The net numbers of both chain and independent restaurant units in the U.S. were up 0.7%, an increase of 4.442 restaurants, in the year ended September 2012, according to the latest data from NPD Group’s twice-a-year ReCount... »

It really just comes down to money. A new report from The NPD Group details how older Americans, those 55 and older, have increased their visits to restaurants of all kinds since 2008, while younger Americans have rather... »

Only China and Canada recorded significant increases in restaurant visits in the third quarter of last year, according to data from the NPD Group. Six of the 10 markets in which NPD charts foodservice activity—Australia, France,... »

Employment grew by 157,000 jobs in January, pretty much in line with economists’ expectations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday, Feb. 1. Also on Friday, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of... »

Revisions and updates continue for Energy Star commercial foodservice equipment specifications. By the end of 2013, all nine categories of equipment currently carrying Energy Star certification will have undergone revisions,... »

Only a month into 2013, and state legislatures and state restaurant associations are wrestling with some major issues. Minimum-wage increases, paid sick leave and environmental issues are just a few of the legislative issues... »

The biggest E&S show of the year opens next week. We hope to see a lot of you at NAFEM ’13, Feb. 7-9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. If we don’t see you in aisles or at your booth, please stop by FER... »

Pack up your plane tickets, comfortable shoes, Parrothead gear, FER Exhibitor Pocket Guide, and notes on who to see and what to see at The NAFEM Show.  It’s only a week away. The North American Association of Food Equipment... »

Ronald Snyder has joined Robot Coupe U.S.A as the Jackson, Miss., company’s market solutions adviser. Snyder, a degreed culinary chef, has spent the last 11 years working as a regional sales manager or manufacturer sales... »

Hillcrest Capital Partners, a Minneapolis-based private investment group, is pleased to announce it has made an investment in Premier Restaurant Equipment. Minneapolis-based Premier is a full-service foodservice design and... »

Ace Mart Restaurant Supply has named employee Bud Herrmann as recipient of its second annual Gus Award. Hermann received the award at a presentation ceremony during the annual Kitchen Equipment & New Technology Expo in Flower... »

Time is running out to pay membership dues to the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association. Dues payments should be in to FEDA by Thursday, Jan. 31.  Questions can go to Ray Herrick at 800/677-9605. »

We’ve been very busy the past three months getting ready for The NAFEM Show Feb. 7-9. We produced three big issues for December, January and February, featuring our redesign of the magazine. We re-launched our new digital... »

Multiunit operators, E&S dealers, consultants and service agents are among the nearly four million businesses which have received forms for the 2012 Economic Census, the federal government’s official five-year measure of... »

Without much fanfare, Manitowoc Foodservice has undertaken a series consolidations and expansions of its cooking equipment manufacturing facilities in the past three years. The New Port Richey, Fla.-based foodservice equipment... »

Scotsman Industries, recently acquired by the Ali Group, will remain a U.S.-based global group reporting to Ali Group North America. The Milan, Italy-based conglomerate has announced several updates to Scotsman’s management... »

Technomic Inc. has revised downwards its estimates and forecasts for foodservice operator sales in 2012 and ’13. Real growth for this year is now forecast at 1%, down from the Chicago-based research firm’s forecast last August of... »

Two major doughnut and coffee chains have spread out to new markets. Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. opened its first franchise location in India on Jan. 19. The new store is in Bangalore, India's third largest city, and the center... »

Mexican restaurant franchise operator Alsea SAB has acquired exclusive rights to develop P.F. Chang's China Bistro in Brazil. Alsea, which opened its first P.F. Chang's in Mexico City in 2009, will spend more than $85 million to... »

UL has acquired Everclean Services, a food-safety auditor based in Agoura Hills, Calif. Everclean Services assesses and audits food safety, supplier qualifications, brand consistency and price integrity for restaurants, grocery... »

We (and lots of other observers) were wrong. Most of us expected consumers would gain back a bit of their confidence from the AmericanTaxpayer Relief Act passed just after the New Year. But no. The Thomson Reuters/University of... »

It being a new year, we thought we’d share the current macroeconomic forecasts from Blue Chip Economic Indicators. The 50 major economic forecasting groups polled monthly by Blue Chip raised their consensus forecast for real... »

The price-increase news for foodservice operators in December was actually pretty good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported wholesale food prices at all three levels of the wholesale chain fell during the month. Finished... »

It’s been a very tough slog for foodservice operators the past two years in Britain. The austerity regime of tax increases and benefit cuts put in place by the current Conservative/Liberal Democrat government has cut consumers’... »

The New York State Supreme Court is hearing arguments Jan. 23 on the legality of the supersized soft-drink ban passed last year by New York City’s board of health The National Restaurant Association, American Beverage... »