Three company veterans have been promoted to leadership positions at Oliver Packaging & Equipment Co.’s food equipment division. “As Oliver continues to grow we need to insure the company is properly positioned,” stated Ken Goodwin, president of the Walker, Mich., manufacturer. These promotions and position changes are in recognition of the individuals’ past efforts, which…

Stoelting Foodservice/Vollrath Co. has tapped Russell Food Equipment Ltd. to manage equipment sales and service for the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., Russell operates 14 branches coast to coast.

The 61 U.S. and Canadian dealers verifying sales for Foodservice Equipment Reports’ annual Top Dealers Report posted another remarkable year in 2015. Combined sales for the 58 U.S. companies that verified sales rose 13.5% to $6.653 billion, up from $5.863 billion in 2014. In comparison, FER estimates the total foodservice equipment and supplies market grew…

It’s down, it’s up, it’s down. Restaurant operators surveyed for the National Restaurant Association’s monthly Restaurant Performance Index have been on a roller coaster since December last year. The index showed another steep decline in the March survey, conducted in April. It fell 1.4 point to 100.7. The Current Situation Index dropped 2.6 points to…

Most chains in Technomic Inc.’s annual Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report had a good 2015, according to the final tallies, released late last month. The report sends a clear message: Limited-service chains are gaining market share. According to the Chicago-based market research firm, cumulative year-over-year sales for chains in the Top 500 ranking grew 5%…

There’s still time to nab a seat for Foodservice Equipment Reports’ 2016 President’s Preview Equipment & Supplies Market Forecast. But you’re running out of time to register! The annual one-day event, Tuesday, August 9 at the Westin O’Hare, includes Publisher/Research Editor Robin Ashton’s overview of general and operator segment-specific economic environments, trends and forecasts in…

It’s a sweet takeover for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. JAB Holding Co. , the German conglomerate and owner of bagel, coffee and tea brands announced May 9 that its JAB Beech subsidiary will acquire the 1,121-unit chain for $1.35 billion. In the past few years, JAB has purchased Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Caribou Coffee, Krispy Kreme will…

The Vancouver, Wash., pizza chain expects to add up to 120 new domestic locations, including its first store in Hawaii, in 2016. Over the next four years, the Aloha State will welcome 15 of the take-and-bake pizza outlets, including a store this year in Oahu. Papa Murphy’s also is doubling its footprint in Alabama by…

More Paradise Bakery & Cafe units acquired by Panera Bread Co. in 2009 will be closed or converted to Panera stores. Panera CEO Ron Shaich says slowing growth at Paradise’s more than 50 restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, and Utah has accelerated conversion efforts. Many of the Phoenix-based Paradise cafés are located in food…

In March, it looked as if the official rollout of menu labeling would never be announced. But now, six years after calorie labeling on menus was mandated as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the Food and Drug Administration has released final guidance on implementing the regulation. Compliance and enforcement will begin in May…