In spite of commodity price increases, turmoil in the Middle East and now an earthquake and tsunami in Japan, macroeconomic forecasters of the U.S. economy remain relatively upbeat about growth prospects.In the March issue of Blue Chip Economic Indicators, the consensus forecasts of U.S. real gross domestic product were down slightly for 2011 at 3.1%.…

The survey form for Foodservice Equipment Reports’ Top 50 Dealers ranking was emailed to you last week. If you missed it, you can download it here: fermag.com/media-library/research.html. It’s very straightforward. But it does have one requirement no other dealer ranking survey has ever had: We are requiring you verify your volume data. A signature from…

Edlund Co. has promoted Joe Fera to v.p.-national accounts. He’ll focus on growing the company’s chain-account business in the U.S. and Canada. Fera had served as director of national accounts since joining the Burlington, Vt., manufacturer in 2006. “Since joining Edlund five years ago, Joe has been an instrumental part of our success, especially during…

Greg Schurch, Cambro Mfg.’s national healthcare manager, has a new title as v.p.-sales planning and development at the Huntington Beach, Calif., company. In his new position, Schurch will oversee Cambro’s field sales team and market segment specialists. Schurch had spearheaded the development of Cambro Healthcare and directed the Hatfield, Mass., division’s rapid growth. He has…

Carlisle FoodService Products has added Tiffany Hughes as northern regional director of sales. Hughes will manage Carlisle’s direct and indirect sales force for the region. Prior to joining Carlisle, Hughes served as business development manager for San Jamar Chef Revival. Across a territory encompassing more than half of the United States, she managed 10 sales…

It’s a dealer exclusive.at the National Restaurant Association Show. The first-ever Kitchen Innovations Mixer on Sunday, May 22, is a dealer-only event bringing together key industry executives, 2011 Kitchen Innovations Award manufacturers’ reps and judges, and the editors at industry magazines. Foodservice Equipment Reports is among the event’s co-sponsors. Look for more information in your…

Hoshizaki America has expanded into a new market with a line of special marine-application ice machines, and signed up IBS-Interbev Inc. as the line’s global distributor to the cruise ship industry. IBS-Interbev, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., has been an equipment supplier to the cruise ship industry for more than a decade, designing, managing and installing…

Get your pencils ready and rev up the CAD. Entries are needed for a restaurant design contest that focuses on reducing energy demand throughout the dining room and kitchen—especially the energy used for operating food storage, cooking and cleaning tools and appliances. The Global Design Competition of Seattle is offering a $10,000 prize to architects,…

The Commercial Food Equipment Service Association has two training classes slated this month.  The sessions, Electric, Gas & Steam and Refrigeration, are running concurrently at the Duke Power Customer Resource Center in Charlotte, N.C. The EGS class is March 21-26; the refrigeration class is March 21-24. The registration deadline is March 14. The four-day refrigeration…

SPICY PICKLE FRANCHISING has tapped Peter Wright to serve as chief development officer. Wright is now responsible for franchise sales, real estate, architecture, construction and equipment. Prior to joining Spicy Pickle, Wright had more than 13 years’ experience in franchising and licensing in the United States, Canada and other international markets. The Denver-based chain operates restaurants in…