It’s a dealer exclusive.at the National Restaurant Association Show. The first-ever Kitchen Innovations Mixer on Sunday, May 22, is a dealer-only event bringing together key industry executives, 2011 Kitchen Innovations Award manufacturers’ reps and judges, and the editors at industry magazines. Foodservice Equipment Reports is among the event’s co-sponsors.Look for more information in your NRA…

Hoshizaki America has expanded into a new market with a line of special marine-application ice machines, and signed up IBS-Interbev Inc. as the line’s global distributor to the cruise ship industry. IBS-Interbev, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., has been an equipment supplier to the cruise ship industry for more than a decade, designing, managing and installing…

Get your pencils ready and rev up the CAD. Entries are needed for a restaurant design contest that focuses on reducing energy demand throughout the dining room and kitchen—especially the energy used for operating food storage, cooking and cleaning tools and appliances. The Global Design Competition of Seattle is offering a $10,000 prize to architects,…

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…

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…