We note the passing in this issue of three well-known reps: Ed McCarthy, who owned North Star Agency in Minnesota; Joe Sabatino who founded High Sabatino in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area, and Gary Bowker with Denver-based Redstone Group. Jan, who writes all our news, asked if we should run them again in this issue of…

Whether pitching in to aid the nation’s men and women in uniform or children and families in need, foodservice E&S companies are making an impact. Among the recent charitable outreach programs we’ve heard about lately: Tony Rapanotti of A.R. Repairs Baker’s Kneads and Patrick Duffy of Duffy’s Food Equipment Service installed a commercial kitchen in…

There are two weeks left to register for the new webinar from the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association. “The SELL Process: Your Offense” program is Wednesday, June 19, at 10 a.m. CST. Based on Don Buttrey’s new book, “The SELL Process,” the webinar will provide immediate, practical improvement for all customer interactions. Learning objectives include: Gaining…

Three well-known manufacturers’ representatives—Gary Bowker, Ed McCarthy and Joseph Sabatino—passed away last month. All three died, coincidentally, on May 22. Gary Bowker, 62, served with Denver-based The Redstone Group. According to MAFSI, of which he was a longtime member, Bowker will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, wonderful smile and his love of…

Steve Austin has been named project manager for Direct South, a restaurant equipment supply company based in Macon, Ga. Direct South has additional locations in Warner Robbins and Gainesville, Ga. Austin, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., is a 30-year veteran of foodservice equipment sales; he previously worked for American Foodservice Equipment Co. and Lillie McCall. “We…

One of the reasons I like going to the NRA Show, other than it’s a show at which I get to sleep in my own bed, is it gives me a chance to talk to a lot of folks at all levels of the industry. This is especially important as it’s about this time of…

It’s time for members of the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association to make a little room on their hard drives for the new 2013/14 FEDA Membership Directory. The directory, an invaluable networking resource, is no longer offered in a hard-copy format. The new downloaded version provides all the necessary contact information for every FEDA member. Association…

Louise O’ Sullivan, a name long familiar to the E&S industry, is the cover story and honoree in Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine. O’Sullivan, the founder, president and CEO of Chicago-based Prime Advantage Corp. in Chicago, was named the magazine’s “Pro to Know” of 2013. Prime Advantage is a 16-year-old buying consortium that provides…

During its 27th annual Partnership Conference last month in Bonita Springs, Fla., Supply & Equipment Foodservice Alliance honored nearly three dozen companies and individuals at its awards banquet. The top honor of the night, Member of the Year, went to Action Sales, based in Monterey Park, Calif. Other winners, in specific categories, included: Supplier of…

Thomas Campion has taken the reins as president/CEO of Franke Foodservice Systems. Campion, who succeeds Hans Ott, has 27 years of experience with the Smyrna, Tenn., company; he’s served the last 16 years as president of the KES Americas business unit which provides equipment and services to leading restaurant chains. Ott served as president and…