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January 6, 2014

Let’s Get This Party Started: FER Honors Industry Service At NAFEM ‘13

The biggest E&S show of the year opens next week. We hope to see a lot of you at NAFEM ’13, Feb. 7-9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. If we don’t see you in aisles or at your booth, please stop by FER Booth #1663. And we especially hope to see…

January 6, 2014

Joe’s Crab Shack Parent Buys Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Ignite Restaurant Group, which operates 129 Joe’s Crab Shack and 15 Brick House Tavern+Tap restaurants, is adding Romano’s Macaroni Grill to its casual-dining stable. Ignite is purchasing the 210-unit chain from Golden Gate Capital; the $55 million acquisition includes Brinker International’s minority share in Romano’s. The casual-dining Italian food chain was founded in 1988 and…

January 6, 2014

TriMark Buys Texas-Based Strategic Equipment

In an acquisition that reorders the shape of the E&S distribution field, TriMark USA, LLC has acquired Strategic Equipment and Supply Corp., headquartered in Coppell, Texas. The acquisition positions TriMark as the nation’s largest foodservice equipment and supplies distributor. With the addition of this new division, the South Attleboro, Mass., company can report revenue of…

January 6, 2014

Steak `n Shake Eyes California

Indianapolis-based Steak ‘n Shake is continuing to focus on westward expansion. The full-service and drive-through chain, already prepping for its first international opening in Dubai this year, will enter the California market. A flagship store in Santa Monica will spearhead what the chain announced two years ago as an anticipated 25 units. Steak `n Shake…

January 6, 2014

NRA Show 2013 Sees Strong Post-Recession Gain in Attendee and Exhibitor Numbers

Just a glance at the numbers makes it clear: It was a good year to make the trek to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the 94th annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and 6th annual International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event. The May 18-21 show posted a second year of positive growth in both attendee…

January 6, 2014

In Memoriam: Roy Hake

Roy Hake, a veteran of 36 years with Duke Mfg. Co., died May 28 at age 93. He joined the St. Louis manufacturer in 1948, after serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corp. Across five decades with the company, “Ask Roy!” became a familiar hallway refrain. He retired from Duke after 36 years and sat…

January 6, 2014

McDonald’s To Debut In Vietnam

Yes, there are still a few countries where you can’t order a Big Mac or a Happy Meal. McDonald’s Corp. will check off Vietnam from that list sometime next year, adding it as the 38th Asian country in the company’s portfolio. The Oak Brook, Ill., chain has named Henry Nguyen, a Vietnamese businessman and the…

January 6, 2014

Yogen Früz Owners Buy Kahala Corp.

Kahala Corp., the privately owned franchisor of more than a dozen quick-service brands, including Blimpie, Cold Stone Creamery, Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill, Taco Time, and The Great Steak & Potato Company, has been acquired by Canadian entrepreneurs. Terms of the sale of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Kahala to the Ontario-based Serruya family were…

January 6, 2014

Mooyah Moves Into The Middle East

January 6, 2014

Middleby Acquires India-Based Cold Equipment Company

The Middleby Corp. has acquired the commercial refrigeration and foodservice products business of Celfrost Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Celfrost, based in Gurgaon, India, has annual sales of approximately $20 million. The Celfrost business was acquired by Middleby’s newly established entity in India, Middleby Commercial Food Innovations Pvt. Ltd. Celfrost offers a broad line of cold-holding and…