HUMOR POLICE COME DOWN ON FLORIDA PUBS
Today it's signage. Pretty soon we won't be able to say "Pull my finger" either....[full story]

COUNTY IN MARYLAND NIXES TRANS FAT;
MORE CHAINS SWITCH
Compared to the pokey 40-year smoking debate, this trans fat thing has spread like a brushfire in a high wind....[full story]

ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE SAYS ITS TIME TO SNUFF OUT BUTTS
Just two years after giving local governments the right to determine how they want to address smoking issues, the state decided to make the decision for them....[full story]

SPECIAL FOCUS:
EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES MARKET ON TRACK FOR MODERATE GROWTH
Despite a slowing general economy and wobbly operator sales and traffic, chain expansion and other indicators bode well for E&S growth....[full story]

NRA PERFORMANCE INDEX FALLS BACK IN APRIL SURVEY
Maybe those record high prices for gasoline are beginning to bite into foodservice sales after all....[full story]

MAY JOBS GROWTH, CONSUMER SENTIMENT STRONGER THAN EXPECTED
Never underestimate the resilience of the American economy or the optimism of American consumers. ....[full story]

TOP 500 CHAINS GREW SALES 6% IN 2006, SAYS NEW TECHNOMIC STUDY
The big dogs just get bigger....[full story]

HATCO BECOMES 100% EMPLOYEE-OWNED
Talk to anyone at Milwaukee-based Hatco Corp., and you're talking to one of the owners....[full story]

TRIMARK ACQUIRES S.S. KEMP
TriMark USA, the nation's third largest distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies, acquired S.S. Kemp & Co. of Cleveland....[full story]

SURVEY SAYS: COMPANIES BENEFIT FROM HAVING CEO
Three fourths of respondents across all kinds of industries say they could use a Chief Energy Officer. In an energy-intensive business like foodservice, what do you think? ....[full story]

RIVERA NAMED NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HEAD
Richard E. Rivera, FMP, Chairman and CEO of Rubicon Enterprises LLC, becomes chairman....[full story]

McD'S, MARRIOTT, STARBUCKS AMONG WORLD'S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES
Ethisphere magazine picks fewer than a hundred out of 5,000....[full story]