An Italian manufacturer’s unique heated food processor won the top award at the 95th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show on Nov. 14 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Judges reviewed nearly 100 submissions of new, cutting-edge products within the categories of E&S, design, guest amenities, linens and technology, as well…

TableCraft Products Co. has announced that on Jan.1, 2011, David Burnside will assume the presidency of the 64-year-old firm. The promotion was announced by current president and company owner Glenn Davis, who will move into the role of CEO and chairman of the board. Davis joined TableCraft in 1974, and became president in ’97. He…

Asian markets are spurring much of U.S. chain growth and in 2011 and beyond, count on Asian concepts to contend for the title “next big thing” here at home. Chipotle Mexican Grill garnered a lot of press earlier this month when the chain said it was exploring an Asian restaurant concept modeled on its “food…

What do you get when you put together a roomful of senior-level collegiate foodservice directors and key decision makers and give industry members time for one-on-one conversations? You get a whole lot of valuable discussion and passing of knowledge, according the National Association of College & University Food Services. Jumping off from the success of…

Scotsman Ice Systems has just announced the appointment of Denis Griesmer as v.p. of sales and marketing. Until this promotion, Griesmer had been serving as director of sales at Ice-O-Matic. The two-decade industry veteran assumes his new post at Scotsman this week. In a statement released with the announcement, Mark McClanahan, president of Scotsman, said: “Having…

The worldwide sales team at Bunn is getting bigger. Neal Robinson, senior v.p.-international sales for Bunn’s commercial division, has been named senior v.p.-global projects. In this role, Robinson will work with the Bunn sales team in planning and executing projects with the company’s national and global customers. In addition, Brian Wisniewski has joined the Springfield,…

Dan Schneider is in a new sales post at Wilbur Curtis Co., which recently named him as v.p.-national accounts. The announcement was made by Kevin Curtis, v.p.-sales and marketing, who said, “Dan’s vast industry experience with Curtis makes him a great fit for this position. As our former northern region vice president, Dan made a…

Want a look at the future, including how the Great Foodservice Recession, energy efficiency, sustainability initiatives and other forces are changing foodservice and the foodservice equipment market? Engineers from the Food Service Technology Center and Foodservice Equipment Reports Publisher Robin Ashton will examine these issues at two programs in California Jan. 19-20, 2011. Ashton will…

Landry’s Restaurants has completed two major acquisitions since CEO Tilman J. Fertitta took the company private in October. After approval from a bankruptcy court, the Houston company acquired Claim Jumper Restaurants for an undisclosed amount after Claim Jumper filed for Chapter 11 earlier this year. The Irvine, Calif., chain, founded in 1977, has units in…

Steve Easterbrook has been named president of McDonald’s Europe. Easterbrook, who currently serves as executive v.p. and global chief brand officer, will assume his new post Dec. 1. The 16-year company veteran became CEO of McDonald’s United Kingdom in April 2006 and president of Europe’s northern division—including Scandinavia and Ireland—the following January. He succeeds Denis…