KFC is spiffing up its stores and image in the U.S. with a $100 million investment this year in its kitchens and remodeling programs as well as another $85 million in 2016-17, according to top Yum! Brands executives. The financial package also includes $20 million a year in advertising.In an April 22 call with investors,…

Smashburger, the “better burger” chain, soon will have a footprint in eight countries. The Denver chain has announced its initial foray into the U.K., with 35 restaurants expected to open under a new franchise partner agreement with the MSG Group. No timetable for the rollout was announced. “The United Kingdom is hungry for better burgers…

The energy-efficiency experts at fishnick have a few tips to impart before the kickoff of the NRA Show next month. On Tuesday, May 12, the Food Service Technology Center’s David Zabrowski, Richard Young and Mark Finck will host “What You Need to Know Before NRA,” a quick webinar highlighting the latest equipment trends and innovations…

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Wholesale food prices declined for the fifth consecutive month in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and averaging by the National Restaurant Association, leaving the Producer Price Index for food 0.5% lower than in March a year ago. It’s the first time the index has run negative for a 12-month period since…

Consumer sentiment rose in the preliminary April reading, according to the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers, exceeding analysts’ expectations. The UM Sentiment Index reached 95.9 mid-month, up from a final March reading of 93. The indexes for current conditions and consumer expectations also rose more than analysts had expected. Consumer sentiment has been running…

The Canadian foodservice market has been outperforming many other developed foodservice markets around the globe. Two major groups forecasting the market, the national foodservice association Restaurants Canada and U.S.-based Technomic Inc., see another year of decent growth in 2015. Technomic’s recently released 2015 forecast has nominal growth for the industry up slightly to 4.1% from…

BARREL FRESH WINE ON TAPEach winery that’s a certified Barrel Fresh partner fills 9-l. U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved flexcases with an approved TORR filler. The 9-l. bags then are placed into small cardboard boxes and shipped through a regular distributor channel to restaurants. Onsite, a bartender places each bag into a TORR Keg and…

Donald Camacho Jr., a second-generation manufacturers’ rep, died suddenly April 19 at his home in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. He was 64. The Chicago native was self-employed in Zion, Ill., as the owner/operator of Don Camacho & Associates. He had worked with his father, Donald Sr., representing a wide range of foodservice equipment companies. The company…