Manitowoc Foodservice has appointed Chris Karssiens to the role of executive vice president-Foodservice Asia Pacific (APAC). In his new post, effective immediately, Karssiens is responsible for fulfilling the New Port Richey, Fla., company’s APAC strategy and annual business plans, and overseeing its operations in China (Foshan and Hangzhou) and Singapore, as well as its joint-venture…

Long John Silver’s is switching to trans-fat-free cooking oil in its domestic restaurants. By the end of the year, the company says that all of its U.S. locations will use trans-fat-free cooking oil for all fried products. The chain’s outlets located in cities or states that ban trans fats from restaurant food—including New York City…

When the International Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show asked consultants to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to create “The Next Great Foodservice Concept,” the IHMRS staff set no limits. The competition for the design of a revenue-generating foodservice concept attracted 11 entrants. They provided a concept description, sample menu, renderings, equipment list…

Kahala Corp., the privately owned franchisor of more than a dozen quick-service brands, including Blimpie, Cold Stone Creamery, Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill, Taco Time, and The Great Steak & Potato Company, has been acquired by Canadian entrepreneurs. Terms of the sale of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Kahala to the Ontario-based Serruya family were…

Chanticleer Holdings, parent of the 430-unit Hooters chain, has announced an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of five-unit burger chain American Roadside Burgers. Terms of the acquisition were not released; the deal is expected to be approved by Sept. 30. Both companies are based in Charlotte, N.C. ARB is a 10-year-old casual-dining restaurant chain…

The Society for Foodservice Management has announced the winners of its annual Directors Awards, which honor members who have gone “above and beyond” to serve SFM and better the industry. Community Service, for going above and beyond to help support the onsite foodservice industry, as well as their local community: Dick Hynes, director of consultant…

Jake’s Wayback Burgers has grown to 72 stores in 22 states since its debut in Newark, Del., in 1991. Now it will have a presence in 28 countries in the Middle East and Africa. The Cheshire, Conn., chain has entered the international arena through an agreement with Topaz Mena LLC, a Saudi Arabian firm that…

The Dallas-based fast-casual burger chain is taking its hometown expansion strategy to North Carolina. Mooyah plans to follow up this year’s planned flagship restaurant opening in Charlotte and expand its brand to Raleigh and Greensboro and other surrounding areas. The chain previously used this development strategy to establish 22 restaurants in the Dallas area. Mooyah,…

Texas palates might be getting greener. Austin-based Snap Kitchen, which offers takeout and delivery of vegan, gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian and sugar-free meals, is adding five locations in Dallas-Fort Worth. It will include a commissary kitchen in a 4,000- to 5,000-sq.-ft. flagship location; other units will have 600- to 1,500-sq.-ft. footprints. The eateries, due to open…

Win2uit Electronics and Manufacturing Services, a division of Winston Industries, will host an open house on Sept.13 to showcase the company’s capabilities. Win2uit products and services include PCB assembly, cable/harness assembly, custom metal fabrication, procurement, product integration and engineering. The daylong event will be held at the firm’s recently remodeled facility in Louisville. More information…