The Middleby Corporation announced the acquisition of Zhuhai Guangdong China-based United Foodservice Equipment Group . . . . Middleby Acquires United Foodservice The company is a leader in the design, manufacture, and supply of countertop commercial foodservice equipment with recent annual revenues of approximately $10 million. “This strategic acquisition expands our capabilities in a key… read more
Global Foodservice News
Chicago Restaurant Workers are not in Line to be Vaccinated Until at Least next Month, city officials said
After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prioritized restaurant workers in December as “other essential workers” and part of the third group in the first wave (group 1c) in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations, cities are beginning to provide timelines for when these essential workers will be eligible to receive vaccinations. On Monday,… read more
Restaurant Industry Cut 372,000 Jobs in December
Restaurants shed more than 372,000 jobs in December after seven consecutive months of gains, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS reported that food and drink places cut 17,400 jobs in November. However, in the December report, data was adjusted to show that restaurants gained 13,600 jobs in November. Due to the adjustment,… read more
Firebirds Turns 20 in a Year Unlike Any Other
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill turned 20 years old on December 20. Normally, this would be a time to look back and remember the restaurant world at the turn of the millennium. But 2020 itself felt like two decades wrapped into 10 months. So there’s a lot for Stephen Loftis, the polished chain’s VP of marketing,… read more
Eating these Foods Regularly can be Disastrous for your Health
We all know that ultra-processed foods like candy, soda, pre-packaged microwave meals, and hotdogs aren’t healthy. That certainly isn’t breaking news. But, the true extent of their negative impact on the human body and lifespan will likely surprise many readers. It’s one thing to hear that sugary cereals or bags of chips are “bad for… read more
Trays and Baskets may be a Weak Point in Food Safety
When the topics of sanitation and maintenance come up in a commercial bakery, the trays or baskets that deliver finished product to the bakery’s customer usually aren’t top of mind. As pieces that go out into the world and then return to the bakery — bringing back with them anything they encountered along the way… read more
The Tech that Keeps World Central Kitchen Cooking in Times of Disaster
Whatever business-travel problems you’ve encountered in the past, World Central Kitchen’s have almost certainly been worse. This Washington, D.C., nonprofit founded by chef José Andrés in 2010 has spent the past decade cooking for disaster survivors in some of the least convenient places on Earth. And since last winter, it’s had to deal with a… read more
28 mergers and acquisitions in the restaurant industry in 2020
In addition to so many other things, 2020 brought one of the largest merger-and-acquisition deals in the restaurant space with the marriage of Dunkin’ Brands with multi-concept group Inspire Brands. We also saw a number of companies filing bankruptcy because of COVID, which resulted in a number of changes in ownership, particularly in the latter… read more
Saladworks parent company acquires Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Frutta Bowls to form Woworks
Centre Lane Partners – the parent company of Conshohocken, Penn.-based salad chain Saladworks — has acquired fast-casual Mediterranean brand Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and fast-casual smoothie/bowl concept Frutta Bowls, to form new holding company, Woworks, the company announced. The Saladworks team will be taking over both brands’ infrastructure and operations to drive growth. Garbanzo CEO James… read more
Darden CEO Gene Lee Named Chairman of the Board
The Darden Restaurants Board of Directors has elected Chief Executive Officer Eugene (Gene) I. Lee, Jr. as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Charles (Chuck) M. Sonsteby, effective January 4, 2021. Sonsteby will become the Board’s Lead Independent Director. “At a time of unprecedented change in our industry, the Board concluded that it is in the… read more