Looking into beer systems? High-temp ovens? Cream dispensers? We’ve got it all here in this month’s product section!

The Vollrath Co. will be expanding its brand into acrylic dispensing, display and fabrication products with its latest acquisition, fellow Wisconsin manufacturer Acry Fab Inc. The Sun Prairie, Wis.-based company is Sheboygan-based Vollrath’s second acquisition of a plastics manufacturer in the last two years; it acquired Traex Co. in April 2011.The Acry Fab product line…

It’s a done deal: The Italian foodservice equipment conglomerate The Ali Group has successfully closed on its previously announced definitive agreement to acquire Scotsman Industries, the world’s largest commercial ice-machine company, from a private equity firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The half-century old, closely held Ali Group is headquartered in Milan, Italy.…

Blanco CS has been renamed Blanco Professional. The family-owned company headquartered in Oberderdingen, Germany, says it is revising its name to make its objective clear: professionals producing for professionals. "The new company name is succinct and favorable for international use. It further emphasizes exactly who our customers are,” stated CEO Friedrich Schock. Blanco Professional produces…

Unified Brands announced Dec. 20 that it has acquired Power Soak Systems, a privately held manufacturer of continuous-motion warewashing systems. Power Soak is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and has a manufacturing facility in Pryor, Okla. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “The acquisition of Power Soak Systems will leverage our channel with…

We write a lot about the future in this space, trying to help you assess what the E&S market may bring in the way of opportunities and challenges. But it’s also good to look at the recent past. As we approach the end of 2012—this is our last e-newsletter of the year and the winter…

San Antonio-based Mission Restaurant Supply has acquired Metroplex Restaurant Equipment, a Fort Worth, Texas-based E&S dealership. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Metroplex’s previous owners, Danny Terrell and Ed Stephens, will remain active in the business. The acquisition represents Mission’s initial entry into the Dallas-Ft. Worth market. In addition to its San Antonio headquarters,…

Chefs’ Toys has acquired the assets of Star Restaurant Equipment & Supply of Van Nuys, Calif. Through the deal, which was official Dec. 3, Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Chefs’ Toys will operate Star as a fourth branch of its E&S group.  Chefs’ Toys, headed by Steve Dickler and Mike Krepistman, also has branches in Anaheim and…

Lois Thompson, 85, the founder of Hiawatha Chef Supply, passed away Nov. 27 after a long battle with emphysema. The former Lois Murker started the Escanaba, Mich., dealership in 1955, in partnership with Doug Wescott.  “There were very few woman-owned businesses in 1955 and none in the foodservice industry,” Thompson said later. “I signed all…