Boelter Cos. boosted its presence in the Southeast with the January opening in metro Atlanta of its third national Boelter SuperStore. The 10,000 sq.ft. store, like the one the dealer opened in Chicago 18 months ago, is modeled after Boelter’s original Milwaukee SuperStore. The new 50,000 sq.ft. location in Duluth, Ga., also includes service, warehouse… read more

Last week, foodservice equipment manufacturers and reps gathered at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida, for four days of learning and networking at MAFSI 2018, reports Tina Nielsen. More than 600 delegates turned out for MAFSI 2018, among them 200 manufacturers and 340 reps. As MAFSI president Chris Jeens pointed out, this was… read more

KFC has tapped its first woman to play the rotating role of Colonel Harland Sanders. Country singer Reba McEntire will fill the role to promote the fried chicken chain’s latest flavor, Smoky Mountian BBQ. Ads featuring McEntire will premiere on Jan. 28, one day before the chicken flavor becomes available nationwide. “We are absolutely thrilled… read more

US-based Dippin’ Dots, a flash frozen beaded ice cream and frozen treats company, has launched a new Frozeti Confetti flavor. Fresh off a year of momentum where the brand announced $300 million in gross annual retail sales and introduced Dippin’ Dots Cryogenics to expand its technology to other industries, Dippin’ Dots is inviting everyone to… read more

Nestle Japan is all set to commercialize the first ever natural pink ruby-flavored chocolate by introducing the new KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Ruby bars in Japan and South Korea. The ruby chocolate used in the new KitKat product, dubbed Sublime Ruby, was developed by Swiss cocoa producer Barry Callebaut as a new variety to be added to… read more

JAB Holding Co. through its Keurig Green Mountain business unit has entered into an agreement to acquire the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plano, Texas. Once the transaction is completed, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Keurig Green Mountain will merge to form Keurig Dr Pepper. The new business will have annual revenues of approximately $11 billion…. read more

Ms. Macedonio joins Dean Foods from Henkel AG, where she was most recently senior vice-president of finance for the North America Laundry and Beauty divisions. Before Henkel acquired Sun Products Corp., she was treasurer and senior vice-president of finance and planning for Sun Products. Prior to that, Ms. Macedonio held several roles at PepsiCo, Inc.,… read more

Ruby Tuesday is eager to get its turnaround started. Just a few weeks after naming Aziz Hashim interim CEO of the struggling casual dining chain, the brand handed Ray Blanchette the permanent tag Tuesday. Announced during the ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida, Ruby Tuesday said Blanchette’s history of revitalizing fledging brands makes him an ideal… read more

Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. has promoted Scott Murphy to chief operating officer of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., the parent company said Monday. Previously, he was senior vice president of operations for the U.S. and Canada. Murphy will continue to report to Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. president David Hoffmann. The Canton, Mass.-based company has also moved responsibility for… read more

Steak ‘n Shake, the fast-food chain many University of Illinois transplants are familiar with from their days in Champaign, is planning to open its first Chicago location. While the Indianapolis-based chain has restaurants in the surrounding suburbs, it hasn’t opened within the city’s limits. An opening timeframe hasn’t been shared, but Steak ‘n Shake is… read more