Mama Fu’s finds good fortune—and new growth—with a new, smaller prototype that chops building costs by 10% and keeps store revenues healthy.

"The more things change, the more they remain the same,” is a useful old saw, because it’s often true. But some things do change and it’s critical to know what they are.I did a fun presentation this past Saturday at PRIDE Marketing’s summer PING/PIKE Forum at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare near Chicago. PING/PIKE is an…

Foodservice Equipment Reports’ E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 27, at the Hotel Orrington, in Evanston, Ill. This annual meeting offers dealers, manufacturers, operators and others in the industry an early look at the foodservice equipment and supplies industry next year and beyond, in time for planning and budgeting. It…

Spaces in this fall’s AutoQuotes’ 2011 Roadshow Training Sessions, offered in conjunction with the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry, are filling up. Five cities will host sessions focusing on time-saving and efficiency-boosting features in AutoQuotes 360. Dates and locations are:

Webb Design, the Tustin, Calif., foodservice design firm, has formed a strategic alliance with San Diego-based DM&A Inc., the largest healthcare foodservice consulting firm in North America. The alliance, in a company known as DM&A/Webb Design, will see the two companies collaborating as one team on healthcare and educational foodservice design projects. A new website,…

Debbie Hanson has been promoted to group v.p.-sales and marketing of Star Holdings Int’l., a division of The Middleby Corp. Hanson has been with Middleby since 2008, most recently as v.p.-sales and marketing for Pitco and Magikitch’n, based in Concord, N.H. In her new position, she will manage day-to-day sales and marketing activities of all…

Michael Tinsley has been named CEO at Grindmaster-Cecilware Corp. in Louisville, Ky. Tinsley, most recently CEO of Permian Holdings, spent much of his early career in the foodservice equipment industry, including executive posts at American Metal Ware and H&K Int’l. During that time, he was a member of the NAFEM board. In addition to its…

Two major appointments have been announced at Hatco Corp. Mark Pumphret will join the Milwaukee manufacturer as dealer sales manager on Dec. 1, with responsibility for furthering Hatco’s sales efforts within the dealer community. He will work closely with the firm’s domestic sales team and rep community, and will call on dealers, end-users and consultants.…

Singer Equipment Co., one of the country’s largest E&S distributors, has acquired the assets of M. Tucker, the leading dealer in the greater New York City market. The Elverson, Pa., company’s acquisition, announced June 17, expands Singer’s full distribution and market coverage from Connecticut to Maryland. Paterson, N.J.-based M. Tucker offers foodservice equipment, tabletop, disposables…

Singer Equipment Co., one of the country’s largest E&S distributors, has acquired the assets of M. Tucker, the leading dealer in the greater New York City market. The Elverson, Pa., company’s acquisition, announced June 17, expands Singer’s full distribution and market coverage from Connecticut to Maryland. Paterson, N.J.-based M. Tucker offers foodservice equipment, tabletop, disposables…