Gordon Oates Sr., one of the founding fathers of the modern foodservice equipment industry and a 38-year veteran of Vulcan-Hart Corp., has died. He was 86. Oates, a cofounder of the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, spent his industry career dedicated to Vulcan-Hart. He joined the manufacturer in 1955 as sales manager and…

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group is exploring strategic alternatives, including possible sale, for the 3,700-unit Arby’s chain. The Atlanta-based company says that selling the Arby’s chain would help provide capital for reinvestments at Wendy’s, including new breakfast and burger lines, restaurant remodels, a new store prototype and international growth. On that point, the company hopes to expand Wendy’s…

In its first international expansion, The Cheesecake Factory has inked an exclusive licensing agreement with the Alshaya group of companies to build and operate restaurants in the Middle East. The agreement with the Kuwait company covers the development of 22 restaurants over the next five years in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United…

The foodservice recession continues to impact operators—especially independents who lack the resources to compete with chains. A new report from the NPD Group said the number of U.S. restaurants fell 5,551 in net terms, or less than 1%, for the year ending Sept. 30, 2010. The Port Washington, N.Y.-based research firm also reported that restaurant…

McDonald’s Corp. is laying out big plans for China and Korea. In China, McDonald’s plans to raise capital spending by 40% above 2010 levels. The Oak Brook, Ill., company will build as many as 200 new stores across the country—more than in any previous year, and swap out the old red and yellow decor for…

Utility efficiency, plus plenty of flexibility, help 10 pieces of kitchen equipment take home honors in FCSI’s Innovations Showcase.

The National Restaurant Association’s 2010 Kitchen Innovations Awardees offer you 16 ways to save money, time or both.

Streamlining, decluttering, faster service and sustainability mark the new prototype propelling growth plans for Moe’s Southwest Grill.

Just as consumers are starting to return to foodservice, a steep run-up in energy prices, including for gasoline, threatens to undercut the momentum. Oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel late last week, before falling back on news that the Saudis would raise output. But concerns about the stability of oil-producing regimes in the Middle East,…