Value-pricing and special deals are helping profit margins for at least a few chains. Crowd control has seldom been an issue, though, except when it’s In-N-Out Burger launching in a new state, and when that state is Texas. In May 2011, the Irvine, Calif., burger chain finally—after much anticipation—made its Lone Star state debut. Two…

Sheila Palinkas has joined Leer Inc. USA as national sales manager. The New Lisbon, Wis., company manufactures walk-in coolers and freezers under the Leer and Carroll Cooler brands. Prior to joining Leer, Palinkas was director of specialty markets at W.A. Brown. In addition, Leer has named Patrick McNeely as customer service manager; he’ll manage the…

Independence Day 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 Company. Under the $430 million deal, effective July 4, Wendy’s retains an 18.5% ownership of Arby’s. The majority sale to Roark gives the private equity firm ownership…

Two major appointments have been announced at Hatco Corp. Steve Everett Jr. will join the Milwaukee manufacturer as business development manager, a post that includes responsibility for developing product line strategies and new product development opportunities. He also will work closely with domestic and international sales relative to Hatco’s chain sales efforts. Everett’s industry resume…

Rubbermaid Commercial Products is expanding its sales force to include manufacturers’ reps and creating a distinct foodservice channel sales structure. The Winchester, Va., company announced it has signed up 20 marketing agents to extend its reach into the foodservice market and better serve the needs of distributors and end-users. Jim Monnat has been appointed to…

Two of Unified Brands’ four divisions received the 2010 Pizza Hut Equipment Supplier of the Year Star Award last month. Avtec was recognized as a Star Award recipient for “outstanding energy efficiency results in fryer and oven hoods.”  Randell received kudos from Pizza Hut’s R&D Group, which cited it for “hard work and determination (that)…

A Yum! Brands Star Award was presented to Henny Penny Corp. last month when it was honored as KFC’s 2010 U.S. Supplier of the Year. Henny Penny was recognized for the success of its AHC-993 Holding Cabinet, which KFC uses for its chicken. “It’s an honor to receive the Yum! Brands Star Award,” said Rob…

Garland, a Manitowoc Foodservice company, has appointed Bill Smithers as director of customer service. Smithers will oversee global customer and aftermarket service for the Mississauga, Ontario, company. He brings 20-plus years of multinational business experience to the post. For the past five years, he has worked on several key account projects for Garland. Smithers succeeds…

California Pizza Kitchen will be introducing its menu in Taiwan. The chain has announced a franchise agreement to expand into Taiwan and will open a minimum of six new CPK restaurants there over the next five years. The Los Angeles-based chain is partnering with Quanta Foods, previously a joint-venture partner in Taiwan with such brands…

On July 5, the National Restaurant Association and the National Council of Chain Restaurants filed comments regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s draft menu-labeling regulations.  The association was a primary advocate for the menu-labeling law, passed in March 2010, which will require restaurant chains with 20 or more locations operating under the same brand to…