The registration deadline for FEDA’s 2013 Annual Convention was Feb. 25. Did you make it on time? The Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association’s convention, April 3-7, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort... »

Steve Spittle, CFSP, has been named v.p.-sales and marketing at Pitco Frialator, home to the Pitco, MagiKitch’n, Anets and Perfect Fry brands. Spittle most recently served as regional v.p. of sales with Pitco and Blodgett Ovens.... »

NAFEM 2013 in Orlando, Fla., included a slew of awards and special recognition for more than four dozen industry professionals. Industry veterans Steven Cobb and David Ek received NAFEM’s highest honors. Steve Cobb, CFSP,... »

Edward Don & Co. has new digs. The nation’s largest E&S distributor has moved its national headquarters and distribution center to a new 362,500-sq.-ft. facility in Woodridge, Ill. The move from the former location in... »

Ignite Restaurant Group, which operates 129 Joe’s Crab Shack and 15 Brick House Tavern+Tap restaurants, is adding Romano’s Macaroni Grill to its casual-dining stable. Ignite is purchasing the 210-unit chain from Golden Gate... »

The world’s largest restaurant brand will be more aggressive this year in its pursuit of sales and customers. The pledge from McDonald’s Corp. CEO Don Thompson comes as the company announced global same-store sales were up 3.1%... »

Burger King Worldwide just reported a strong finish to 2012 and progress on key strategic initiatives. The Miami-based chain’s fourth-quarter results include full-year data, and revealed that in 2012, BKW grew comparable sales... »

Follett Corp. has appointed Pasquale Striano as regional sales manager for the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa. He’ll be responsible for implementing foodservice sales programs and plans for those regions, including India... »

Reitano Design Group is the new and more memorable moniker for Foodservice Solution Group. The foodservice design and consulting firm is helmed by Scott Reitano, along with Jim Kessenich and Julie Sullivan. The address and phone... »

It’s a new look, logo-wise, for Electro Freeze. In what it calls the most dramatic change to its visual identity since 1969, the East Moline, Ill., soft-serve maker has debuted a new logo and website. The new logo incorporates... »

The world of correctional foodservice is never dull. The Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates has a lot on its plate these days. In addition to planning for its upcoming annual convention in August, there are only... »

The number of Canadian restaurant operators reporting increased same-store sales in fourth quarter 2012 fell to 33% from a robust 44% in the third quarter, according to data from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices... »

The mid-month reading on consumer sentiment from Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers surprised some observers by popping up to 76.3 from the final January reading of 73.8. Economists polled by Reuters had... »

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has already battled trans fats, smoking and supersized sodas during his 11 years in office, has now proposed a citywide ban on “foam-based foodservice products,” including coffee cups, trays... »

On Jan. 24, the California Building Standards Commission unanimously approved the Division of the State Architect’s proposed accessibility regulations for the 2013 California Building Code. This update integrates into a single... »

This is getting to be like a broken record. Once again average gasoline prices are increasing earlier than is typical, with the national average for a gallon up nearly 40 cents in the past month alone. Foodservice operators are... »

Overall state tax revenues grew 2.7% in third quarter 2012 vs. the third quarter the year before, the 11th consecutive quarter of increases since the depths of the Great Recession, according to data from the Rockefeller Institute... »

Michael Conte has been promoted to the presidency of Franklin Machine Products. Through his 24 years with Lumberton, N.J.-based FMP, Conte has served as GM, vice president and most recently, executive v.p./COO. He succeeds Joe... »

Like many of you, we’re just back from the whirlwind week that is The NAFEM Show. NAFEM was even more intense than usual for us, as we hosted more than 400 of our closest friends for our Industry Awards event on Friday, Feb. 8.... »

The Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association continues to announce more details on the speakers, sessions and seminars planned for its 2013 Annual Convention, April 3-7 at the  JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country... »

Component Hardware Group has tapped Doug Reasoner to helm sales to dealers, consultants and operators as its new national sales manager. Before joining the Lakewood, N.J., firm, Reasoner was a regional sales manager for... »

Shortly after Middleby Corp. announced Dec. 31, 2012, that it purchased Viking Range for $380 million in cash, FER Publisher/Research Editor Robin Ashton called Middleby Chairman and CEO Selim Bassoul to check on the thinking... »

The Manitowoc Co. announced on Jan. 28 that it has sold its Jackson MSC warewashing business to Hoshizaki USA Holdings. Specific terms of the asset sale were not disclosed. Jackson, based in Barbourville, Ky., manufactures a... »

Kitchen Brains, the Stratford, Conn., maker of integrated wireless networking solutions and SaaS applications, has acquired the assets of Modularm Corp., a Commack, N.Y., maker of refrigeration monitoring and control systems.... »

T&S Brass and Bronze Works has acquired Chicago-based EnviroPure Systems, a developer of alternative environmentally friendly technologies for organic food waste disposal. The plumbing and foodservice equipment maker has... »