Four things to know about griddles.

The future of dealers is bright, but always dynamic and challenging.

The general economy is weak, consumers are tentative and foodservice operators continue to worry about their prospects, but there is no question operators are buying more equipment and supplies, said Foodservice Equipment Reports Publisher Robin Ashton at the magazine’s annual E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview meeting, held in Evanston, Ill., on July 27.“The hard numbers…

Blended list prices for the more than 350,000 models from more than 400 foodservice equipment, supplies and furnishings manufacturers rose 2.7% for the year ending June 30, according to the latest data from AutoQuotes Inc. AQ Managing Director David Greene presented the data at FER‘s E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview meeting in Evanston, Ill., on…

The restaurant industry overcame a one-month decline into contraction territory in May and bounced back strongly in June, according to the latest data from the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index. The index surged to 100.6, up 0.8 point from May’s reading. In May, the index had dipped below the 100 value that separates industry…

Many key metals used widely in foodservice equipment and supplies are headed higher again, after strong price increases seen since last fall softened somewhat in late spring and June. Prices for nickel and copper have both shown gains of more than 10% during the past two months, after sliding in April and May. The nickel…

Developing next-generation refrigerants is just one of the goals set in writing in a new memorandum signed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the U.S. Department of Energy. The agreement, signed in June at ASHRAE’s 2011 Annual Conference in Montreal, updates an agreement signed in ’07 and commits the association…

Most New York restaurants are getting top marks under the year-old letter-grading system that the city’s Health Dept. uses to evaluate food safety and cleanliness. Department officials say 69% of restaurants inspected had received A’s as of July 1. Meanwhile, 15% scored B’s and 4% have C’s, the lowest mark. The remaining 12% are contesting…

Fast-food chains have been under fire for what goes into their kids’ meals. Everything from toys as a merchandising lure to the fat content and calorie counts of French fries and burgers has garnered headlines, leading to changes at some chains. Recently, Jack in the Box announced it will stop offering toys and add fruit…