The lowest gasoline prices in five years have restaurant operators feeling bubbly. The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index jumped nearly two full points in October to reach 102.8. It was the RPI’s highest mark since December 2004. The index has remained in expansion territory—readings above 100—for 20 consecutive months.“The positive same-store sales and customer-traffic…

The Business Barometer from the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry improved modestly in the third quarter 2014. Overall sales rose 3.9% compared to the third quarter in 2013. This was improvement over 2Q’s 3.1% increase and a 3.3% gain 1Q. But the real story is the wide disparities between MAFSI regions. Sales boomed…

The Boelter Cos. has acquired Orland Park, Ill.-based Robert Gill & Co., expanding the Waukesha, Wis., giant’s presence in the Chicago-area healthcare and hospital foodservice market segment. Paul, Bill and Steve Gill will join the Boelter organization. “Robert Gill & Co. has been a strong dealer in the Chicago market for over 40 years, focused…

Registration materials should be in member’s mailboxes this week for the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association’s Annual Convention, March 25-29, 2015, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Convention Chair Carl Gustafson, Ace Mart Restaurant Supply, and Assistant Chair Jay Ringelheim, Globe Equipment Co., have put together a program to motivate, challenge,…

The Sysco-US Foods deal might be closer to regulatory approval than we thought. Sysco, the country’s biggest food distributor, is closing in on a deal for the $3.5 billion merger. The key is divestiture, and the Houston firm is in advanced talks to sell some assets to Blackstone Group-owned Performance Food Group. The Federal Trade…

Gary Simpson has been promoted by ITW FEG to v.p.-dealer sales. He now has responsibilities for North American dealer sales for Hobart, Traulsen and Baxter, and reports to Group Pres. Lei Schlitz. Simpson joined Hobart in 1994 as a territory sales trainee. He moved up the ladder and most recently served as regional sales director.…

Tom Greenwald, of Top O’ The Table/Zink Foodservice Group, in Columbus, Ohio, died unexpectedly on Nov. 8, while cheering on his favorite football team, Notre Dame. He was 68. The Cleveland native and U.S. Navy veteran got his start in the foodservice supply industry in 1971 with E.A. Hinrichs & Co., as a dealer sales…

Jan and I went to Paris in mid-November for Equip’Hotel, a big foodservice show we’ve been involved with since the early 1990s. Folks sometimes ask why we spend so much time and energy covering the global market for foodservice equipment and supplies. In simplest terms, it’s because it’s where the growth is and where the…

Franke Foodservice Systems has named Terry Hoelle, CFSP, as its new v.p-sales and marketing. Hoelle, a 20-year industry veteran, will focus on extending the Smyrna, Tenn.-based firm’s portfolio of specialized foodservice and beverage equipment, energy management systems, frozen product dispensers, beverage kegs and washroom fixtures, all currently marketed through MAFSI reps and dealers. “We are…

Five exhibitors received Editors’ Choice Awards during opening ceremonies of the 99th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show, Nov. 9-11 at New York’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Editors from leading hospitality trade publications reviewed more than 120 submissions and selected five winners based on innovative product design, application to a particular industry need,…