Restaurant industry indicators tracked by the National Restaurant Association’s monthly Restaurant Performance Index were mixed in January, the association reported Feb. 27. Buoyed by dramatically lower prices for gasoline and strong employment trends, consumers helped push same-store sales and traffic higher. But the two measures following capital spending activity dropped sharply and operators were also…

The flat or falling customer traffic experienced by many restaurant operators since the Great Recession apparently also is having an effect on total unit counts. The NPD Group’s biannual ReCount restaurant census for the year ended Sept. 30, 2014, recorded a 1% decline in total restaurant units, from 635,033 in 2013 to 630,964 at the…

Wholesale food prices rose 5.5% last year—the fifth consecutive year of increases in the U.S.—but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting significant price drops for some key commodity categories in 2015. The forecasts were part of the USDA’s December 2014 projections. The department forecasts pork prices should fall 11%-17% this year, after gaining 19%…

As of Monday, March 2, average national gasoline prices had risen for 35 consecutive days, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Still, both the University of Michigan and The Conference Board report that consumer confidence remained high in February, in spite of slight declines in both research groups’ confidence indices. The average national price…

Five employees on Alto-Shaam’s sales and customer-service teams have been promoted to new positions by the Menomonee Falls, Wis., manufacturer. Tito Rodriguez was promoted to v.p. of sales, Claudio Baldinelli was promoted to v.p. of sales-Canada and Chris Harvey was promoted to business-development manager. Rodriguez will develop, prioritize and execute corporate-sales growth strategies while focusing…

A.J. Antunes & Co. has elevated Daniel Schmidt to the position of director of key accounts. Schmidt joined the Carol Stream, Ill., company five years ago as an international sales manager, overseeing foodservice equipment and water-treatment systems in the Middle East and India and air- and gas-pressure switches in Europe. He most recently served as…

Texas Roadhouse has ambitious plans for 2015. The Louisville chain has opened two more of its new company-owned family sports concept, Bubba’s 33, bringing its total number of locations to three. All are based near existing Texas Roadhouse units. CEO Kent Taylor sees another five units in the pipeline during 2015. The 448-unit Texas Roadhouse…

T&S Brass and Bronze Works has hired Rajesh Chowdhury as regional sales manager for India and the subcontinent. Chowdhury joins the Travelers Rest, S.C., company after working as regional head of sales for Cambro-Nilkamal Private Ltd., where he worked in all facets of sales and marketing, including business development and team training and development. In…

Anthony, the Sylmar, Calif., maker of glass doors, lighting systems and display equipment for commercial refrigeration systems, has opened a new manufacturing plant in Conyers, Ga. The new facility adds 130,000 sq. ft. of production capacity to complement Anthony’s facilities in Sylmar; Madison, Ga.; and Shanghai. Anthony Pres. Craig Little said the expansion is aimed…

The Costa Mesa, Calif., fire-grilled chicken chain is getting bigger in the Salt Lake City area. It plans to expand from its two existing sites there to seven by 2018. Three veteran franchisees who currently operate 13 El Pollo Loco stores in Southern California will lead the development using the fast-casual chain’s hacienda design. The…