As we wrote after our annual FER President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast meeting in late July, we are quite optimistic about growth of the foodservice equipment and supplies market next year. John Muldowney (our forecasting partner and a marketing executive at The Boelter Cos.) and I forecast current dollar growth of 4.8% for the E&S…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls increased by 321,000 jobs in November, one of the biggest gains in almost five years. What heartened many economists even more was that wages and hours worked began to tick upward during the month. Stagnant wage gains have been a stubborn problem of this long…

Consumer sentiment reached 88.8, its highest mark since July 2007, in the final November reading by Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The group said the November gain was “due to improved personal finances as well as a more favorable outlook for employment.” Those surveyed believe employment gains will continue and expect the largest…

Manufacturers’ reps surveyed for the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry annual forecast, released last week, expect sales of foodservice equipment, supplies and furnishings to grow 4.1% in 2015. Growth is forecast for all five MAFSI regions and across all product categories. The forecast, for the first time, includes forecasts for growth of seven…

Combined sales of eight publicly reporting foodservice equipment and supplies companies grew 6.7% in the third quarter this year, compared with the third quarter 2013, according to an analysis by John Muldowney, director of marketing at the Boelter Cos. It is the fourth consecutive quarter the eight companies have seen combined revenues grow by 6.6%…

Technomic Inc. says unit growth is picking up somewhat among the largest U.S. chains. The Chicago-based foodservice research firm forecasts that the 500 largest chain brands will grow net units 2.3% in 2014. The rate is slightly higher than the 2.1% rate posted in both 2012 and 2013 and represents significantly stronger growth than the…

Despite an improving jobs picture, falling gasoline prices and rising consumer confidence, consumers remain cautious about spending, a new study from the National Restaurant Association reveals. The research found that nearly six of 10 consumers still describe their household finances as either fair or poor, a figure essentially unchanged since 2010. Further, the study showed…

Customer visits to U.S. restaurants was flat again in the third quarter 2014, compared with the same quarter last year, according to The NPD Group. Traffic now has been flat or negative every quarter for the past five quarters, according to the firm’s CREST data. But thanks in part to menu price increases, consumer restaurant…

American consumers are sourcing more meals at home rather than at restaurants, according to new data released by The NPD Group as part of its annual “Eating Patterns in America” report. The report finds that a decline in restaurant usage and an increase in meals from home is one of the single biggest changes in…

Restaurant sales continued to show strength in the third quarter of 2014, according to the latest Restaurant Outlook Survey from Restaurants Canada, the Canadian foodservice association. Nearly four of 10 operators, 39%, reported higher same-store sales in the quarter compared with the third quarter 2013, nearly matching the 40% Q2. What’s more, only 25% said…