In case you didn’t see it, we wrote the following analysis of the foodservice equipment and supplies market, and how it is developing compared with our July forecasts, for last week’s FER Dealer Report. Since then, our forecasting partner John Muldowney and I have had another conversation, based in part on third-quarter releases from ITW’s…

It can hardly be termed robust, but real growth of gross domestic product in the U.S. came in at 2% in the third quarter on an annualized basis, according to the advanced estimate released Oct. 26 by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. The gain, stronger than many economists had expected, was driven…

It doesn’t make much sense to most informed observers, but consumer sentiment held at a five-year high in the final October reading of the Thomson/Reuters University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. The final reading was 82.6, down only slightly from the preliminary mid-month reading of 83.1. Both were the highest readings for the index since…

The expected seasonal decline in gasoline prices has finally kicked in, following the unexpected run-up of prices this late summer. The average national price for a gallon of regular gas has plummeted nearly 13 cents in the last week alone, and at $3.548 a gallon, is nearly 24 cents lower than a month ago. Declines…

We usually define restaurant locations as strip sites or stand-alone or mall placements. Now a county in Maryland is looking at putting parked food trucks in their own business category as semi-permanent foodservice facilities. The Anne Arundel County Council is mulling a bill creating that definition and enforcing a five-year-old state law that says such…

A letter-grade system, like those used for health inspections in New York and North Carolina, is under debate for restaurant and bar owners in Baltimore. Legislation mandating that the city health department implement a grading system and create an online database of grades is being reviewed by the City Council’s health committee. Every member of…

The political and legislative advocacy team at the National Restaurant Association has gotten stronger. The association has promoted Brendan Flanagan to v.p.-state and local affairs, a new position in the association’s expanded political and state affairs department. Flanagan will lead the NRA’s engagement in public policy matters at the state and local level, working directly…

Myers Restaurant Supply, the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based dealership, has acquired J.M. Design and Associates, a Manteca, Calif., commercial kitchen design and consulting firm. Jeff Melton, the sole proprietor of J.M. Design, has joined Myers as general manager of the newly dubbed Myers’ subsidiary, J.M. Design Group. Melton brings to Myers a 15-year portfolio of projects, ranging…

Many of you have been asking if we’re sticking with our July forecasts for the equipment and supplies market for 2012 and 2013, released during our annual President’s Preview E&S Market Forecast meeting. We then predicted 4.7% current dollar growth and 2.6% real growth for this year, numbers pretty close to 2011. Our forecast for…

Curtis Restaurant Equipment, Oregon’s largest foodservice equipment dealer, has won 2012 Vendor of the Year honors from the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “This award recognizes the exemplary service and professionalism that set the high standards for the entire industry to achieve,” stated Steve McCord, ORLA president and CEO. “Curtis has shown dedicated service to…