Weeks after announcing its acquisition of Celfrost Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a Gurgaon, India-based firm with $20 million in annual sales of commercial refrigerators, ice machines, freezers and walk-ins, Middleby Corp. has appointed Partha Biswas as group president of Middleby India.Biswas will have full responsibilities in the country, overseeing multiple operations, including sales and service of…

Dan Cathy has been promoted to chair and CEO of Chick-fil-A, succeeding his father, who remains as chair emeritus. S. Truett Cathy, 92, who founded the Atlanta-based quick-service chain in 1946, will turn his attention more fully to entrepreneurial efforts, including a new restaurant concept called Truett’s Luau, which is scheduled to open in Fayetteville,…

Pizza Hut UK is spending £60 million on refurbishing its restaurants in a bid to return to profitability. More than 80 outlets will undergo refurbishment in 2014. Private equity group Rutland Partners acquired the restaurant business of Pizza Hut UK in November 2012 from U.S.-based Yum! Brands and is looking to return the 330-strong chain…

Buffets Inc. is marking its 30th anniversary with a name change. The Greer, S.C., company—parent to Country Buffet, Fire Mountain, HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s and Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse—has changed its corporate name to Ovation Brands. Ovation CEO Anthony Wedo said the new corporate moniker allows the company to properly showcase a greater…

Globetrotting E&S professionals who make the trek to Hotelex Shanghai, March 31-April 3, will find more than 1,500 exhibitors from around the world set up for business at the Shanghai New Int’l. Expo Centre. Last year’s edition saw a 36% boost in attendance and a similar expansion in exhibit space, which filled 11 halls with…

Fazoli’s total unit count is growing for the first time in a decade. The Lexington, Ky., chain has inked agreements with new and existing franchisees for at least nine new locations, including multiples sites in its home state, as well as Indianapolis; Dubuque, Iowa; and Glenwood Springs, Colo. Fazoli’s, which has 217 units in 26…

The Middleby Corp. has acquired the commercial refrigeration and foodservice products business of Celfrost Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a Gurgaon, India-based firm with $20 million in annual sales. The Celfrost business was acquired by Middleby’s newly established entity in India, Middleby Commercial Food Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Celfrost manufactures foodservice equipment including refrigerators, ice machines, freezers and…

The global donut market is about to get a little more attention from Dunkin’ Donuts. Dunkin’ Brands Group, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins is expanding the roles of Paul Twohig, president-Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. and Canada, and Bill Mitchell, president-Baskin-Robbins U.S. and Canada, to include international regions as the Canton, Mass., company seeks…

Every penny counts: While McDonald’s Corp. managed to beat third-quarter earnings estimates by a penny—profits were up despite weak sales—the company is re-thinking its 2014 plans. The chain will be pushing back on opening new restaurants, particularly in China and other emerging markets. The company now expects to spend a total of $3 billion this…

IMI is selling its beverage dispensing and merchandising businesses, including 82-year-old Cornelius, to the Berkshire Hathaway-owned Marmon Group. The Glendale Heights, Ill.-based Cornelius, which makes valves and dispensers and other parts for beer, juice, soft-drink and frozen-drink equipment, accounts for about 14% of IMI’s overall revenue. In addition to Cornelius, the $1.1 billion sale includes…