The National Restaurant Association announced February 10 the recipients of its 2016 Kitchen Innovations Awards, honoring forward-thinking equipment and technologies that increase efficiencies and productivity for back-of-the-house operations and benefit restaurant operators. Each recipient and their product will be showcased in the interactive Kitchen Innovations Pavilion at the 2016 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held…

Ali Group has promoted Jennifer Ward to the newly created position of Vice President-National Accounts for Ali Group North America. Starting April 1, Ward will oversee national accounts relationships on behalf of Ali Group North America and its operating companies, including Aladdin Temp-Rite, ACP/Amana, Belshaw/Adamatic, Beverage-Air, Burlodge North America, Carpigiani U.S.A., the Champion Group including…

Best Restaurant Equipment & Design, closely held since its founding in 1987, is now employee-owned. The three stockholders in the Columbus, Ohio, dealer—Jim Hanson, Mike Stasko and Gene Yosick—sold their employees 100% of the stock in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; the sale was effective December 31. All employees (currently 70) will participate in the…

FEDA continues to gear up for its 2016 Annual Convention next month in Tucson. “Who Moved My Model? How to Deal with the Changing Landscape and its Impact on Your Company,” is slated to run March 30-April 3 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort. Meanwhile, the February 15 deadline for the association’s compensation and…

We’re out in California this week for our annual utilities forecast tour. Along with Richard Young, director of education for Food Service Technology Center, we make forecast presentations for Pacific Gas & Electric Tuesday at the FSTC in San Ramon; in San Diego on Wednesday at San Diego Gas & Electric; and on Thursday at…

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index took an unexpected nose-dive in the December survey. The index dropped 1.6 points and ended at 99.7, below the 100 level that separates expansion from contraction, not only in the overall Index, but in all its components. It was the first time the Index has fallen below 100…

Last issue, we analyzed what impact the steep recent decline of equities markets in the U.S. and worldwide might have on foodservice and equipment and supplies sales. One possible scenario is that the drumbeat of negative market news will depress consumer confidence, slowing foodservice sales. Not so far. Both the University of Michigan and The…

Food prices at both the wholesale and consumer grocery- store levels continued to fall sharply in December as gasoline prices dropped below $1.80 a gallon for regular gas on a national average basis. Wholesale food prices fell at all three levels of demand in December, including a strong 1.3% decline at the key final demand…

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline fell below $1.80 at the beginning of this week and stood at $1.79 Feb. 2. And according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the outlook through the spring “maintenance” season, when refiners convert to summer blends, continues to suggest falling prices. U.S. consumers are saving $1…

Sterno Products has crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s on its acquisition of Northern International, a maker of flameless candles and outdoor lighting products for the retail market. Headquartered in Coquitlam, BC, Canada, Northern will operate as a division of Sterno Products. This acquisition by Corona, Calif.-based Sterno strengthens its current position in the…