Au Bon Pain has launched a systemwide remodeling program. As part of the initiative, the Boston-based fast-casual company has already remodeled a majority of its cafés in one of its largest markets—the greater New York City area, where it operates more than 30 restaurants.The remodels include a new sandwich suite and tossed salad station. Layouts…

Singer Equipment Co., the largest E&S distributor in the mid-Atlantic market, has acquired the assets of M. Tucker, the leading dealer in the greater New York City market. The Elverson, Pa., company’s acquisition expands Singer’s distribution and market coverage from Connecticut to Maryland. Paterson, N.J.-based M. Tucker offers foodservice equipment, tabletop, disposables and smallwares to…

Independence Day 2011 brought completion of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group’s sale of Arby’s Restaurant Group to affiliates of Roark Capital Group and a new moniker for the burger chain: The Wendy’s Co. Under the $430 million deal, Wendy’s retains an 18.5% ownership of Arby’s. The majority sale to Roark gives the private equity firm ownership of 3,600…

Four things to know about griddles.

The future of dealers is bright, but always dynamic and challenging.

The general economy is weak, consumers are tentative and foodservice operators continue to worry about their prospects, but there is no question operators are buying more equipment and supplies, said Foodservice Equipment Reports Publisher Robin Ashton at the magazine’s annual E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview meeting, held in Evanston, Ill., on July 27. “The hard…

Blended list prices for the more than 350,000 models from more than 400 foodservice equipment, supplies and furnishings manufacturers rose 2.7% for the year ending June 30, according to the latest data from AutoQuotes Inc. AQ Managing Director David Greene presented the data at FER‘s E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview meeting in Evanston, Ill., on…

The restaurant industry overcame a one-month decline into contraction territory in May and bounced back strongly in June, according to the latest data from the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index. The index surged to 100.6, up 0.8 point from May’s reading. In May, the index had dipped below the 100 value that separates industry…

Many key metals used widely in foodservice equipment and supplies are headed higher again, after strong price increases seen since last fall softened somewhat in late spring and June. Prices for nickel and copper have both shown gains of more than 10% during the past two months, after sliding in April and May. The nickel…