Seven industry leaders were honored during the closing reception of

A.J. Antunes & Co. has added two rep firms to its sales network. PB&J Commercial Agents, a Bartlett, Ill., firm recently started by Principals PJ Lamb and Carl Boutilier, will cover Illinois. Specialized Marketing, based in Waukesha, Wis., will cover its home state. “A.J. Antunes & Co. is very excited to partner with both PB&J…

It won’t be only the meters of exhibition space filled with catering and foodservice equipment and supplies that beckon buyers and operators next month to HOST 2015 in Milan. The 39th edition of the biennial show, Oct. 23-27 at Fiera Milano Exhibition Centre offers a host of exhibits, events and presentations. HOST 2015 will include…

G.E.T. Enterprises has completed its merger with Chicago-based Culinaire by Mikon Int’l. The merger, official Sept. 24, brings together G.E.T., the Houston-based maker of dinnerware, drinkware and displayware, with Chicago-based Culinaire, a supplier of custom banquet and tabletop display products. Mike Halles, founder of Culinaire, stated, “I believe our products and customization capabilities are a perfect…

Foodservice Consultants Society Int’l.-The Americas is rolling out its first-ever student competition, offering foodservice, hospitality and culinary-arts students in North and South America the chance to win scholarships, network with industry professionals and learn about career opportunities. Entrants in FCSI-TA’s competition will develop an innovative project related to the hotel business, hospitality or foodservice industry…

Sbarro is moving out of the mall. The Columbus, Ohio-based pizza chain, known for its more than 800 food-court locations, is opening the first of four freestanding, modern-looking restaurants in its hometown in October. It’s the start of a major remodel and menu change at Sbarro. The concept will remodel existing locations to open up…

Despite falling oil and other commodities’ prices, the foodservice market in Canada continues to grow, though at a slower rate than this year, according to Restaurants Canada’s (RC’s) annual forecast, released Sept. 16. Restaurant sales are forecast to grow 3.8% in 2016 to C$62 billion, down from 4% in 2015 and 4.8% in 2014. When…

The fast-casual U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom concept launched by Taco Bell Corp. last year has closed. The Huntington Beach, Calif., restaurant, which offered a simple lineup of 10 tacos based on regional flavors, thick-cut fries and shakes, saw lower-than-expected foot traffic and was never able to obtain a permanent alcohol permit after a…

All major sources of state and local tax revenues posted solid growth in the first quarter of 2015, according to the latest accounting from the Rockefeller Institute of Government. State tax revenue rose 5.8% compared with the first quarter in 2014; local tax revenues rose 1% on a four-quarter moving average, but local property-tax revenues…

The two leading measures of consumer confidence posted mixed results in September while gasoline prices continued to fall, reaching the lowest level at this time of year since 2004. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index fell nearly five points to 87.2 in the final September reading, from 91.9 in August, as it careened back…