About Us

Get to know us.

We are ALVEX – a Slovak family-owned company active in the food service industry since 1991. We have extensive experience in consulting and design, sales, professional installation and technical support, staff training, as well as warranty and post-warranty repair and maintenance for food service and food industries. We operate throughout Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and occasionally in other countries.

Everything under one roof

Pizzeria? Pastry or chocolate shop? Restaurant? Food production facility? With us, you’ll find everything for your operation – not only equipment, but also all accompanying services.

Only the best for you

We attend international trade fairs, constantly follow global trends, and select only the highest-quality brands available on the market for you.

Competent staff

Our employees undergo continuous training to keep pace with rapidly changing innovations and the demands of modern times. They are always ready to provide expert advice, as each of them specializes in a specific range of related equipment rather than the entire spectrum of food service industry products.

Individual approach

Every customer is equally important to us – whether a small client or a major player. Everyone is a priority, and we always strive to adapt our offer to the client’s specific needs.

Years of experience

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Projects a year

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Suppliers

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Our history.

The roots of ALVEX go back to 1991 – that’s when we first entered the Slovak market.

2025

New and bigger Pastrymarket store

At the beginning of 2025, we opened the first Pastrymarket store. Customers can visit us in person to explore and purchase a wide range of professional equipment for patisseries, bakeries, chocolate shops, and ice cream makers.

2024

Second generation

After 33 years, the founder of the company, Vladislav Slnek, is gradually passing on his experience and leadership to his children, Vladislav Jr. and Veronika, who have been working in the company for several years, progressing from assistant roles to more responsible positions. They have tried almost every aspect of the business to be well-prepared to lead the company.

2019 - 2021

Specialized shops

At the end of the year, we launched the first specialized shop for pizzerias – PIZZAMARKET. It was a pilot project to show whether it would be beneficial or not. The project turned out to be very viable, so we started creating specialized shops for individual sectors. The second in line was PASTRYMARKET – aimed at confectioners, bakers, chocolatiers and ice cream makers. Covid slowed us down, but did not stop us.

2013

Alvex

Revision of the company logo and name to ALVEX, spol. s r.o. The designation GASTRO continues to be used as the name of the company’s oldest and main division.

2003

New trends

This has been particularly noticeable in the pastry and bakery sectors, where new establishments have been opening, and we have strived to adapt to these changes. Pastry chefs are no longer just baking traditional cakes and desserts but are creating true works of art. Our range is expanding with many new molds and equipment to meet these needs.

2002

Attending exhibitions

We have broken our own company record for the number of trade shows attended. While we continue to showcase the company, its products, and services primarily at exhibitions, we are increasingly seeing that the industry is moving toward digital platforms, and we are determined not to miss this trend.

1998

New company branding

We are creating a new branding for the company and changing the name to ALVEX GASTRO, spol. s r.o. In these years, the influx of many chains to eastern markets, including Slovakia, peaked, and this caused a new business culture. We started negotiations with new manufacturers, primarily family companies, in which production focuses on quality, not quantity,

1997

New offices and expansion

A high volume of projects and extensive travel for work created pressure for new premises and the establishment of branches across Slovakia. However, this brought not only positive outcomes but also challenges. We learned to manage them, though not everything went perfectly. In any case, it strengthened and united us, and, most importantly, taught us a great lesson. At that time, the company already had 53 employees.

1996

Food service industry wins

We established ALV GASTRO, spol. s r.o., which continued the tradition of the original company (ALV – a name created from the initials of the first partners: Vladislav Slnek, his wife Anna, and his father Ľudovít). By that time, the company had been operating almost exclusively in the food service industry sector for several years, as there was little time or personnel capacity for other activities. Only the two main divisions, GASTRO and SERVICE, remained active.

1992 - 1993

Business

The company grew rapidly, with new service technicians and administrative staff joining the team. A sales team began to take shape. To meet the growing demand for new equipment, we established our first commercial partnership with the Czech manufacturer ALBA Hořovice. In 1993, we traveled to Italy and Germany and began importing equipment from these countries as well. In terms of sales, three sectors started to dominate our business: Ho.Re.Ca., Fast Food, and pastry and bakery operations. In April 1993, we participated in the Danubius Gastro trade fair in Bratislava for the first time.

1991

Starting a business

Mr. Vladislav Slnek, trained as a technician for large-scale kitchen equipment, started his own business providing service for food service industry equipment, heating, and laundry technology. His trade offered three areas of specialization: electromechanic for machines and equipment, gas appliance technician, and plumber. During the day, he carried out repairs and installations at clients’ premises, and in the evenings, he managed the administrative work of the fledgling company.