My only regret about last week’s FEDA Annual Convention, other than that Jan couldn’t make it, was that I had to leave early to head to Shanghai and Singapore. (I’m writing this from Singapore.) I thought the two days I spent at the convention in Indian Wells, Calif., was among the best FEDA meetings I’ve…

Heritage Food Service Group announced April 7 that it has acquired Key Food Equipment Services Ltd. (KFES) of Vancouver, British Columbia for an undisclosed amount. KFES, founded in 1982, is the largest food equipment repair and genuine OEM parts distributor in Canada’s Western Provinces. “This acquisition will position Heritage to accelerate its expansion into the…

Bargreen Ellingson, one of the country’s biggest E&S distributors, has acquired Knapp Supply & Equipment Co., a restaurant and janitorial supplier based in Casper, Wyo. The acquisition gives the Tacoma, Wash., firm its 22nd facility as well as a presence in its ninth state. Bargreen Ellingson reported 2012 sales of nearly $158.3 million, ranking it…

Lin Sensenig has been appointed president of the Champion Group, a division of Ali Group North America. He’ll oversee day-to-day management of the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based companies, which includes Champion, Moyer Diebel, Bi-Line and Moffat USA brands. Sensenig also will have responsibility for developing and implementing the company’s strategic plan, and will report directly to Ali…

Close to 400 E&S dealers and manufacturers convened last week in Indian Wells, Calif., for FEDA’s annual convention. In addition to well-received speakers, seminars and workshops, the convention included the election of new officers and board members during the dealer association’s annual members meeting. Officers: President-Brad Pierce, Restaurant Equipment World Vice President-Joe Schmitt, Rapids Wholesale…

The largest food and beverage expo in the Pacific Northwest opens this weekend in Seattle. The Northwest Foodservice Show, April 13-14 at the Washington State Convention Center, includes a new interactive kitchen, a new products showcase, educational seminars, and a technology pavilion highlighting emerging technology tools and equipment geared toward the foodservice and hospitality industry.…

Fast-moving fingers managed to miss typing in the name of a very important company on the list of FEDA’s 2014 Exceptional Manufacturers: Cres Cor. Apologies to our friends in Mentor, Ohio. Here is a corrected (and complete) version of the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association‘s list of manufacturers it recognizes as especially supportive of dealer-based distribution.…

I spent the weekend working on a presentation our Editor-in-Chief Beth Lorenzini and I will present in Shanghai next week. It details and analyzes how big U.S. chain and institutional buyers evaluate, spec and buy E&S products and how they select suppliers. It’s based on exclusive new research we’ve done over the past year. We…

Tom Szafranski, a 30-year veteran of Hobart and ITW Food Equipment Group, will retire June 30 from his post as president-sales for ITW FEG North America. In the March 24 announcement, ITW FEG Exec. V.P. Chris O’Herlihy stated: “Tom has been a highly respected leader in our business, and indeed our industry, who throughout his…

Although the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association staff has decamped to California this week for its annual convention, the association is assuring members that its phones will be answered and messages relayed until the staff returns to its offices next week. FEDA members who did not make the trip to Indian Wells, Calif., for the March…