The Canadian economy has been sputtering since the crash in oil and other commodities prices began in mid- 2014. Real gross domestic product rose only 1.2% in 2015, down from 2.5% the year prior.  Employment and consumer confidence fell through most of 2015. But in spite of the slowdown, restaurant operators have continued to see…

Breakfast continues to be the fastest growing daypart at restaurants and at home, the NPD Group reported last week. And in a separate release a day later, the firm said its SupplyTrack research shows an increase in spending by independent restaurants in both 2014 and 2015. NPD’s CREST and other consumer research have charted a…

Taco Bell is testing four restaurant designs in preparation for an expansion plan that includes 2,000 new restaurants by 2022. The new designs, which tilt the Yum! Brands chain from quick-service to fast-casual ambience, will be unveiled in Orange County, Calif., this summer; another four stores are planned by the end of 2016. With design…

The North American sales team at RAK Porcelain USA has been strengthened with the additions of Central District Sales Manager Grace (Peczkowicz) Oliversen as Central District Sales Manager and Pete Dukas as Southeast Sales Manager. Since the Miller Place, N.Y., company established its own U.S. subsidiary in January, RAK has expanded its product range, increased…

The Food Safety Summit hosted in Rosemont, Ill., earlier this month by NSF International included the presentations of the group’s 2016 Food Safety Leadership Awards. The awards, now in their 13th year, recognize individuals and organizations for real and lasting improvements in food safety. An independent panel of food safety experts from academia, industry and…

Roy Seibert, the founder of Procam Controls in Plano, Texas, died May 18 after a brief illness. He was 59. The company was acquired last November by Aquion Inc. At the time of his death, Seibert led the Procam Controls division as Business Unit President and General Manager. He built Procam to become a leading…

Oliver Packaging & Equipment Co. has inked an exclusive manufacturing licensing agreement with Bloemhof Inc., Kirkland, Quebec. Under the agreement, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Oliver will become the sole manufacturer and distributor of Bloemhof’s complete bakery equipment product line worldwide. The synergy of the deal allows Oliver to provide capacity for the Canadian brand’s growth and…

Two of the key general economic indicators that drive foodservice sales and thus foodservice equipment and supplies sales, were reported softer last week, but it appears the nearly two-month run-up in gasoline prices has plateaued. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slowdown in jobs growth in April. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 160,000, a…

After seven company-owned units and one franchise restaurant opened in the first quarter, the steakhouse chain moved into the second quarter with three more company-owned unit openings and debuted its first franchise location in the Philippines. For the year overall, Texas Roadhouse’s development pipeline is greased with 30-plus company-owned units, requiring capital expenditures of $165-$175…

There’s a week left to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s still-evolving Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The agency issued a proposed rule in late March that will change or modify the status of several refrigerants. In addition to proposing to list propane as acceptable (subject to use conditions) as a refrigerant in new self-contained commercial…