Last week, about 1,200 McDonald’s restaurants in Britain began displaying the calorie count of each food and drink item on their store’s wall-mounted menu boards.The “great reveal” is part of a government-led program to fight obesity and promote healthier eating. The Oak Brook, Ill., chain already puts calorie information on its website and the back…

Wendy’s execs didn’t have much time for August vacations. The chain has been busy, moving its headquarters back in Dublin, Ohio, naming a new president, and testing four new restaurant designs in four American cities. Two new units in nearby Columbus are among the prototypes. "These new remodels are part of a multi-year strategy to…

Beverage-Air has appointed Jennifer Ward as sr. v.p.-sales and marketing. Ward, who joined the company in 2005, has served as v.p.-sales since the Ali Group acquisition of Beverage-Air in May ’08. She managed sales efforts with national chains and key customers, playing a key role in Beverage-Air’s recent sales growth. In addition, she has worked…

AccuTemp Products has appointed Diane White and Michael Teders as vice presidents, national accounts. Both will be responsible for sales and customer support for key multiunit customers. White’s resume include national accounts management posts at BKI Worldwide/Bevles, The Delfield Co., and Winston Industries. She was most recently v.p.-multiunit foodservice with Power Soak. Teders most recently…

The fumes of controversy surrounding food trucks are clearing, and consumers are showing increasing interest in mobile foodservice. New research by the National Restaurant Association confirms that 59% of consumers would be likely to visit a food truck if their favorite restaurant offered one; that’s up from 47% a year ago. Nearly one-fifth of the…

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers’ Food Service Equipment Technical Advisory Group has received the 2011 division medal from the Canadian Standards Association. The award recognizes a technical committee or technical advisory group for significant contributions made in the development and advancement of safe standards practices, both nationally and internationally. The group is…

Sarah Krol has been appointed general manager-foodservice equipment and consumer products at NSF Int’l. She will work with Mike Kohler, foodservice equipment technical manager and Mark Holloway, operations manager.

Grindmaster-Cecilware Corp. has appointed Jose Avendaño as its new v.p.-engineering. He will oversee all aspects of engineering from his offices at the company’s Louisville, Ky., headquarters. He joins the firm from Crane Merchandising Systems, where he was director-refrigeration and product reliability. His 30 years of product development, product testing, and project management experience includes 20…

Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream and Treatery are merging into one concept, which retains the Marble Slab name and integrates both chains’ products into an updated, contemporary store. The first remodeled unit opened in August in St. George, Utah. Most MaggieMoo’s locations will transition to Marble Slab’s new look during the next 18…

Texas Roadhouse is ramping up its expansion plans for the Middle East over other emerging markets. The chain cites the region’s sophisticated consumer base and a new partnership with Kuwait’s Alshaya Group, its key licensee in the region. Earlier this month, the casual dining steakhouse opened in Dubai, its first restaurant outside the U.S. It…