Manitowoc Foodservice has announced organizational changes encompassing its U.S. and global operations which it says better emphasize the company’s focus on customers and innovative equipment solutions.The changes, effective immediately, apply to both the Refrigeration Solutions and Cooking Solutions for the Americas divisions. Larry Bryce is the new executive v.p. for the former, overseeing refrigeration companies…

The Manitowoc Co. is spinning off Kysor/Warren, a maker of refrigerated display merchandisers and systems for the retail grocery and c-store markets. On Dec. 15, the company announced a definitive agreement for the divestiture of its Kysor/Warren and Kysor/Warren de Mexico businesses to Lennox Int’l. for approximately $138 million. The divestiture will not impact Kolpak,…

Carlson Restaurants will be focusing exclusively on T.G.I. Friday’s. After a nine-year ownership run, the Carrollton, Texas, company has sold its Pick Up Stix chain to Lorne Goldberg, the owner of the Leeann Chin and Mandarin Express quick-service brands. The sale includes 70 corporate locations and four franchised Pick Up Stix units. Goldberg stated he…

Genghis Grill, which grew to 59 units with four grand openings at year’s end, is branching out. An affiliate of The Chalak Group, parent of the Mongolian stir-fry chain, has acquired 33 Yum! Brands franchised restaurants. The KFC, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s units in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma are now under the…

The red and white striped awnings of T.G.I. Friday’s will be fluttering across the Middle East. The chain has renewed its development agreement with Kuwait-based Americana Group, which currently owns and operates the region’s 36 T.G.I. Friday’s, as well as other foodservice chains. The agreement will result in an additional 30 T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants during…

Colin Lacey has been appointed by Manitowoc Foodservice as v.p.-service for Europe, Middle East, Asia (EMEA). Lacey is now responsible for coordinating all service activities for Manitowoc Foodservice brands across the region including Cleveland, Convotherm, Dean, Delfield Sadia, Frymaster, Garland, Lincoln, Merrychef, and Moorwood Vulcan. He brings more than two decades experience in after-sales service to…

Noodles & Company, the Colorado-based, privately owned chain of more than 245 fast-casual restaurants in 18 states, has been acquired by an investment group that’s led by Catterton Partners. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to the Denver Post, Noodles will operate with the same management team, including CEO and Chairman Kevin…

Did you miss it? Tomorrow, Jan. 7, is the deadline for submitting Kitchens Innovations Awards applications to the National Restaurant Association. The prestigious awards program recognizes the most innovative equipment worldwide, and the winning submissions will be featured in the Kitchen Innovations Pavilion at the 2011 NRA Show, May 21-24 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. “Innovative…

Just when it appeared the restaurant industry had finally turned the corner to recovery, the market softened again, according to the November reading from the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index. The overall index fell 0.8 point, to fall back to 99.9, just below the 100 level that separates expansion from contraction. The RPI stood…

The NPD Group, which tracks foodservice traffic activity through consumer panels, reported in December that overall restaurant traffic in the third quarter improved to flat, after two full years of quarterly declines versus year prior quarters. A 1% increase in quick-service traffic, which accounts for more than three-quarters of all restaurant visits, overcame continuing declines…