There’s still time to register for Foodservice Equipment Reports’ E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview meeting, scheduled Wednesday, July 27, at the Hotel Orrington in Evanston, Ill.FER’s annual, one-day meeting offers dealers, manufacturers, operators and others in the industry an early look at the foodservice equipment and supplies industry next year and beyond, in time for…

Virginia "Ginny" Heil, 54, who worked in the E&S industry for nearly 40 years, died June 24. She joined Moccia Enterprises in Riverton, N.J., in 1973, and became a partner in the manufacturers’ rep firm in 1993. The company said she was the “behind the scenes” strength and guidance that kept it all together over…

Summertime is no vacation from paperwork, especially some very important forms due soon to the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association. Members need to fill out and submit their 2011 Profit Survey by Aug.1. The report, free to FEDA members, provides a financial and operating profile of the entire E&S industry, complete with financial benchmarking information and…

Two appointments have been announced by Manitowoc Foodservice. Robert Wonder has joined the New Port Richey, Fla., company as senior v.p.-global accounts. He will be responsible for directing and executing all aspects of sales strategies for targeted global accounts. Wonder has more than 35 years of experience in the foodservice industry, most recently with IMI…

As economic recoveries go, this one doesn’t seem overly anxious to kick in. But the economy is growing, and some parts are doing notably better than are others. Foodservice, for example, is doing better, and equipment and supplies appear to be doing better too. Over the past few months, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance…

Three chains toasted the work of three equipment manufacturers at June suppliers’ awards events. Henny Penny Corp., along with two of Unified Brands’ four divisions–Avtec and Randell–were honored with Yum! Brands Star Awards. Henny Penny received KFC’s 2010 U.S. Supplier of the Year, which honored the company for its development of the AHC-993 Holding Cabinet…

Garland, a Manitowoc Foodservice company, has appointed Bill Smithers as its director of customer service. Smithers will oversee global customer and aftermarket service for the Mississauga, Ontario, company. He brings 20-plus years of multinational business experience to the post. For the past five years, he has worked on several key account projects for Garland. Smithers…

Value-pricing and special deals are helping profit margins for at least a few chains. Crowd control has seldom been an issue, though, except when it’s In-N-Out Burger launching in a new state, and when that state is Texas. In May 2011, the Irvine, Calif., burger chain finally—after much anticipation—made its Lone Star state debut. Two…

Sheila Palinkas has joined Leer Inc. USA as national sales manager. The New Lisbon, Wis., company manufactures walk-in coolers and freezers under the Leer and Carroll Cooler brands. Prior to joining Leer, Palinkas was director of specialty markets at W.A. Brown. In addition, Leer has named Patrick McNeely as customer service manager; he’ll manage the…

Independence Day brought completion of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group’s sale of Arby’s Restaurant Group to affiliates of Roark Capital Group and a new moniker for the burger chain: The Wendy’s Company. Under the $430 million deal, effective July 4, Wendy’s retains an 18.5% ownership of Arby’s. The majority sale to Roark gives the private equity firm ownership…