GARLAND, a Manitowoc Foodservice company, has appointed Bill Smithers as dir.-customer service. He will oversee global customer and aftermarket service for the Mississauga, Ontario, company. Smithers succeeds Dale Kostick, who retired after 33 years with Garland in leadership posts including v.p.-finance and v.p./ g.m.-Garland Ovens.

Texas-based ACE MART RESTAURANT SUPPLY toasted its top sales representatives during the Southwest Foodservice Expo, held June 24-25 in Dallas. The San Antonio dealership honored Mark Lemons & Associates as Independent Rep of the Year. The award for Factory Reps of the Year (Smallwares) went to four-time winner The Vollrath Co; and True Mfg. had…

Gulfport, Miss.-based ASSOCIATED FOOD EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES plans to open a showroom, office, design service and warehouse facility in the Jackson, Miss., metro area. Associated said the expansion is part of its plan to better serve customers in the central and northern parts of Mississippi. The dealership also serves Alabama and Louisiana

Members of the DIETARY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION have approved a name change, effective Jan. 1, 2012. The new moniker, Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals, is the outgrowth of an 18-month strategic rebranding effort to better reflect members’ professional responsibilities. The change from DMA to ANFP does not impact members’ certification or professional responsibilities. The association…

Miami-based ARCTIC INDUSTRIES is celebrating its 30th anniversary manufacturing walk-ins, freezers and cold storage facilities. Arctic Pres. Donald Goodstein is thanking customers, consultants and end users for making possible the milestone.

SCOTSMAN ICE SYSTEMS has hired Alex Carayannopoulos as its new director-healthcare sales. Carayannopoulos, who joined the Vernon Hills, Ill., company in July 2011, has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare foodservice industry. He recently served as a division sales director for Plymold Seating.

It’s not quite 20 years old, but Firehouse Subs wants to have 2,000 units open by 2020. The Jacksonville, Fla., chain is developing 80 outlets in Dallas. It currently has 432 locations, including 18 in the Dallas area. Under the development agreement, Texas will have the third largest concentration of Firehouse Subs outside of Florida.

Veggie Grill has announced its first foray outside of its home turf in California. The meat-free chain will open its first location in Portland, Ore., in early 2012; at least three will be open by the end of ’12. The chain is pushing to grow the brand throughout the West Coast, with plans to double…

The 12-unit New Orleans-based franchisor is expanding nationally, with hopes of tripling in size. In August 2011, VooDoo BBQ & Grill signed a deal to open eight restaurants in the Carolinas; it plans another location on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is talking with potential franchisees for multi-unit expansions in Florida, Texas and the Northeast.…

The long, hot summer has been a boon for frozen treat chains. Three U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt cafes opened in July 2011, bringing to the total operating cafes in the system to 19. The new franchised units are in Orlando, Fla.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Boise, Idaho. Currently there are six corporate owned U-Swirl Cafes and 13…