A surge in prices for materials widely used in foodservice equipment and supplies likely will put pressure on foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers to raise prices over the coming 12 months. Foodservice Equipment Reports Publisher Robin Ashton made that prediction during the magazine’s annual President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast meeting, held July 29 at the…

Sluggish growth in employment and wages, particularly among young adults, continues to undermine growth in restaurant traffic. Overall restaurant traffic was flat for the year ended in May, the NPD Group’s foodservice practice announced July 23, continuing a trend that has been apparent since the Great Recession. U.S. consumers made 61 billion visits to restaurants…

The NPD Group’s consumer food and foodservice research turns up some very interesting insights. The research group said in a release last week that 56% of all food occasions, both at and away from home, are consumed alone. Only at dinner are we more likely to dine with family or friends. NPD attributes the solo-dining…

The 100 largest foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers saw revenues rose 7% last year, the strongest gain since the Great Recession, according to exclusive estimates from Foodservice Equipment Reports. The findings were released during the magazine’s annual President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast meeting, held July 29 at the Westin O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. The 7% increase…

In other economic news pertinent to foodservice: Total nonfarm payroll employment grew by 209,000 jobs in July, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Aug.1. The unemployment rate ticked upward to 6.2% as more discouraged workers returned to the labor market. In leisure and hospitality, 21,000 jobs were created. The…

After four straight months of increases in wholesale food prices, prices in June fell for the second straight month across all stages of demand, according to Producer Price Index data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released July 16. But at the consumer level, grocery-store and menu prices continued to rise. Wholesale food prices…

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index ticked down slightly in the preliminary July reading released July 18. The U.S. Census Bureau also said July 15 that sales at foodservice and drinking places fell slightly in June, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Both data points are reminders that consumer confidence and spending remain weak,…

You only have a few more days to register for Foodservice Equipment Reports annual E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview. The meeting is set for July 29 at the Westin O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Ill. This unique one-day event for manufacturers, operators, dealers and others in the industry offers an in-depth look at the foodservice equipment…

Do you know everything you need to know to prepare next year’s budget? Foodservice Equipment Reports’ annual E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview offers you the insight you need to plan for 2015 and beyond. It is set this year for July 29 at the Westin O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Ill. This annual one-day event for…

It’s taken six years, but the employment situation in the U.S. economy is finally beginning to improve. And that bodes well for foodservice and the foodservice equipment and supplies market. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported July 3 that the nonfarm payroll employment increased by 288,000 in June with widespread gains across almost all…