It’s now clear that restaurant operators have bounced back sharply from the declines caused by severe winter weather during the first two months of 2014. The National Restaurant Association Restaurant Performance Index rose again in April, as same-store sales and traffic continued to improve. Both capital expenditure measures rose during the month.The overall index was…

Nearly everyone expected the brutal winter weather to impact sales of equipment and supplies in the first quarter of 2014. The MAFSI Business Barometer clearly shows the effects, with growth of the index falling to 3.3% from a 4.8% gain in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Barometer is maintained by the Manufacturers’ Agents Association…

Inez Ellingson, the matriarch of the Ellingson family, owners of Tacoma, Wash.-based Bargreen Ellingson, died May 11 at age 87. She was the mother of Paul and Rick Ellingson and the grandmother of Eric and David Ellingson. She is survived as well by her husband of 67 years, Byron; two other sons; 11 grandchildren; and…

Pearl Fishman, the wife of FEDA past-president Howard Fishman of TriMark SS Kemp and mother of Mark and Steve Fishman and Cathy Wallerstein, has died. She was an instrumental force in the growth and success of the Cleveland dealership; she started the firm’s human-resource and customer-services departments, as well as creating its marketing arm. In…

Supply & Equipment Foodservice Alliance honored 28 award winners during its 28th annual Partnership Conference in late April in Scottsdale, Ariz. Awards were presented to dealers and suppliers. Indianapolis-based C&T Design & Equipment Co. won top honors as member of the year. Erin Eddy of InterMetro Industries was named trainer of the year. Other winners…

Globe Food Equipment Co. has hired Chris King as director of product management. He will manage the product lines from strategic planning to tactical activities and work with marketing to define Globe’s go-to-market strategy and target customers. King, who reports directly to Globe Pres. Hilton Garner, joins the Dayton, Ohio, company from Hobart/ITW FEG, where…

As Jan notes in the news above, two great ladies from two very well-known dealer families passed away within the last month. Inez Ellingson, matriarch of the family that owns Bargreen Ellingson, died fittingly on Mother’s Day, May 11. Pearl Fishman, long an active partner in what is now TriMark/S.S. Kemp just passed as well.…

Spurred by polling that showed nearly 40% of its members lose as much as $25,000 in missed specification, origination, and destination credits every year, the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry is building a central and secure tracking system of projects. MAFSI is working closely with reps and manufacturers to gather 11-4000 specifications across…

Duke Manufacturing Co. promoted David Marvel to president from chief operating officer. In addition, the manufacturer has hired Tom LaMantia to serve as executive v.p.-global operations, and Kathy Veder to serve as v.p.-strategic national accounts. As president, Marvel will manage the St. Louis company’s day-to-day business activities and work with the executive team to achieve…

Kathy English, a familiar face as marketing communications manager at Allied Buying Corp., is retiring at the end of the month after 25 years at the Lombard, Ill.-based buying group. Sarah Celaya will succeed her in the post. The board of directors at the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association has voted to create the first…