Del Taco has made four executive appointments. Two company veterans have been promoted: John Druse, named as v.p.-design and construction, and Mike Lucero, appointed v.p.-franchise development and real estate. Eric Grundmeier joins the Lake Forest, Calif., chain as v.p.-supply chain and quality assurance. He held a similar post at Qdoba Restaurant Corp. David Wetzel has…

Johnson-Lancaster and Associates has relocated its corporate headquarters to 13031 U.S. Hwy. 19N, Clearwater, FL 33764. Johnson-Lancaster’s contact information, including phone, fax and email has not changed. The move to the 70,000-sq.-ft. facility in Pinellas County provides the fast-growing dealer with an additional 50,000 sq. ft. of space. “In the new facility, we have been…

While it’s not quite the same as selling ice to the Eskimos, Starbucks Coffee has announced plans to open its first café in a renowned home of the coffee bean: Colombia. After 42 years of buying coffee beans from the country with South America’s second largest economy, Starbucks will finally start selling its Colombian brews…

Ryne Stover has been appointed national accounts sales specialist at floor-mat manufacturer The Andersen Co. Sales veteran Alan Brown will fill the post as regional manager for the Dalton, Ga., firm’s safety/industrial sales division. Anderson, a division of Mountville Mills, manufactures floor mats for foodservice, janitorial/sanitary, safety/industrial, floor covering, and commercial catalog markets. Frontline International,…

Manitowoc Foodservice has appointed Chris Karssiens to the role of executive vice president-Foodservice Asia Pacific (APAC). In his new post, effective immediately, Karssiens is responsible for fulfilling the New Port Richey, Fla., company’s APAC strategy and annual business plans, and overseeing its operations in China (Foshan and Hangzhou) and Singapore, as well as its joint-venture…

Long John Silver’s is switching to trans-fat-free cooking oil in its domestic restaurants. By the end of the year, the company says that all of its U.S. locations will use trans-fat-free cooking oil for all fried products. The chain’s outlets located in cities or states that ban trans fats from restaurant food—including New York City…

When the International Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show asked consultants to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to create “The Next Great Foodservice Concept,” the IHMRS staff set no limits. The competition for the design of a revenue-generating foodservice concept attracted 11 entrants. They provided a concept description, sample menu, renderings, equipment list…

Kahala Corp., the privately owned franchisor of more than a dozen quick-service brands, including Blimpie, Cold Stone Creamery, Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill, Taco Time, and The Great Steak & Potato Company, has been acquired by Canadian entrepreneurs. Terms of the sale of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Kahala to the Ontario-based Serruya family were…

Chanticleer Holdings, parent of the 430-unit Hooters chain, has announced an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of five-unit burger chain American Roadside Burgers. Terms of the acquisition were not released; the deal is expected to be approved by Sept. 30. Both companies are based in Charlotte, N.C. ARB is a 10-year-old casual-dining restaurant chain…

The Society for Foodservice Management has announced the winners of its annual Directors Awards, which honor members who have gone “above and beyond” to serve SFM and better the industry. Community Service, for going above and beyond to help support the onsite foodservice industry, as well as their local community: Dick Hynes, director of consultant…