Roark Capital Group has acquired a majority stake in Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, adding a big name—and one of the nation’s fastest growing chains—to its growing list of restaurant concepts.Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Champaign, Ill., chain’s founder, Jimmy John Liautaud, will remain chairman, and James North will remain president and CEO. As…

Later this month, the Women’s Foodservice Forum kicks off its Leadership Development Workshop North American Tour. The 12-city tour offers one-day, high-impact workshops centered on the theme, Unleash Your Leadership Potential. The events, open to working professionals in diverse industries, offer attendees necessary leadership skills—such as building networks, taking initiative, using influence and diplomacy, and…

Cicis, the Texas-based pizza buffet concept, has been acquired by Arlon Group, a food and agriculture investment firm, in partnership with Cicis’ management team; CEO Darin Harris, will continue to guide the business. Since its founding in 1985, Cicis has grown to more than 440 restaurants in 33 states; only 41 stores are company-owned. Last…

Stero and Somat have added two new rep groups to manage sales for their warewashing and waste management brands. PBAC & Associates will represent Stero, Somat, Red Goat and Master Disposers in the New York and Northern New Jersey territory. Premier Marketing Group will represent Stero and Somat in the Michigan territory. Somat and Stero…

We’ve been waiting for this one. The NPD Group reported that data from its ongoing CREST consumer research, the broadest industry measure of consumer foodservice activity, show traffic at U.S. restaurants in the second quarter 2016 was flat versus the same quarter last year. It was the second consecutive quarter of flat overall traffic. Visits…

One feature of FER‘s annual E&S market forecast, unveiled August 9 at the magazine’s President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast meeting, is detailed data on manufacturer list pricing trends from AutoQuotes Inc. The data this year shows equipment and supplies manufacturers were more aggressive with price increases in the year ended June 30, 2016 than in…

The 310-unit Wetzel’s Pretzels snack chain was acquired September 8 by Dallas-based private-equity firm CenterOak Partners. The chain’s previous owners Leichtman Capital Partners exited after holding a majority stake for nine years. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Wetzel’s CEO, Bill Phelps, will remain in his current role; co-founder Rick Wetzel, who focuses his day-to-day…

Specifi LLC, the Chicago-based software design program for the foodservice industry, has named Suzanne Supplee to its advisory board. Supplee recently completed a short-term assignment for Specifi, organizing the North American sales organization and designing the company’s sales and marketing strategy. She currently runs her own consulting organization. “Suzanne brings a wealth of knowledge and…

Antunes, the family-owned and -operated maker of countertop cooking and water filtration products, has appointed Dan Hartlein as President. Glenn Bullock will remain as CEO. Hartlein joins Antunes after 14 years as executive v.p. of Twin City Fan Cos., a Minneapolis manufacturer of air-moving equipment for industrial and commercial applications, and COO of the Clarage…

Ricca Design Studios, the international culinary design and consulting firm, has engaged Martin Cowley as Executive Director, Design + Technical Support. Cowley’s career in the foodservice industry spans more than 40 years, and includes 27 years at Disneyland Parks and Resorts as the Senior Manager of Design and Construction. He brings his strategic project planning…