The Commercial Food Equipment Service Association has two training classes slated this month.  The sessions, Electric, Gas & Steam and Refrigeration, are running concurrently at the Duke Power Customer Resource Center in Charlotte, N.C. The EGS class is March 21-26; the refrigeration class is March 21-24. The registration deadline is March 14.The four-day refrigeration class…

SPICY PICKLE FRANCHISING has tapped Peter Wright to serve as chief development officer. Wright is now responsible for franchise sales, real estate, architecture, construction and equipment. Prior to joining Spicy Pickle, Wright had more than 13 years’ experience in franchising and licensing in the United States, Canada and other international markets. The Denver-based chain operates restaurants in…

DENNY’S CORP. has appointed John Miller president and CEO. Miller succeeds Debra Smithart-Oglesby, who had filled the post on an interim basis since June 2010; she will continue as company board chair. Miller brings a 30-year industry resume to the Denny’s team, including 17 years in management at Brinker Int‘l. He had been president/CEO at…

EL POLLO LOCO has named Steve Sather its president and CEO; he had been acting president/CEO since August 2010. Sather joined the chain in ’06 to lead company and franchise operations. His resume includes senior management positions with Rubio’s Restaurants, Rally’s Hamburgers, La Salsa Holding Co. and Taco Bell. The company also has named Samuel…

DAVE & BUSTER’S has named Dolf Berle as president and COO of the 57-unit chain. Berle most recently served as exec. v.p.-hospitality for ClubCorp USA, the nation’s largest operator of private clubs. Prior to that, he served as president of Lucky Strike Entertainment, as well as COO of House of Blues Entertainment. Dave & Buster’s…

MCDONALD’S CORP. has promoted Kevin Newell to executive v.p. and chief global brand officer, replacing Steve Easterbrook, who left last year to become president of McDonald’s Europe. Most recently a senior v.p. and restaurant support officer for McDonald’s USA’s West division, Newell will oversee marketing, menu innovation, consumer insights and restaurant architecture. Newell will report…

There’s a new rep group in Chicago. CULINARY EQUIPMENT GROUP includes Ed Sutryk and Janice Dziuban (formerly of Elite Marketing) who have joined forces with James Carr, Sam Franklin and Christina Raab (formerly of Tech Rep). The group will market brands including Follett, InterMetro, Meiko, Structural Concepts and Unified Brands. Culinary Equipment Group’s offices in…

VANCO, a 40-year-old provider of parts and repairs for commercial foodservice and refrigeration equipment, has been acquired by service industry veteran Gary Allen and his son, Jeremy. The Indianapolis-based company provides operators with complete facility maintenance; including HVAC repair. Allen previously spent 27 years as an owner of Commercial Parts & Service.

LOLO, Byram, Miss., has added several new distributors for its line of steamers, kettles, tilting skillets and cooking equipment. The new distributors and their territories include Chernoff Sales in Florida; Don Stevens Inc. in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin; Salt Marsh Distributing in New England; Silver Eagle Marketing in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.; and…

COOPER-ATKINS CORP. has six new appointments in its sales and marketing team. Bill Eggers has been appointed to the newly created position of v.p.-marketing and key accounts; Jeff Yeager has been promoted to v.p.-sales East; and Scott D’Aniello has been promoted to v.p.-industrial sales. The Middlefield, Conn., company also has added two new healthcare regional…