December 2025
Every year I sit down to write a personal note to our Steak Locker customers, chefs, partners, and friends. It’s not a press release, not a marketing piece, and certainly not something written by a committee. It’s simply a business owner — and a chef — sharing a clear view of where we’ve been, what we faced, and where we’re going.
This year deserves such a note more than nearly any other.
Looking Back: A Tale of Two Years
2024 was one of the best years in Steak Locker’s history.
We had momentum, new models coming off the line, major firmware improvements, advances in humidity and variable airflow control, and a global community of home chefs and professionals discovering just how much better food becomes when it’s aged with precision.
We were expanding manufacturing, refining our sensor architecture, onboarding new distribution partners, and finally seeing the “smart kitchen” trend catch up to what we’ve been building for a decade.
We had every reason to believe 2025 would continue in that direction.
And then… the administrative environment changed — dramatically.
New import restrictions, tariffs, compliance surprises, and unexpected policy shifts hit small manufacturers like us with the subtlety of a falling piano. Supply chains we had stabilized suddenly became unreliable. Previously predictable costs moved without warning. Instead of building units, we were fighting paperwork. Instead of expanding capacity, we were re-routing supply lines we had already optimized.
I won’t sugarcoat it: 2025 was tough.
Tough in the way only small business owners truly understand.
But we didn’t fold. We adapted — again.
What We Actually Achieved in a Difficult Year
Even with the turbulence, I’m proud to say this:
We produced some of the best Steak Locker units we’ve ever built.
Quietly, steadily, our engineering work continued:
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New airflow tuning for more uniform aging
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Improvements to our humidity control logic
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Firmware refinements that stabilized older units
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Expanded compatibility with international power environments
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Ongoing redesign of our app architecture from the ground up
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The introduction of new materials and hardware improvements
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And the developing phases of integrating AI into our operational systems
We didn’t broadcast every improvement, but our intention was simple:
If the world gets harder for small businesses, then the product must get better for the customer.
And it did.
Carrying Challenges Into 2026 — And Why We’re Ready
We’re entering 2026 with a different mindset than the one we had before the administrative shift. Tariffs may fluctuate, regulations may continue to tighten, and supply routes may need constant recalibration. That’s reality.
But the future will not be driven by fear — it will be driven by preparation.
Here are the core commitments we’re doubling down on:
1. More Human Service, Not Less
While many companies are replacing staff with chatbots (we use them as well but they are directly connected to human technicians), we’re doing the opposite.
In early 2026 we will expand two in-person support teams:
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St. Louis
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San Diego
These will not be scripted call centers.
They will be real people who know the product, understand aging, and can talk to customers like professionals and enthusiasts — not ticket numbers. Our ambition is:
If you call us, a human will answer.; and
If you email us, a human will respond.
That matters to me personally. It's not a "boomer" thing, it is purely being of service to those who support our business and the broader community.
2. Better Technology — Quietly, Consistently, Relentlessly
Even in the hardest months of 2025, our engineering work didn’t stop.
In 2026 you will see:
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Refined sensor accuracy (temperature, humidity, airflow)
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Improved insulation for lower energy consumption
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AI-assisted performance tuning that adjusts behavior based on usage
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New firmware controls that allow aging programs tailored to specific cuts
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Smarter error detection and predictive maintenance alerts
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Cleaner, faster app design currently in testing
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Better Wi-Fi stability and reconnection logic
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Hardware durability upgrades inside the cabinet
The goal is simple:
You stay in control — and the technology quietly works in the background
3. AI That Serves the Customer, Not Replaces Them
We are now testing AI systems in three places:
1. Internal diagnostics
2. Energy optimization
3. Customer guidance tools
This is not AI to “replace the chef.”
It’s AI to ensure your unit consumes less energy, runs smoother, and communicates better.
For example
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Your unit will know when a temperature drift is beginning before you notice.
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Your unit will adjust airflow based on load, saving energy.
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Your app will help you choose aging times based on cut and thickness.
- Your performance data will provide insights to preventive maintenance
In 2026 you will begin to see the first versions of this.
In 2027 it will feel standard.
4. More Transparency From Us — Even When It’s Not Pretty
This letter is part of that.
The next year will include regular updates on:
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New models
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Supply improvements
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Firmware releases
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App build progress
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Manufacturing partnerships
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Shipping and logistics updates
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And the early phases of our new V5 technology integration with a brilliant new partner
The policy environment may not get easier, but our communication will get clearer.
To Our Customers: Thank You we are grateful to you all !
Every Steak Locker owner — from the home aging enthusiast to the Michelin restaurant chef — is part of a global community that believes food should be crafted, not rushed.
You have shown patience during delays.
You have shown trust during uncertainty.
You have shown loyalty during a year when many small companies struggled.
From one chef and founder to all of you:
Thank you for believing in what we do.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Real Optimism, Not Fluff
If 2024 was the year of growth,
and 2025 was the year of resilience,
then 2026 will be the year of refinement.
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Smarter hardware.
Smarter software.
More support.
More stability.
More innovation — the kind that truly matters.
And above all:
More commitment from us to you.
A Personal Christmas Wish
As we close the year, I want to wish you and your families:
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Great meals
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Good health
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Peace in your kitchens
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And confidence in every dish you create
From all of us at Steak Locker Global:
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and here’s to an even better 2026.
Team Steak Locker
