The six months through April brought operators a welcome respite from rising food costs, but the California drought and avian bird flu finally caught up with the supply chain. Wholesale food prices dropped 5.4% from November 2014 to April, but jumped 1.4% in May according Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price data and the National…

GARLAND/MANITOWOC GAS XPRESS GRILLGarland’s Master Series Gas Xpress Grill is a 2-sided cooking device with a gas-fired grill and 2 independently controlled 11 1/2-in.W electric top heaters. Each 12 in. of the grill has 33,000 Btu/hr. of heat input via natural or propane gas as well as a built-in pressure regulator, gas shut-off valve and…

Stating that the stores were not sustainable for its long-term growth, Starbucks Corp. plans to close all 23 La Boulange bakery-café units by the end of September. The brand’s food will still be served at Starbucks coffeehouse locations. In addition to the stores, mostly located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Starbucks says it will…

Saladworks has been acquired out of bankruptcy by Centre Lane Partners, a New York-based private-equity firm. It was announced June 15 that Centre Lane will pay $16.9 million for the 108-unit fast-casual chain, including $15 million in cash and $1.2 million for a “brand development fund.” Saladworks President Paul Steck, who has been with the…

The American Culinary Federation has elected new national officers. They will begin serving their two-year terms in August. President: Thomas Macrina, Product Specialist Manager- US Foods, Philadelphia Secretary: Kyle Richardson, Culinary Arts Professor-Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill. Treasurer: William Tillinghast, Director of Culinary/Pastry Programs-The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Philadelphia. V.P.-Central Region:…

The Association for Healthcare Foodservice honored operator members with awards on June 5 during its 2015 Annual Conference in Salt Lake City. The Louisville, Ky., association presented Beth Yesford, Senior Director-Support Services & Facility Management, Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C., with its highest award, the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award. Yesford, who has been in the…

James H. Little, one of the founders of Cini-Little International, died June 13 after a brief battle with leukemia. He is survived by his wife, four daughters and their families. “Jim was a visionary consultant to the industry, a generous mentor to our colleagues, and an outstanding partner, gentleman and friend,” said John Cini, who…

Allied Buying Corp.’s Spring Conference at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis included recognition for a dozen members and suppliers for their extraordinary volume growth and support. Six suppliers were honored. Total Dollar Volume Increase: Nor-Lake Inc. and Vollrath Co. Total Percentage Volume Increase: Vitamix Inc. and Hamilton Beach. Overall Member Support: Dormont Mfg. and T&S…

Henry Coletti, a long-serving and much honored veteran of the foodservice equipment and supplies industry, died June 13 in Sandwich, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; two sons and a daughter; and five grandchildren. FEDA Past President Rick Ellingson of Bargreen Ellingson complimented Coletti’s dedication. “He was a strong advocate for distribution and…

Robert Nerbonne has been named Executive Vice President of Cooper-Atkins Corp., the Middlefield, Conn., maker of temperature-monitoring solutions. He also has been elected to serve on the board of directors, and been named to the office of treasurer. Nerbonne, a 30-year veteran of the foodservice industry, joins Cooper-Atkins after three years at Ali Group North…