In spite of worries about rapidly rising gasoline prices during the month, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index moved moderately higher and matched its post-recession high of 102.2, according to the March tracking survey.In addition, both capital-expenditure markers moved higher, with the component tracking operators’ intention to make a purchase in the next six…

In spite of tepid general economies in most of the 10 major foodservice markets tracked by The NPD Group’s CREST research, all but Spain saw restaurant spending rise at least slightly in the fourth quarter 2011, versus the fourth quarter ’10. Traffic was up in all markets except Spain, Australia and Italy. Growth in China…

We heard last week that the United Kingdom fell into a second recession based on first quarter 2012 gross domestic product numbers. And we saw the weak fourth-quarter restaurant traffic (0.2%) and sales (0.6%) numbers for the U.K. from The NPD Group. So, we thought we’d check with Peter Backman, principal at Horizons FS Ltd.,…

As has been clear from much first-quarter foodservice data, the very mild winter and other factors have boosted consumer spending. This was mentioned as the U.S. Commerce Department released its “advance” estimate of growth of the economy on April 27. The top line number: real gross domestic product rose 2.2% in the first three months…

It wasn’t all talk last week at the National Restaurant Association’s 26th annual Public Affairs Conference. In addition to serious conversations with legislators, the April 17-18 conference in Washington saw the unveiling of a new interactive advocacy tool. More than 500 operators from 45 states attended “America Works Here,” a theme emphasizing the industry’s role…

Psst! Toasters and waffle irons and cone dispensers are in the clear! Foodservice equipment—and the operators who want to use it—is no longer skirting the law in San Francisco. Restaurateurs there whose menus were defined by the dictates of the city’s decades-old permit system can breathe freely, start installing and get to cooking what their…

If you’re coming to Chicago for the May 5-8 2012 Kitchen Innovations Award recipients, Kitchen Innovations judges, FEDA members and FER magazine representatives to network and celebrate the dealer and manufacturing communities. And remember to stop by the FER exhibit booth #5223 and say hello!

Is every dealer buying group heading into or just finishing its spring meeting? Among those groups whose members have collected or will rack up frequent flier miles during meetings this winter and spring: NAFED       Vendor/Principal Conference, April 11-13, St. Charles, Mo. NISSCO     Buying & Networking Conference, March 14-17, Orlando, Fla. SEFA          Annual Partnership…

John Rhodes has been appointed president of