We know your feet are still recovering from walking the aisles at NAFEM, and your Blackberry is full of new contacts and product ideas. But there are a few more shows you might not want to miss.Equipment is the focus at INTERNORGA in Hamburg, Germany. The 85th annual  International Fair for the Hotel, Restaurant, Catering,…

One thing was inordinately clear during The NAFEM Show, which concluded last Saturday, Feb. 12: Everyone, and we mean everyone, was extremely optimistic about the show and the equipment and supplies market. As one manufacturers’ rep intoned to us, alluding to the Eagles song, “We haven’t seen that spirit here since…well, maybe 2005.” Not that…

Equipment and supplies sales rose a dramatic 5% in the fourth quarter 2010 versus the same quarter in ’09, according to the latest data from the Business Barometer fielded by the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry. It was the first positive number for the Barometer since the fourth quarter ’07. All five regions…

After a disappointing fall-back in November, the Restaurant Performance Index maintained by the National Restaurant Association posted a strong 1.1 point gain in the December survey, moving to 101, clearly ahead of the 100 point that marks the difference between industry expansion and contraction. The index has shown gains for three of the past four…

The National Restaurant Association predicts the foodservice industry will reverse three consecutive years of real declines in sales and post nominal sales growth of 3.6% and real growth of 1.1% in 2011. Menu-price inflation is forecast at 2.5%. The group released its annual forecast during a media webinar Feb. 1. “As the national economy is…

Technomic Inc. revised up, slightly, its 2011 forecast for the foodservice industry, though the Chicago-based research firm continues to predict a fourth consecutive year of real declines in foodservice sales. The changes moved the forecast for total foodservice up to -0.1% in real terms, from the original -0.3% released last fall. The firm made only…

Bob Norlander has assumed a new role at Manitowoc Foodservice as area v.p.-sales. In his new role, Norlander will be responsible for a regional sales team covering the Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota territories. The 30-year industry vet had been with Cleveland Range since 1990, most recently as v.p. of marketing. Manitowoc is…