NSF Int'l. Acquires CMi
NSF Int'l., the Ann Arbor, Mich., not-for-profit safety organization, has acquired CMi plc, a leading European food safety and assurance company operating throughout the food supply chain. The acquisition gives NSF a presence in several new areas, including France, Israel, Italy, South Africa, Spain and Turkey.
Under the terms of the agreement, NSF will work with London-based CMi to reach out to the food industry, producers, manufacturers, restaurants and retail distributors. The combined companies specialize in consulting, certification and auditing solutions for the foodservice industry.
CMi , which has offices in 17 countries and operates in more than 40 nations through its international and UK divisions, will operate as a stand-alone business.
ASHFSA, FCSI, SFM Move Offices
Mark your address books and databases: Three foodservice associations jointly headquartered in Louisville, Ky., have moved to a new location.
As of September, the American Society for Healthcare Food Service Administrators, Foodservice Consultants Society Int'l. and the Society for Foodservice Management have relocated to this address: 455 S. Fourth St., Ste. 650, Louisville, Ky. 40202.
However, the phone, fax and email addresses for all three organizations have remained the same.
Bargreen-Ellingson Acquires American Restaurant Supply
Foodservice equipment and supplies dealer Bargreen-Ellingson, based in Tacoma, Wash., has expanded its presence in Hawaii with the recent acquisition of American Restaurant Supply.
ARS, located in the Honolulu suburb of Aiea, operates facilities in Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai. The company has served the Hawaiian foodservice equipment and supply business for more than 16 years. Bargreen-Ellingson plans to close its current location on Oahu and merge all personnel into American Restaurant Supply stores.
Bargreen-Ellingson operates 14 locations in Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Texas and its home state, Washington. In September, the company opened a new full-service distribution facility in Everett, Wash.
NRA Opens 2008 Kitchen Innovations Program
If you've got new equipment and technology coming to market soon, the National Restaurant Association's 2008 Kitchen Innovations program could be a way to earn valuable recognition.
KI judges are looking for back-of-house products that save energy or water, enhance food safety, improve cooking or cooling—anything that makes operators more successful, in other words.
Honorees will be featured in the KI Pavilion during the NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, to be held this coming May 17-20. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 16. For more information, contact Eric Rude at erude@dineout.org or 312/853-2537, or go to www.restaurant.org/show
More Chains Ditch Trans Fat
Chains continue to reformulate products without trans fat and source suppliers of trans fat-free oils and shortenings in advance of growing legislative efforts across the country to ban trans fat.
Some of the most recent chains to announce a move to products that are trans fat-free, or in many cases that qualify for the phrase "zero grams trans fat" per serving include Dunkin' Donuts, Buffets Inc., and Qdoba Mexican Grills.
Dunkin' Donuts says it's the first major QSR chain to introduce a doughnut with zero grams of trans fat, according to Joe Scafido, chief creative and innovation officer at Dunkin' Brands. Products with less than 0.5 grams of trans fat are considered trans fat-free.
Buffets Inc., which operates HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Ryan's and Fire Mountain restaurants, said it plans to use trans fat-free cooking oil by the end of the year.
Qdoba also switched to trans fat-free frying oil, and said its full menu now meets zero artificial trans fat guidelines in Colorado and New York City. The company reformulated tortillas and baked goods in 2006.
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Sponsor: Manitowoc Foodservice Group
