Two of the key general economic indicators that drive foodservice sales and thus foodservice equipment and supplies sales, were reported softer last week, but it appears the nearly two-month run-up in gasoline prices has plateaued.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slowdown in jobs growth in April. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 160,000, a figure…

After seven company-owned units and one franchise restaurant opened in the first quarter, the steakhouse chain moved into the second quarter with three more company-owned unit openings and debuted its first franchise location in the Philippines. For the year overall, Texas Roadhouse’s development pipeline is greased with 30-plus company-owned units, requiring capital expenditures of $165-$175…

There’s a week left to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s still-evolving Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The agency issued a proposed rule in late March that will change or modify the status of several refrigerants. In addition to proposing to list propane as acceptable (subject to use conditions) as a refrigerant in new self-contained commercial…

The Department of Labor unveiled final federal overtime regulations May 18. The new rule, which goes into effect December 1, 2016, states: Guarantees time-and-half pay to any salaried employee earning under $47,476 a year ($913 a week) and who works more than 40 hours in a week. That’s double the current salary threshold of $23,660 ($455…

We ran a story in our last issue about the owner of a restaurant in northern England on trial for manslaughter after a customer with a severe peanut allergy died from severe anaphylactic shock from eating curry made at the restaurant. The operator of Indian Garden in Easingwold was convicted Monday of gross negligence manslaughter…

The Middleby Corp. has acquired Follett Corp., the Easton,, Pa., manufacturer of ice machines, ice and water dispensing equipment, ice storage and transport products and medical grade refrigeration products for the foodservice and healthcare industries. Follett has approximately $140 million in annual revenues. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Follett offers unique product…

A number of you have asked us why we’re not writing about FoodServiceWarehouse, the Internet enterprise started and owned by members of the PRIDE dealer marketing group. The company has fallen on hard times during the past 12 months or so. Since included among those asking are a former president of NAFEM and a former…

The brief stock market panic and a big winter snowstorm in the Northeast during January this year didn’t stall the foodservice equipment and supplies market after all. Manufacturers’ reps surveyed for MAFSI’s quarterly Business Barometer reported an overall sales gain of 4.8% for the first quarter 2016. The gain exceeded the reps forecast of 4.3%…

In a major announcement for the E&S distribution industry, Excell Marketing & Procurement Group and NISSCO Restaurant Dealer Group have formed a strategic alliance as EMPG Holding Co. Now under a common umbrella, the groups look to be a market leader supporting foodservice equipment and supplies dealers. “Excell and NISSCO RDG have independently strived to…

PRIDE Marketing and Procurement, the dealer/shareholder-owned buying group, has appointed Karin Sugarman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Sugarman started her career in the foodservice equipment industry with PRIDE in 1992, eventually becoming executive v.p. until her departure in 2012. She expanded her experience in the industry while working on special projects for Scotsman Industries…