AutoQuotes has appointed Susannah Albright as its new V.P.-Marketing. Albright joins AutoQuotes after a career in high-tech marketing and product management in business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets at companies including Intuit, Lucent Technologies and Octel Communications. She also founded a small business in the restaurant industry and has served as an independent management consultant to high-growth…

Chefs’ Toys, one of California’s largest restaurant equipment and supplies dealers, has opened a sixth store. The new location at 231 Teller St. in Corona, Calif., is open to the professional clientele of chefs, operators, caterers and food manufacturers as well as home-cooking enthusiasts. Chef Toys’ President Steve Dickler expressed enthusiasm for the new location.…

Seven industry leaders were honored during the closing reception of

A.J. Antunes & Co. has added two rep firms to its sales network. PB&J Commercial Agents, a Bartlett, Ill., firm recently started by Principals PJ Lamb and Carl Boutilier, will cover Illinois. Specialized Marketing, based in Waukesha, Wis., will cover its home state. “A.J. Antunes & Co. is very excited to partner with both PB&J…

It won’t be only the meters of exhibition space filled with catering and foodservice equipment and supplies that beckon buyers and operators next month to HOST 2015 in Milan. The 39th edition of the biennial show, Oct. 23-27 at Fiera Milano Exhibition Centre offers a host of exhibits, events and presentations. HOST 2015 will include…

G.E.T. Enterprises has completed its merger with Chicago-based Culinaire by Mikon Int’l. The merger, official Sept. 24, brings together G.E.T., the Houston-based maker of dinnerware, drinkware and displayware, with Chicago-based Culinaire, a supplier of custom banquet and tabletop display products. Mike Halles, founder of Culinaire, stated, “I believe our products and customization capabilities are a perfect…

Foodservice Consultants Society Int’l.-The Americas is rolling out its first-ever student competition, offering foodservice, hospitality and culinary-arts students in North and South America the chance to win scholarships, network with industry professionals and learn about career opportunities. Entrants in FCSI-TA’s competition will develop an innovative project related to the hotel business, hospitality or foodservice industry…

Sbarro is moving out of the mall. The Columbus, Ohio-based pizza chain, known for its more than 800 food-court locations, is opening the first of four freestanding, modern-looking restaurants in its hometown in October. It’s the start of a major remodel and menu change at Sbarro. The concept will remodel existing locations to open up…

Despite falling oil and other commodities’ prices, the foodservice market in Canada continues to grow, though at a slower rate than this year, according to Restaurants Canada’s (RC’s) annual forecast, released Sept. 16. Restaurant sales are forecast to grow 3.8% in 2016 to C$62 billion, down from 4% in 2015 and 4.8% in 2014. When…

The fast-casual U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom concept launched by Taco Bell Corp. last year has closed. The Huntington Beach, Calif., restaurant, which offered a simple lineup of 10 tacos based on regional flavors, thick-cut fries and shakes, saw lower-than-expected foot traffic and was never able to obtain a permanent alcohol permit after a…