Globe Food Equipment Co. has hired Chris King as director of product management. He will manage the product lines from strategic planning to tactical activities and work with marketing to define Globe’s go-to-market strategy and target customers. King, who reports directly to Globe Pres. Hilton Garner, joins the Dayton, Ohio, company from Hobart/ITW FEG, where…

As Jan notes in the news above, two great ladies from two very well-known dealer families passed away within the last month. Inez Ellingson, matriarch of the family that owns Bargreen Ellingson, died fittingly on Mother’s Day, May 11. Pearl Fishman, long an active partner in what is now TriMark/S.S. Kemp just passed as well.…

Spurred by polling that showed nearly 40% of its members lose as much as $25,000 in missed specification, origination, and destination credits every year, the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry is building a central and secure tracking system of projects. MAFSI is working closely with reps and manufacturers to gather 11-4000 specifications across…

Duke Manufacturing Co. promoted David Marvel to president from chief operating officer. In addition, the manufacturer has hired Tom LaMantia to serve as executive v.p.-global operations, and Kathy Veder to serve as v.p.-strategic national accounts. As president, Marvel will manage the St. Louis company’s day-to-day business activities and work with the executive team to achieve…

Kathy English, a familiar face as marketing communications manager at Allied Buying Corp., is retiring at the end of the month after 25 years at the Lombard, Ill.-based buying group. Sarah Celaya will succeed her in the post. The board of directors at the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association has voted to create the first…

Today, May 20, is the final day of the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. I am heading downtown in a few minutes to man the booth and chat up the remaining customers and readers. Though Jan and I missed Saturday and Sunday—our daughter Emma graduated on Saturday from the University of Iowa—everyone I saw…

Michael Schatz, president and CEO of The Restaurant Source, died May 16. He was 45 years old. The Denver-based E&S dealership installs and designs projects and has a thriving Internet business. It was founded in 1951. Schatz is survived by his wife, Lisa Weinstein Schatz, M.D.; two daughters and a son; his parents; and two…

We’ve just finished tallying and writing up our annual Top Dealer survey. Now that we’ve seen all the numbers, two trends are very clear. The biggest dealers, those in the Top 30 or so, continue to grow rapidly, often through acquisition of smaller dealers that fill in regions or niches for them. And many of…

Don’t forget to stop by our Booth No. 5244 at the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, May 17-20 in Chicago. We’ll be there to answer questions, get story tips and get your take on the pulse and activity of the exhibit floor.

In late March, 36 of