The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers elected a new slate of officers and enhanced its board of directors during the group’s annual Meeting and Management Workshop Feb. 7-10 in New Orleans. President: Michael Whiteley, CFSP, Hatco Corp.President-Elect: Kevin Fink, CFSP, Ice-O-MaticSecretary/Treasurer: Joe Carlson, CFSP, Lakeside Mfg.Eva-Marie Fox, T&S Brass & Bronze Works, is…

A new executive board emerged from a record-breaking winter meeting of the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry. More than 530 attendees were at the group’s 47th Business Development Conference and Sales Management Forum in West Palm Beach, Fla., last month. Among the business at hand was the election of new officers for the…

Unified Brands has appointed Scott Turbeville as its new chain account manager-southeastern territory. In his new post, Turbeville is responsible for cultivating relationships with Unified’s channel partners while focusing on growing sales of the Jackson, Miss., company’s Groen, Randell, Avtec, A la Cart and Power Soak product lines to national and regional chains. Turbeville is…

Rob Geile, director of consultant services and education for Hobart, is joining the Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability. Geile will assist in judging applications for the 2014 HCFS grant. HCFS, a nonprofit, industry-wide forum supporting the foodservice industry’s drive for sustainable equipment and design, awards the grant to the individual or organization judged to have…

For the eighth year in a row, Middleby Marshall has received the 2013 Business Partners Award from Domino’s Pizza India Ltd. “We are thrilled to continue our great partnership with Middleby Marshall, who provides excellent service and support to Domino’s India every year,” said Ajay Kaul, CEO of Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. Middleby Marshall has partnered…

Former Stripes executive Steve DeSutter has been named president and CEO of the multi-concept franchisor Focus Brands, effective March 17. DeSutter will replace Russ Umphenour, who has served as CEO for five years and will continue with Focus Brands as a member of the board of directors. Atlanta-based Focus Brands is the franchisor of seven…

The Minneapolis chain celebrated a milestone in late January. Over the span of four days, Buffalo Wild Wings opened new units in Mexico, California, Illinois and West Virginia to take its store count to 1,001 restaurants. The chain’s new Monterrey location is its second store to open in Mexico in a month; the country’s first…

One of the first fast-casual better-burger operations is growing its Caribbean footprint. Fuddruckers opened its first unit in the Dominican Republic in January. The Santo Domingo restaurant, sited in one of the capital city’s new upscale malls, merges the chain’s classic roadhouse design scheme with local colors and images, and includes 100 interior seats and…

Famous Dave’s of America has appointed Ed Rensi, the former president/CEO of McDonald’s U.S.A., as its interim CEO. He succeeds John Gilbert, who resigned after 16 months at the Minneapolis barbecue chain. Rensi, who joined the Famous Dave’s board of directors last month, said, “I have been a customer and a fan of Famous Dave’s…

The National Restaurant Association announced on Feb. 12 the recipients of the 2014 Kitchen Innovations Awards, which honor equipment and technology that specifically improve back-of- the-house operations to benefit restaurant operators. The announcement marks the 10th year of the association’s KI Awards program recognizing cutting-edge advancements in increased energy efficiency, waste reduction and more for…