It isn’t just large equipment that this magazine focuses on or that makes foodservice kitchens run smoothly and look good. Small things matter too, as was made clear when 14 winners emerged last month at FER’s Smallwares & Tabletop Awards. Six judges pored over and admired the uniqueness, efficiency, utility, durability and design of nearly…

David Prudhomme has joined Jackson, Miss.-based Robot Coupe U.S.A. in the new position of Market Solutions Advisor.  Prudhomme, who will be based in Dallas, is focused on expanding opportunities in multi-unit environments throughout the Southeast as well as Oklahoma and Texas; he also has responsibilities in healthcare, school foodservice, culinary schools, and chain segments and…

Broaster Co. has hired Sharon Schwengler as its new National Accounts Manager. Schwengler brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the Beloit, Wis., company, including tenures at Libbey Inc., Nemco Food Equipment, Standex Int’l. and PepsiCo Foodservice. At Broaster, she will focus on multiunit national account development. “We’re very excited we found someone…

Food prices at the wholesale level fell 0.5% in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Restaurant Association. The declines come on the heels of strong 1.4% and 1.7% gains in May and June, respectively. The increases in May and June followed six consecutive months of declines beginning in November…

Things are getting busy at Fisher-Nickel (fishnick), operator of Pacific Gas & Electric’s Food Service Technology Center. Fishnick has unveiled a technical advisory committee for its “Demonstration of High-Efficiency Hot Water Systems in Commercial Food Service” project. Fishnick was awarded a “Building Natural Gas Technology” grant last fall to demonstrate and document system efficiency from…

UFood Grill, the Boston-based, fast-casual chain that closed its two standalone locations in 2012, has debuted a new prototype for a traditional in-line design that the company hopes will relaunch its expansion. The new prototype, designed by Milwaukee-based Interior Systems and its Studio 500 team, measures about 1,800 sq. ft. but is flexible enough to…

The Mexican QSR chain’s new location in Colorado Springs is the first of three slated to open this year in the Centennial State. Taco Bueno also has four new locations in Oklahoma and another two ready to open in Texas this year, including its first on-campus restaurant, located at the University of North Texas in…

Little Big Burger, a popular Portland, Ore., burger chain, has been acquired by Chanticleer Holdings. The deal includes cash and stock in Chanticleer, the Charlotte, N.C.-based holding company and owner of Hooters of America, which operates 412 Hooters restaurants. The acquisition adds another “better burger” chain to Chanticleer’s portfolio, which includes American Burger Co., BGR:…

Is beer a food? Some would say yes, but craft breweries—and now lawmakers in Virginia— say no. State agencies there have been duplicating regulation of the state’s 117 craft breweries, and operators in the fast-growing segment cried foul when the health department started trying to enforce restaurant-style regulations on free-standing breweries. Virginia’s health department is supposed…

Through the hard work of an FCSI taskforce, the Revit Foodservice Equipment Standards document has been updated for 2015. All files and documents pertaining to the standards can now be found on FCSI’s Revit Standards Page and is available for all members and non-members to access. Highlights include newly clarified standards for line subcategories, including…