Two events last month reminded me of how advancements in energy and water efficiency as well as programs and technologies that push sustainability in foodservice facilities are accelerating.  Early in January, Richard Young, senior engineer and director of education at Pacific Gas & Electric’s Food Service Technology Center, San Ramon, Calif., and I presented our…

Below is a list of stories in the current issue of Foodservice Equipment Reports.

Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op, LLC has changed its name to Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions LLC. The Yum! Brands purchasing organization manages more than $5.8 billion in food, packaging, non-food items and equipment from its main headquarters in Louisville, Ky. Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions also will continue support operations from its locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.;…

The Middleby Corp., best known for its broad presence in the cooking equipment market, announced Dec. 18 that it has acquired Automatic Bar Controls Inc. Also known under its brand name, Wunder-Bar, the Vacaville, Calif., company manufactures beverage dispensing systems for restaurant chains, c-stores and foodservice operations; it has annual revenues of approximately $30 million.…

Ali Group has purchased Rancilio Group, a family-owned coffee-equipment manufacturer. Giorgio Rancilio will continue as the 86-year-old company’s CEO. The Milan-based company manufactures both semi- and fully-automatic machines; the latter is marketed under the Egro brand, a Swiss manufacturer it acquired in 2008. In addition to Italy and Switzerland, Rancilio has offices in Germany, Portugal,…

GMCW announced a transition in its leadership team on August 7. Nestor Ibrahim has been elevated to CEO, succeeding Michael Tinsley, who recruited Ibrahim more than a year ago to assist him in the integration and consolidation of the business. Ibrahim has spent more than 25 years in the industry, most recently with The Middleby…

In a move to broaden its reach as a global supplier, Hoshizaki America has announced its acquisition of a Brazilian foodservice equipment manufacturer. The Peachtree City, Ga., company has purchased Acos Macom Industria E Commercio Ltda. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Macom, based in Sao Paolo, manufactures refrigeration and cooking equipment and stainless…

The waning hours of 2012 brought one last major story in the foodservice equipment business: Middleby Corp. has acquired Viking Range Corp for $380 million in cash. The deal was announced Dec. 31. Viking, a leading maker of residential cooking ranges, ovens and kitchen appliances, has approximately $200 million in annual revenues. The brand also…

Technomic Inc. predicts foodservice operator sales will fall 0.3% in real terms next year, an unprecedented fourth consecutive year of real sales declines. The Chicago-based research group unveiled the numbers Sept. 23 during the annual Forecast & Outlook Conference sponsored annually by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. Nominal sales are forecast to rise 1.7% in…