When it comes to high-profile, multi-chain ownership, there’s a new kid on the block. Atlanta-based Roark Group has signed a definitive agreement to purchase a majority stake in Arby’s from Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, the third largest fast-food company in the United States.Wendy’s will retain an 18.5% ownership of Arby’s. The majority sale to Roark gives the…

Michael Tinsley is the new CEO at Grindmaster-Cecilware Corp. in Louisville, Ky. Tinsley most recently served as CEO of Permian Holdings, but 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…

Two appointments have been announced by Manitowoc Foodservice. Robert Wonder has joined the New Port Richey, Fla., company as sr. v.p.-global accounts. He will be responsible for directing and executing all aspects of sales strategies for targeted global accounts. Wonder has more than 35 years of experience in the foodservice industry, most recently with IMI…

Debbie Hanson has been promoted to group v.p.-sales and marketing of Star Holdings Int’l., a division of The Middleby Corp. Hanson most recently held the title 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 of the Star brands,…

Pedro Voyer has joined Church’s Chicken as global chief development officer. Voyer’s responsibilities at the 1,700-unit chain include franchising, international and domestic market development, re-imaging, construction, facilities and real estate management. Voyer joins the San Antonio, Texas, chain from Burger King Corp., where he was sr. v.p.-franchising and development for North America and Canada. In…

A management-led group has completed the acquisition of Sizzler USA’s U.S. interests from Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners, which had owned both Sizzler’s domestic and international operations since 2005. Sizzler USA currently owns or franchises 178 restaurants in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Terms of the sale, which excludes the international operations, were not disclosed. The…

A year after it marked its first 50 years, the Dietary Managers Association is looking ahead and proposing several bylaws changes that will help lead the organization into the future.  Foremost is a proposed change of the association’s name. The DMA board says it is exploring ways and names that more accurately reflect its members’…

The recent spate of weaker than expected economic data on jobs, spending and housing helped push down most forecasts of economic growth in the U.S. this year, according to the latest consensus data from Blue Chip Economic Indicators. The forecast for real growth of gross domestic product for 2011 nosed down another 0.1 point to…

Wholesale food prices fell in May for only the second time in 11 months, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Indexes. Overall prices at the wholesale level were down 1.3% from April, the National Restaurant Association reported in its Trendmapper analysis of the data. Meanwhile, on the consumer side, food-at-home…

The foodservice market in the United Kingdom will show little if any real growth this year, according to Peter Backman, principal of Horizons, the London-based hospitality research firm. Current-dollar growth is forecast at a mere 0.8% while real growth is expected to be flat, Backman told FER Fortnightly during the NRA Show in May. The…