Starbucks Corp. has opened its first Teavana tea store and bar on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The inaugural store has a tea bar serving hot and cold drinks; the food menu includes baked goods, salads and flat breads.Starbucks acquired Teavana Holdings last year for $620 million. Teavana had about 300 shopping mall stores that sold…

The Middleby Corp. has acquired the commercial refrigeration and foodservice products business of Celfrost Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Celfrost, based in Gurgaon, India, has annual sales of approximately $20 million. The Celfrost business was acquired by Middleby’s newly established entity in India, Middleby Commercial Food Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Celfrost offers a broad line of cold-holding and…

In with the new this month as the 35-year-old Society for Foodservice Management has become the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management. The strategic brand enhancement was unveiled in October at the association’s national conference in Bonita Springs, Fla. The change addresses the evolving responsibilities of the association’s key member segment, Client Liaisons and Self-Operators…

New Yorkers like to think their city is the center of the universe, and it will indeed achieve that title next month with the kickoff of the 98th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show, running Nov. 9-12 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. IHMRS is offering free registration to all operators and end…

GE Capital’s Commercial Distribution Finance business has expanded its inventory financing capabilities and coverage of the commercial foodservice and refrigeration industries across the U.S. and Canada. CDF, which has been providing inventory financing to the foodservice industry since 1995, is focused on developing programs with manufacturers of specialized equipment for the bakery, dairy, meat, snack…

Piada Italian Street Food, a 14-unit fast-casual chain, often called the Italian version of Chipotle Mexican Grill, has received a “significant investment” from private-equity firm Catterton Partners earmarked for continued growth. The Columbus, Ohio-based Piada will open six more restaurants by the end of 2013 and will begin a “significant national expansion throughout 2014 and…

On the heels of announcing its return to the Northeast, Hardee’s is adding restaurants in the Windy City. The St. Louis chain will open 35 new units in the Chicago area during the next seven years; two have opened in the last month. The expansion into Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts is expected…

T&S Brass and Bronze Works has hired Pat Cotter as general manager of its facility in Shanghai, China. Cotter has a long career in industrial leadership and development experience in China, India, Mexico and South America. Much of his career has been with Worthington Industries, a multinational steel processor and metal products manufacturer. For the…

Caddy Corp., the Bridgeport, N.J., ventilation and conveyor manufacturer, has announced a number of strategic appointments. Seasoned salesman Phil Bailis has been named v.p.-sales, where he will oversee all sales and marketing functions. Industry veteran Tom Carter has moved into the position of director of consultant relations, where he will focus on consultant seminars and…

It’s payback time for good deeds and industriousness. Go ahead and nominate a hardworking operator for the Restaurant Neighbor and Faces of Diversity awards, presented by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Any restaurant or foodservice company is eligible for the awards, which recognize outstanding societal contributions by restaurateurs. The Restaurant Neighbor Award recognizes restaurants…