BOW, N.H. (AP) – So much for low-carb living.

Despite all the talk about healthy eating, Americans apparently still love their food fried and fatty, at least if sales of a Bow company’s deep fryers and doughnut makers are any indication.

“There’s a lot of truth about the health aspect, but the reality is the fryer market is growing, not declining,” said Phil Dei Dolori, president of Pitco Frialator.

Demand for the company’s products has shot up 30 percent during the past three years, accounting for a surge in sales from $58 million in 2001 to $70 million last year.

This year the company expects sales to hit $85 million.

But the growth isn’t due just to expanding appetites. During the late 1990s, the company was bought by refrigerator giant Maytag, which pumped cash into research, development and manufacturing equipment.

The 270-employee company is hoping to be at 300 by the end of the year.

There are about 700,000 Pitco fryers worldwide frying up about 7 million pounds of potatoes a day, according to Bassoul.

—

Information from: Concord Monitor, http://www.cmonitor.com

AP-ES-04-17-05 1607EDT