Two pioneers in the rep field have died. Both men, Harris Dux and Bill Peters, were longtime members of the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry.Former MAFSI president George W. “Bill” Peters of Atlanta-based Peters & Peters Inc., died Sept. 5. As MAFSI reported in its tribute, Peters was the first of the high-energy…

U.S. Foodservice has a new CEO and expansion plans in the works. The Rosemont, Ill., food distributor has tapped John Lederer, formerly of Duane Reade, to serve as president and CEO. The company also has begun work on expanding its Port Orange, Fla., division’s food distribution center to better support the growth of the company’s…

Southern Stainless Equipment Co., a manufacturer of walk-in freezers and stainless steel kitchen equipment, has completed its purchase of former competitor W.A. Brown & Son in Salisbury, N.C. The Waynesboro, Va., manufacturer bought half of the company earlier this year and acquired the rest about a week ago. Southern Stainless Pres. Larry Rouse told The…

Manifest destiny is at work at Kolpak Refrigeration. The Parsons, Tenn., firm, part of Manitowoc Foodservice Walk-in and Refrigeration division, has expanded its manufacturing, service and product support westward with an additional plant in Goodyear, Ariz. The expansion allows speed-to-market and cost-savings on freight; in addition, the company has doubled its field crew of business-development…

Kevin Vigeant has been appointed v.p.-sales of Hupfer USA’s foodservice division. In addition to overseeing all activities related to the sales, marketing and operations of foodservice products sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Vigeant will focus on strengthening the 140-year-old German-based company’s distribution network and sales organization. After 17 years at Dinex International…

An item in July’s MAFSI Matters e-newsletter, caught our eye. MAFSI surveyed its members, asking them to identify pain points and factors negatively impacting their profitability. I want to share the results because independent manufacturers’ reps are critical to nearly everyone in the E&S business. Commission-rate reductions are the No.1 pain point, according to the…

Who says you can’t mix business and pleasure? More than 40 dealers visited The Vollrath Co. in Sheboygan, Wis., in mid-August to get a sneak peek of the company’s new training facility. Not coincidentally, the annual PGA Championship was being held up the road at Whistling Straits, and Vollrath just happened to be a sponsor.…

Globe Food Equipment Co. has acquired Commercial Pro International’s line of countertop cooking equipment. The line acquired by Globe includes an electric soup kettle; conveyor toaster; rice cooker; food warming lamp; electric fryers and griddles; sandwich, panini and roller grills; and an induction range. CPI is headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn. The CPI products are available…

Big activity at ice-machine maker Kold-Draft: The firm has announced it’s recently completed a major remodel and refurbishment of its entire 124,000-sq.-ft. headquarters facility in Erie, Pa. The renovation includes approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of dedicated space for the manufacture of its newly introduced ISB Ice Bagging System. Kold-Draft’s partner in the ice-bagging system is…

It’s tough out there, and many dealers are struggling to win business against competitors who underbid jobs and underprice goods and services. Dealers can find some help with the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association’s upcoming teleconference on Friday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. CST. “Negotiate to Yes Without Sacrificing Your Margins” will be discussed with Landy…