The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation have elected officers to their boards of directors and trustees, respectively. Both organizations have named several industry leaders to join their respective boards for terms lasting until the end of 2015. The NRA’s 2013 officers are:Chair: Philip Hickey Jr., CEO-Jocks II Inc., Atlanta.Vice Chair:…

Nearly a decade after its franchisees bought the chain out of Chapter 11, casual-dining chain Ground Round is making a comeback. The 27-unit chain has rolled out a new family-dining/sports-lounge prototype in Waconia, Minn., and is opening a smaller sports-themed concept in nontraditional sites. Ground Round also has inked deals for five units in New…

Heritage Food Service Group has acquired Toronto-based R.G. Henderson & Sons Ltd., one of Canada’s largest foodservice equipment repair and OEM parts distributors. Heritage, based in Fort Wayne, Ind., is the foodservice equipment industry’s largest independent distributor of OEM service and replacement parts in North America. Henderson, founded in 1986, is the biggest firm of…

Ignite Restaurant Group, which operates 129 Joe’s Crab Shack and 15 Brick House Tavern+Tap restaurants, is adding Romano’s Macaroni Grill to its casual-dining stable. Ignite is purchasing the 210-unit chain from Golden Gate Capital; the $55 million acquisition includes Brinker International’s minority share in Romano’s. The casual-dining Italian food chain was founded in 1988 and…

The world’s largest restaurant brand will be more aggressive this year in its pursuit of sales and customers. The pledge from McDonald’s Corp. CEO Don Thompson comes as the company announced global same-store sales were up 3.1% in 2012. Sales numbers slipped a bit in the fourth quarter, but the chain is investing big in…

Burger King Worldwide just reported a strong finish to 2012 and progress on key strategic initiatives. The Miami-based chain’s fourth-quarter results include full-year data, and revealed that in 2012, BKW grew comparable sales 3.2% and added 485 net new restaurants, for nearly 4% unit growth. Additionally, it refranchised 871 restaurants, bringing it to a 97%…

Steve Spittle, CFSP, has been named v.p.-sales and marketing at Pitco Frialator, home to the Pitco, MagiKitch’n, Anets and Perfect Fry brands. Spittle most recently served as regional v.p. of sales with Pitco and Blodgett Ovens. Prior to joining Pitco three years ago, he was v.p. of Ohio-based Restaurant Outfitters. Spittle will report directly to…

Follett Corp. has appointed Pasquale Striano as regional sales manager for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa. He’ll be responsible for implementing foodservice sales programs and plans for those regions, including India and Africa. Striano, based in Milan, Italy, has more 10 years of experience in international sales of ice equipment. Follett, based in…

Reitano Design Group is the new and more memorable moniker for Foodservice Solution Group. The foodservice design and consulting firm is helmed by Scott Reitano, along with Jim Kessenich and Julie Sullivan. The address and phone number remain unchanged at 748 E. Bates St., Ste. 200, Indianapolis, Ind., 46202. The firm’s renaming process can be…

It’s a new look, logo-wise, for Electro Freeze. In what it calls the most dramatic change to its visual identity since 1969, the East Moline, Ill., soft-serve maker has debuted a new logo and website. The new logo incorporates the cone image that had been displayed on the company’s machines in the 1930s and ’40s.…