In This Section:
Pre-NRA Friday = FER Awards + Party
NSC Forms Industry Exchange Group
NAFEM Releases New CFSP Study Guide
‘Down Under’ Merger Joins Curtin And OBS
Rankin-Delux Mourns Dick Jones
7-Eleven Coming To A Spot Near You
Fetco Brews In New HQ
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Hatco Corp. | Regulatory ReportSponsor: APW Wyott Innovations
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Pre-NRA Friday = FER Awards + Party
Yes, come join the Foodservice Equipment Reports team and friends in celebrating top foodservice industry achievers on Fri., May 20, at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut, 7-10 p.m.
Expect an evening of good food and great networking. And did we mention there’ll be no long-winded speeches?
Receiving the finest accolades and applause in the foodservice biz at the 2005 FER Industry Service Awards, presented to recognize sustained industrywide contribution, will be:
• Scott Legge, FCSI, LTD Consulting Group, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, for consultants;
• Rick Ellingson, Bargreen-Ellingson, Tacoma, Wash., for dealers;
• Ed Gregory, The HGA Group Inc., Plymouth, Mich., for manufacturers’ reps; and
• Frank Burns, National Service Cooperative, Omaha, Neb., for service agencies.
And as for your favorite dealers (based on a poll of the 20,000+ operators and consultants among FER’s readership), the Customer Choice Dealer Awards will go to two National winners:
• Baring Industries, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and
• The Wasserstrom Co., Columbus, Ohio;
And to four Regional winners:
• Bargreen-Ellingson, Tacoma, Wash.;
• Singer Equipment Co., Reading, Pa.;
• Johnson-Lancaster and Associates, Safety Harbor, Fla.; and
• S.S. Kemp & Co., Cleveland.
Remember—registering in advance is a MUST for this event. Email awardsparty@fermag.com or visit www.fermag.com/dealerA.htm for details.
And although Robin and Brian might squeeze into tuxes for the evening (mainly just to show they still can), you’ll be fine in business casual, jackets and the like.
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NSC Forms Industry Exchange Group
The National Service Cooperative, Omaha, Neb., has created a new service for its members called the Industry Exchange Group, or IndEx for short.
IndEx’s goal is to find profitable package deals—and cost savings—for NSC members. It will be led by Industry Coordinator Frank Burns, who will negotiate favorable terms for NSC shareholders and service partners. Burns also heads the IndEx Advisory Panel, a group of key industry personnel whose goal is to help develop ongoing partnerships.
"Leveraging our members’ pooled resources is a powerful tool to lower costs on items they utilize in their everyday business," Burns said.
For more information, log onto www.nationalservicecoop.com.
NAFEM Releases New CFSP Study Guide
Here’s a book that’ll teach you all you ever wanted to know about the foodservice industry but were afraid to ask.
The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers has updated and revised its Certified Foodservice Professional study guide, An Introduction to the Foodservice Industry.
The 342-page soft-bound book provides a step-by-step look at all major areas of the industry, from the history and evolution of foodservice to equipment, HVAC and kitchen ventilation, front-of-the-house design considerations and smallwares.
Originally created in 1995 to support the CFSP program, the reference book has been used by nearly 1,100 individuals.
For more information about the guide, the CFSP designation or NAFEM, visit www.nafem.org.
‘Down Under’ Merger Joins Curtin And OBS
It’s merger-time Down Under for two of Australia’s largest foodservice equipment dealers.
Curtin Global Food Equipment, of Rosebery, New South Wales, and OBS Equipment, headquartered in Sunshine, Victoria, have recently joined forces to form Curtin OBS. The new company is based in Rosebery.
The combined strengths give Curtin OBS extensive coverage of the Australia-New Zealand markets, broad product range, manufacturing capabilities, and extended training and customer support. Restaurant clients include Bakers Delight, Hungry Jack’s, KFC and McDonald's.
Former OBS Managing Director Andrew Jennings will lead the new company, while former Curtin owner Ken Hudson will retain a shareholding interest in the new firm.
Visit www.curtinau.com for more details.
Rankin-Delux Mourns Dick Jones
Richard "Dick" Jones, co-owner of Rankin-Delux, leading supplier of broilers and griddles based in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., died in April at his home. He was 75.
Jones began his foodservice career as a distributor of restaurant equipment in Flint, Mich., in the 1950s. During that time, he took on the challenge of helping one of his local suppliers gain national exposure, a firm today known as The Delfield Co.
In ’63, Jones founded R.R. Jones Associates, a manufacturers’ rep firm covering a four-state area. In ’66, he met his future business partner, Bill Rankin, of Delux Equipment Co. In ’92, Jones and his wife Peggy purchased Rankin-Delux.
Today, Rankin-Delux offers more than 500 models of underfired broilers, griddles and other cooking equipment. The company will continue under the leadership of V.P. Peggy Jones.
Jones is survived by his wife, five daughters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that any contributions be made to the Kindler [Cancer] Research Fund at the University of Chicago. Address checks to the Richard R. Jones Memorial Fund, University of Chicago, 1170 E. 58th St., Room 207, Chicago, Ill., 60637.
7-Eleven Coming To A Spot Near You
Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles will be major targets for 7-Eleven expansion over the next three years, the company recently announced.
The c-store chain plans to open about 100 additional stores in the Chicago area during that period. The company declined to specify unit opening numbers for Boston and Los Angeles, but called them "priority markets." Stores will be opened in downtown buildings and at free-standing locations in the suburbs.
An overhaul of its fresh food services, and an updated inventory system are two points fueling the expansion. A typical 7-Eleven averages about $1.2 million in annual sales.
The Dallas-based company operates 5,800 stores in the U.S. and Canada, and licenses nearly 22,000 stores in 17 other countries and U.S. territories. During 2004, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated more than $41 billion in sales.
Fetco Brews In New HQ
You could call it new "grounds," so to speak, now that coffee brewing equipment manufacturer Fetco has moved its headquarters to roomier facilities in Lake Zurich, Ill.
The change consolidates under one roof operations that had been spread among three buildings at Fetco’s previous headquarters in Lincolnshire, Ill. In addition to more manufacturing and office space, Fetco’s Lake Zurich site also includes a training facility and expanded customer service and technical support departments.
Fetco’s new address is 600 Rose Rd., Lake Zurich, Ill. 60047. Call them at 847/719-3000, or 800/FETCO99.
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