Foodservice traffic and sales in the United Kingdom were stronger than anticipated during the fourth quarter of 2013, according to research and analysis from Horizons FS Ltd., a London-based foodservice research firm. And with the general economy improving, Horizons expects the first two quarters of 2014 “to build on the growth of Q4.,” according to…

Two major paper distributors are merging. Unisource Worldwide and xpedx will join forces and create a new publicly traded company. The definitive agreement was signed by xpedx parent International Paper and by UWW Holdings, the holding company of Unisource and owned indirectly by an affiliate of Bain Capital and by Georgia-Pacific. Norcross, Ga.-based Unisource is…

Parts Town LLC has strengthened its position as one of the leading national distributors of OEM restaurant repair and maintenance parts for the foodservice industry. Growth equity investor Summit Partners has made a majority investment in the Addision, Ill., company, and Parts Town founder Bill Reedy, CEO Steve Snower and their management team will remain…

After four decades under Ed Baker as president, Nieco has a new name at the top. Korey Kohl has moved up from his post as v.p./g.m., and has been named president of the Windsor, Calif., company. He’s assumed day-to-day responsibilities from Baker, and is directing and managing all business operations. “Korey’s expertise and ability to…

The Wendy’s Co. is feeling bullish on 2014. Not only does it plan to boost same-store sales, the Dublin, Ohio, chain says it will accelerate its Image Activation remodeling program and complete its refranchising initiative. In a presentation to investors, Wendy’s CEO Emil Brolick says the company will double the number of remodeled restaurants in…

Winter is a very good time for a Midwest chain to think about Florida. Wisconsin-based Culver’s Restaurants, which has nearly 500 fast-casual independently owned and operated units in 21 states, already has three stores in Naples, Fort Myers and Port Charlotte, Fla., as well as others under construction in Sarasota and Estero. Now it’s beefing…

Private-equity firm Apollo Global Management wants to buy CEC Entertainment, parent of the Chuck E. Cheese’s brand, in a deal worth about $1.3 billion, including debt assumption. CEC owns and franchises 577 Chuck. E. Cheese units in 47 states and 10 other countries and territories; it owns 522 of those locations in the U.S. and…

Fisher-Nickel Inc. (FNI), the San Ramon, Calif.-based commercial-foodservice energy-efficiency testing firm, has been acquired by GTI Int’l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Gas Technology Institute. FNI, owned and operated by Don Fisher and Judy Nickel, is an engineering consulting firm with deep expertise in commercial-kitchen energy-efficiency and appliance-performance testing. It provides comprehensive, unbiased information to…

Pitco Frialator has added Eric Anderson, CFSP, as v.p.-international sales. Anderson joins Bow, N.H.-based Pitco from Australia, where he had been a regional director for Manitowoc Foodservice. He’s spent two decades in sales and marketing in the foodservice equipment industry; the past 15 years have been internationally focused. Pitco Frialator, a division of the Middleby…

The Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability is now accepting applications for its seventh annual $5,000 sustainability 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 the best-executed foodservice or grocery sustainability project of the year. Last year’s…