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January 5, 2015
Middleby To Acquire Residential Market Ice-Machine Firm
Middleby Corp. is adding another brand of high-end residential kitchen equipment by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire U-Line Corp., a maker of built-in modular ice machines, refrigerators, freezers and wine-preservation equipment. Founded in 1962, U-Line is based in Milwaukee, where it will remain headquartered. The company has annual revenues of approximately $60 million….
January 5, 2015
Rethinking The FER Forecast As We Enter 2014
It’s been almost a month since our last FER Fortnightly and a great deal of new economic data has been released. All of it’s good. It turns out third-quarter U.S. real gross domestic product grew 4.1% in the final quarterly estimate, much higher than originally forecast. (The Blue Chip Economic Indicators consensus forecast of 3Q…
January 5, 2015
Slow U.S. Restaurant Unit Growth Continues, NPD Reports
The number of restaurant units in the U.S. grew at only a 0.7% pace for the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2013, according to data from The NPD Group’s biannual ReCount census, released Feb. 26. The total number of commercial restaurants grew in net terms by 4,179 units during the period to a total of…
January 5, 2015
MAFSI Barometer Up 4.8% 4Q/’13; Reps Forecast A Strong 2014
In spite of an early winter in some parts of the country, sales of equipment and supplies by manufacturers’ reps increased 4.8% in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the latest MAFSI Business Barometer. The quarterly survey is maintained by the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry. And while the reps expect…
January 5, 2015
Consumer Confidence Continues to Improve Thanks To Healthy Jobs Growth
The recent good news on jobs has consumers finally believing the economy is improving. Data on consumer attitudes from both Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan and The Conference Board in late June showed improvement again. The UM Consumer Sentiment Index rose slightly to 82.5: The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which tends to be more volatile,…
January 5, 2015
NRA RPI, Both Cap-Ex Markers, Fell In July
In spite of a decent gain in traffic in July, six of the components of the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index fell during the month, including both indicators of capital spending. Still, the overall index held at 101, well above the 100 level that signals the tipping point between expansion and contraction. It was…
January 5, 2015
Sales Continue To Improve In Canada, Reports Restaurants Canada
Restaurant sales continued to show strength in the third quarter of 2014, according to the latest Restaurant Outlook Survey from Restaurants Canada, the Canadian foodservice association. Nearly four of 10 operators, 39%, reported higher same-store sales in the quarter compared with the third quarter 2013, nearly matching the 40% Q2. What’s more, only 25% said…
January 5, 2015
Will Higher Wages Mean Fewer Teen Jobs In Canada?
The national dialogue to raise the minimum wage, boosted by legislation in more than a dozen states, continues in the United States. But the conversation and controversy are not confined to the U.S. The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association is warning that the Ontario government’s boost to the minimum wage will result in fewer jobs…
January 5, 2015
Chicago Restaurants Safe From Bag Ban
Seven years after it shelved a plastic-bag ban in favor of a roundly ignored recycling compromise, Chicago plans to ban plastic bags within its city limits—unless you are in the restaurant business or a small independent retailer. Restaurants were excused from the ban to eliminate a legal argument that triggered a lawsuit in Seattle charging…
January 5, 2015
NRA Releases Advice-Filled Sustainability Report
A new report from the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve sustainability program focuses on sustainability best practices for the foodservice industry to help operators save money, improve the environment and please customers and employees. The report, “Spotlight on Sustainability: Expert Tips from NRA Show 2014,” features tips, trends and real-world advice from industry experts who appeared…
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