Standex Refrigerated Solutions Group has advanced Jack McDonald to Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. He’ll be responsible for driving marketing and business development initiatives for Nor-Lake and Master-Bilt, and will report to Chuck Dullea, President of Standex Refrigerated Solutions Group.Kevin Baier, Nor-Lake’s advertising and promotions manager, and Lynn Burge, Master-Bilt’s advertising and promotions…

Standex Refrigerated Solutions Group has advanced Jack McDonald to Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. He’ll be responsible for driving marketing and business development initiatives for Nor-Lake and Master-Bilt, and will report to Chuck Dullea, President of Standex Refrigerated Solutions Group. Kevin Baier, Nor-Lake’s advertising and promotions manager, and Lynn Burge, Master-Bilt’s advertising and…

Kahala Brands has purchased the Planet Smoothie and Tasti D-Lite franchise brands. The acquisition expands Kahala Brands’ smoothie concept portfolio to three brands and more than 400 locations. Brentwood, Tenn.-based Planet Smoothie and Tasti D-Lite currently have a combined store count of 128 units. Kahala Brands will consolidate the corporate operations and run the franchising…

Wendy’s, already planning to hit a nine-year high in new-store openings this year with 80 new outlets, is going even bigger. The 6,500-unit chain has unveiled plans to boost its store count by adding 1,000 new locations by the end of 2020. The Dublin, Ohio, chain’s five-year plan would boost its total number of stores…

Fast-casual restaurant chain Muscle Maker Grill has been acquired by American Restaurant Holdings. The Irvine, Calif.-based restaurant company also owns and operates chains, including Fronteras Mexican Grill and JoJo’s Pizza Kitchen. Muscle Maker Grill has more than 50 franchised and corporate restaurants in 11 states. The 20-year-old chain is headquartered in Colonia, N.J. Financial terms…

Sometimes we make mistakes. When we do, we fix them. Our estimate of Unified Brands first quarter 2015 revenue was incorrect. This affects not only the Unified numbers, but also our overall numbers for the publicly reporting equipment and supplies companies. Unified grew revenues an estimated 4% in the first quarter vs. first quarter 2014.…

Registration is now open for Foodservice Equipment Reports‘ annual President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast. The meeting is scheduled for July 28 at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill. This annual one-day event for manufacturers, operators, dealers, reps and others in the industry offers an in-depth look at the foodservice equipment and supplies industry next year…

While restaurant traffic finally picked up in the last quarter of 2014, it remained flat for the year ending in April, according to The NPD Group. Spending rose 3% during the period, thanks mostly to menu-price increases, the Rosemont, Ill.-based research firm reported. Annual per-capita visits fell to 190 in 2014, down three visits from…

Much of the recent macroeconomic news that affects foodservice and foodservice equipment and supplies has been positive. After a lull in March and April, jobs growth picked up again in May, according to figures released June 5 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. economy added 280,000 non-farm payroll jobs in May, and…

Complaints about outdoor dining areas encroaching on pedestrians’ space has prompted Portland, Ore., to spell out specific rules for restaurants with outdoor dining, including how much sidewalk space they can encompass and the times of year patrons can sit outside. The revised guidelines come in response to protests from parents pushing strollers, people in wheelchairs…