Small businesses are still struggling to get the money they need and to comply with government regulations, according to a survey by Babson College.Company owners who took part in the survey said they’ve been able to get only about 40% of the money they requested from all sources, including loans and investor funding. The nearly…

Overall restaurant traffic was flat in the first quarter 2016 in the U.S., according to the latest CREST data from The NPD Group. And the Rosemont, Ill.-based research group expects more of the same. “All in all, the restaurant industry has been conducting business in a 1% world since 2010 and will continue at the…

Wholesale food prices rose in May for only the second time in eight months, according to Producer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices at the final stage of demand rose 0.3% versus the month prior, while processed food prices rose 1.1% at the intermediate stage and unprocessed foods 0.1%. While, NRA…

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based burger giant is leaving the suburbs, and will move its corporate headquarters to Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood by the spring of 2018. McDonald’s also will move its “Hamburger University” training facility to a space in the city. The move will mark a return to downtown Chicago, where the company had been…

The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index fell slightly to 94.7 in the mid-June reading. It had spiked to 94.7 in the final May reading. But the survey’s Chief Economist Richard Curtin and many economists focused on some worrisome underlying trends. Curtin said consumers rated their current financial situation at the highest levels since the…

U.S. petroleum refiners are apparently keeping up with rising demand for gasoline and diesel fuel so far this summer. The result: Average U.S. gasoline prices had fallen for nine consecutive days as of June 20 with prices down nearly four and a half cents from the previous week, according to the Daily Fuel Gauge Report…

Mid-June is an exciting time of year for us: We begin pulling data together for our annual equipment and supplies market forecast. Yes, I’m crazy enough to think that’s fun. It will all be presented at our annual President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast meeting scheduled August 9 at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill. (You…

Excell Marketing gave awards to 15 manufacturers at its annual conference, May 17 in Palm Springs, Cal. “It is always a privilege each year to recognize Excell’s dedicated vendor partners. The award winners were nominated by our dealers for their unwavering commitment to the group,” said the Denver group’s CEO Randy Brunschwig. “While Excell has…

Arctic Industries is marking 35 years manufacturing walk-in coolers and freezers in 2016. “We would like to thank our partners for the successes that Arctic Industries has achieved in the past 35 years,” said David Grife, President of the Miami-based company since January. Arctic was founded in 1981 by Donald Goodstein, now its chairman, and…

Michael Nadal, a veteran of two decades in the foodservice industry, has been hired by Infrico USA as National Sales Director. He joins the Miami-based maker of refrigeration, freezer and display equipment from TriMark Strategic, headquartered in Coppell, Texas. Nadal will manage the Infrico’s network of reps and dealers.