After a year of moderate gains, the MAFSI Business Barometer surged in the first quarter of 2015, rising 4.7%. It was the largest increase for the indicator since the fourth quarter 2013 and follows a 2.9% gain in the fourth quarter last year. The Barometer is maintained by the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice…

Wholesale food prices fell for the sixth consecutive month in April, but restaurant operators pushed menu prices up yet again. Wholesale food prices dropped 0.9% at the final demand stage last month, according to Producer Price Index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A drop in pork prices was cited as a factor…

While the broad equipment and supplies market, as represented by the MAFSI Business Barometer, saw strong gains in sales, sales of the nine publicly reporting E&S companies were mixed in the first quarter 2015. Combined sales rose only 1.1%, as declines in sales were reported by four of the companies. Robust gains were reported by…

After much debate, our forecasting partner John Muldowney and I are sticking with our current equipment and supplies market estimates and forecasts for 2014 and 2015. Last July, for our annual President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast, we set 2014 market growth (at the manufacturers’ level) at 4.4% nominal and 2.3% real and forecast growth of…

Al Santos has been appointed to the newly created position of Director-Canadian Sales for the Standex Food Service Equipment Group. He will report to Chuck Dullea, President-Standex Refrigerated Solutions Group, but his focus will be to build on and leverage sales-channel relationships for all Standex FSEG brands including Nor-Lake, Master Bilt, Federal, Bakers Pride, APW,…

Excell Marketing, the Denver-based buying group marking its 20th anniversary this year, held its annual conference April 15-18 in Cancun, Mexico. The group, comprised of 125 dealers in 42 states, honored four companies as Vendors of the Year. They were: Nor-Lake Inc.: Partnership and Loyalty Nexel Industries: Strategic Growth Beleco: Customer Focus Middleby Corp.: Education…

The Vollrath Company has named Jill VanMenxel its eastern regional manager for its foodservice division.  She will oversee sales, staffing and market development in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas, and northeast Ohio. VanMenxel joined Vollrath in 2005 as district sales…

Hearings were continued into this week on the federal court proceedings in the government’s antitrust challenge to the proposed merger of rivals Sysco Corp. and US Foods. The Federal Trade Commission, which sued to block the deal in February, and the two companies will return to court after Memorial Day to present closing arguments on…

Unified Brands has added Shawn McElyea as Product Line Director-Warewashing. He will focus on revenue growth for Unified’s Power Soak and warewashing product family through new product development and support of the sales network. McElyea has previous product line management and market research experience in the foodservice industry. Conyers, Ga.-based Unified Brands, along with its…

Ray Peden has been elevated to the office of President-Franke Coffee Systems North America. When he takes office June 1, Peden will be responsible for accelerating sales and growth of the Franke Coffee Systems business in the U.S. and Canada. He will be based at headquarters in Smyrna, Tenn., and will continue reporting to Yvo Locher,…