Publisher’s Note: Back to School

September 1, 2025

Even though my boys are now fully grown and supporting themselves, in my mind September will always be associated with going back to school. In any industry, continuing education must be a top priority and foodservice is no exception.

Way back in the early 2000s, Foodservice Equipment Reports recognized that our industry could benefit from a strong educational program specifically geared toward equipment and supplies types. It was for that reason that FER’s Multiunit Foodservice Equipment Symposium (MUFES) was developed. It continues to be the favorite education event of commercial and noncommercial operators at companies of all sizes.

When someone like Bentley Hetrick, vice president of construction, FAT Brands, says, “It’s one of the conferences that I go to that’s truly educational. It helps keep me on the cutting edge of what’s new in the industry and those things that impact our operators and the challenges they face,” it means something. When Richard Young, director of Frontier Energy, says, “MUFES is super important for this sector. I think it is the most serious venue for engineers, architects and other technical experts in the CFS industry,” it means something. By sending your employees to a conference like MUFES to hone their skills, you are telling them that they mean something to you as well.

Hear more from MUFES 2025 attendees on our YouTube channel here.

Registration for MUFES 2026 is now open at fermag.com/mufes. The room block is filling fast, so sign up today. The event will take place February 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa in Clearwater Beach, Fla. Check out the ad on Pages 34-35 in this issue for a list of session topics.