In This Section:
Unified Brands Buys A La Cart
New York Show Honors Top New Products
First Call For NSF Safety Leadership Awards
FEDA Readies For 2010 Convention
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Integrated Control Corp.
Regulatory ReportSponsor: Manitowoc Foodservice
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Unified Brands Buys A La Cart
And this just in: A la Cart, privately held manufacturer of patient-meal delivery systems, has been acquired by Unified Brands, which already counts Avtec, Groen and Randell among its product lines. Details of the transaction were not available at press time.
A cross-company integration team is in place to facilitate the transition for both customers and employees, according to a statement.
Unified Brands is one of the 34 operating companies of Dover Corp. It has manufacturing facilities in Weidman, Mich., and at its headquarters in Jackson, Miss. A la Cart is based in Charlotte, N.C.
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New York Show Honors Top New Products
The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, just concluded last week, kicked off festivities with its annual announcement of winners in its Editors' Choice awards program for new products of note. This year, awards were presented in its five traditional and five new eco-friendly categories. Winners at the 94th annual show include some familiar names, including as MTS Seating, which won in the Décor category for the Impilato Stacking Chair, and JKF Contract, which won in Green Décor for the Rho Series Lounge Chair.
The top award in the Restaurant category went to Frieling USA for the Emsa Flow Carafe, which features a unique cooling coaster and interior freezable pad that keeps beverages cool for up to four hours.
The Green Technology award was given to Energy Eye for EyePower Solution, an HVAC energy-management solution that has been rigorously tested for performance and is platinum certified by the Globally Green Energy Consortium.
"This year's competition featured a wide array of revolutionary products for the hospitality industry that will have great impact on guest satisfaction," said Lynn White, show manager. Editors from leading hospitality trade publications reviewed nearly 100 submissions of new, cutting-edge products, and selected winners based on innovative product design; how a product answers a specific need; creative use of material or construction; and development or use of a new technology.
The IH/M&RS was held Nov. 8-10 at the Jacob R. Javits Convention Center in New York.
First Call For NSF Safety Leadership Awards
Notice to operators and manufacturers: It's time to submit nominations for the NSF Int'l. 2010 Food Safety Leadership Awards.
Now its seventh year, the FSLA program recognizes individuals and companies demonstrating excellence in the foodservice industry. Winners are recognized in one of eight categories: education, equipment design, packaging innovation, product development, research advances, system improvement, technology breakthroughs and training. One individual is also recognized with a lifetime achievement award for his or her significant contributions to advancing food safety.
The FSLA award recipients will be announced next April prior to the keynote speech for the Food Safety Summit in Washington, D.C. Nomination information is available at www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/fs_awards.asp or by calling 800/NSF-MARK ext. 5627 or 734/827-5627. Nominations must be received by Fri., Jan. 29.
Founded in 1944, NSF is an independent, not-for-profit organization certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods.
FEDA Readies For 2010 Convention
The Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association will hold its 2010 convention March 17-21 at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif. The three-day event will focus on the "one great idea" every business needs to enter a new market, boost morale or improve sales. Convention Chair Paul Gustafson of Ace Mart Restaurant Supply Co. and Assistant Chair Brad Pierce of Restaurant Equipment World have put the focus on the next business cycle by assembling a broad group of speakers and industry leaders to motivate attendees with lots of practical ideas to help businesses compete in a very challenging marketplace
Two 45-minute roundtable discussions of best business practices are among sessions scheduled to encourage open exchange. Among the myriad of speaker topics is one led by Mike Workman, Distribution Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University, on "Solutions to the Three Top Channel Conflict Areas that are Eroding Dealer Profits." Members will be surveyed before the convention to get their thoughts on the issues that should frame the discussion.
Convention registration materials will be mailed in early December. For more information, phone FEDA at 800/677-9605.
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