The failure rate for Chicago restaurants—both in inspections and in business success—should be shrinking, thanks to long-awaited reforms in city inspection laws.Not only do a third of all new restaurants close within their first year of operation, two-thirds of the city’s restaurants fail at least one initial inspection. The latter statistic is not surprising when…

By the time you read this, the Supreme Court will have ruled on the fate of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. (The court is scheduled to release its ruling Thursday, June 28.) In an effort to consolidate and communicate their position on the healthcare law, the National Retail Federation and National Council of Chain Restaurants have…

Just a reminder: The early bird discount deadline for next month’s Foodservice Equipment Reports E&S Market Forecast President’s Preview is Friday, June 29. After this Friday, the meeting will cost $100 more. This annual one-day, comprehensive look at the data and trends driving the foodservice equipment and supplies market into ’13 and beyond will be…

Technomic Inc. held its annual Restaurant Trends & Directions Conference in Rosemont, Ill., on June 20. Among the highlights of this wide-ranging look at the trends driving the foodservice business was a presentation by Dr. Arjun Chakravarti, the Chicago-based research firm’s consulting economist. Economic risks in Europe and Asia could indeed negatively impact foodservice spending…

Given the economic uncertainties in Europe and Asia, and their possible impact on domestic foodservice (see related article this issue), FER Fortnightly asked Technomic V.P. Joe Pawlak if the research firm announced any revision of its current foodservice operator forecasts for this year and 2013 at its Trends & Directions Conference, held June 20. No,…

Prices for food at the wholesale level fell in May after rising in March and April, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index, released June 13. At the finished goods level, prices were down 0.6%, while the National Restaurant Association calculates overall wholesale food prices fell 0.5%. The PPI also…

Menu prices rose 0.3% in May, as foodservice operators continued to raise prices more than competitors in food-retail outlets including grocery stores. For the last 12 months, menu- price increases now outpace grocery-store price increases for the first time since early 2010. Menu prices are up 2.9% on an unadjusted annual basis while food-at-home prices…

Fadel’s Food Service Equipment and Supplies celebrated its 50th anniversary with a move into its new location in North Carolina. The dealer is now at 5426 Old Pineville Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28217.

Middleby Marshall/CTX has promoted Lester Nowosad to v.p.-North American sales. In his new position, Nowosad will be responsible for building and managing U.S. and Canadian sales efforts through the company’s distribution network. Mark Sieron, group president, made the announcement. “Lester has been instrumental in the explosive growth of Middleby Marshall and CTX over the past…

Creating practical improvement in customer service is the crucial focus of the next educational seminar hosted by the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association. The June 27 event marks the first-ever teleconference that FEDA will offer with a webinar option. “The Serve Process” will be held next Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CST). Don Buttrey, president of Sales…