies as they strove for a common goal.
At the time, Bernie had this to say: “MirOil feels proud at having overcome significant red tape and even greater communications difficulties to establish this sales base.” He went on to point out that while almost a quarter of the company’s sales were to customers in Canada and Western Europe, the Japanese connection could prove as important as those two markets combined.
1999
A new Japanese venture
Though Japan’s economic boom came to an end in the 90s and Nippon Commerce was eventually sold to the I & M Company in 1999, MirOil still believed in the huge potential of the Japanese market. Thankfully, the head of I & M Company, Hisashi Izu, believed the same. He recognized the value of MirOil’s products and purchased a significant amount of FryPowder and filter bags to distribute. These products have continued to play a crucial role in enhancing the performance and extending the life of frying oils in commercial kitchens across Japan.
In 2020, Hisashi Izu passed the leadership of I & M Company to his daughter, ensuring the continuity and strength of the partnership between the two companies. This transition has allowed the collaboration to remain robust, and the relationship continues to be a cornerstone of MirOil’s success in Japan.
2003
FryPowder goes liquid
Two decades after FryPowder was first developed, Bernie answered another plea from the restaurant industry to develop a liquid version of his iconic product.
Patented in 2003, FryLiquid antioxidant has since saved companies around the world millions of dollars.
2024
The legacy continues
With a legacy spanning over 50 years and international ties dating back to the 1980s, MirOil remains the number one name in cooking oil filtration products. Bernie will always be synonymous with FryPowder, FryLiquid, and the design of many filtering machines that MirOil presently sells across the country to this day.
Purchase MirOil products online
With such a revolutionary product range, MirOil has drawn the attention of many imitators over the years. Be sure that you’re getting the real thing by shopping on our online store or through any of our MirOil accredited distributors such as The FryOilSaver Company, Wasserstrom, Central Restaurant Products and others.
