Top awards for excellence in people, products and service levels were presented during Allied Buying Corp.’s recent fall conference in Rosemont, Ill. Winning Suppliers of the Year (and runners-up) are: Smallwares: Spill Stop (Dexter Russell) Tabletop: Diversified Ceramics (Walco)Table Service/Buffet: Service Ideas (American Metalcraft) Light Equipment & Furnishings: Nemco Food Equipment (T&S Brass and Bronze)Heavy…

A busy business portfolio for QualServ Corp. has led to its restructuring and the creation of a new subsidiary, QualServ Solutions LLC, as its new operating entity. “We are growing, which means we have to evaluate our business and implement structural changes resulting in financial benefits and increased flexibility for our customers, our suppliers, our…

Singer Equipment Co. has hired Susan McNulty as director of sales-national accounts contract division. She’ll report to division v.p. Brian Morehead, and be based in New York City. Before joining Singer, McNulty worked for more than twenty years for Paramount Restaurant Supply in Warren, R.I. Pres./CEO Fred Singer called McNulty a great addition to the…

Money. It pays salaries and invoices and allows companies to reinvest in their businesses. The Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association has designed next year’s annual convention to provide attendees with strategies that will increase their companies’ bottom line. The March 26-30 convention is slated for the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, in Indian Wells, Calif. Convention…

Great Lakes Hotel Supply will celebrate the opening of its new headquarters and culinary center on Nov. 12. The daylong event, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., will be held at the company’s new headquarters: 24101 W. Nine Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48033. Great Lakes reported sales of $45 million in 2012. Its new state-of-the-art test kitchen…

American Metalcraft has moved to a larger, all-new office, warehouse and manufacturing facility in Franklin Park, Ill. The new building includes three times the warehouse capacity of the firm’s former location. American Metalcraft’s new address is 3708 River Road, Ste. 800, Franklin Park, IL 60131. All phone numbers and fax numbers remain the same.

William T. Spake, 85, who helmed Comstock-Castle Stove Co. for three decades, died Oct. 17 at his Quincy, Ill., home overlooking his family’s seven-generation company. Spake was president of the Quincy, Ill., cooking equipment manufacturer from 1966-98 and remained active as CEO, corporate secretary, and with inventory control until 2010. He traveled extensively and enjoyed…

Two dealers are celebrating notable anniversaries in the E&S business this year. Gold Star Products, a full-service restaurant supplier in Oak Park, Mich., is celebrating its 90th anniversary. Gold Star has been family-owned since its founding in 1923. The company reported 2012 sales of $$12 million. Buffalo Hotel Supply is marking its 75th year as…

Meiko USA has added Susan Prusack as segment specialist for the Northeast market. Prusack joins Meiko from U.S. Foods, where she was the equipment and supply specialist for southern New England. She also served as a re-therm specialist at Carlisle/Dinex and as a manufacturer’s rep with Dave Swain Associates. She will report directly to David…

Well, the clowns in Washington did it again. Yes, they avoided pushing us all completely off the cliff, but they didn’t avoid screwing up the economy and undermining the faith the rest of the world places in the American economy, and the U.S. dollar and Treasury bills. They’ve short-circuited yet again, for the third year…