The National Restaurant Association announced it has selected Dickie Brennan, owner and managing partner of Dickie Brennan & Company, to serve as its convention chair for the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show 2018 (NRA Show). In this capacity, Brennan will advise the Association to ensure that the NRA Show—the most comprehensive event for restaurants,… read more

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. announced that Bernard Acoca has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 12, 2018.  Mr. Acoca will succeed Steve Sather, who previously announced his intent to retire during 2017.  Mr. Acocawill also replace Mr. Sather on the Company’s Board of Directors. Michael Maselli, Chairman of the Board of Directors of El Pollo Loco, stated, “The… read more

Everidge, a manufacturer of walk-in coolers and freezers and other refrigerated solutions, has hired Feras Affani as vice president of sales for brands ThermalRite and ICS. Affani will be responsible for generating new business, and sustaining and growing current customers in the foodservice and non-commercial segments. At ThermalRite, he will be in charge of chain… read more

To Our Loyal Followers, Here it is the beginning of March, can Spring weather be on the horizon? I watched the first televised Cubs /Sox game so as baseball has its’ Spring training, I would like to share a few Spring Training tips with you that I recently read; authored, by Brandon Stanley. Brandon is… read more

Dear Loyal Followers: Here is my Belated Valentine to you ALL: Roses are Red Violets are Blue. We Love Our Clients AND Candidates TOO!! Hope you all had a great Valentine’s Day. We appreciate you for sure!! Much of the Midwest is recovering from our biggest storm in a while so I hope you are all… read more

Exhibitors Optimistic for Business in 2018 Chicago-AHR Expo exhibitors are predicting 2018 to be a good year for business, according to the 2018 AHR Expo Exhibitor Economic Outlook Survey. Of the 81 exhibitors who responded to the survey, 61.7% think 2018 will be a “good” year for business prospects, while 27.2% responded they think it… read more

Red Robin Restaurants Eliminate All Busboys The national restaurant chain Red Robin announced it would eliminate busboys at all of its 570 restaurants, as the company expects it will save $8 million in 2018 by doing so. Red Robin’s chief financial officer Guy Constant told attendees at the ICR retail conference, “We need to do that… read more

Arby’s to Acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.8B in Restaurant Shakeup Wings. Beer. And Arby’s. Fast-food chain Arby’s Restaurant Group said that it reached a deal to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings, which promotes the slogan “wings, beer, sports” in its advertisements, for $2.8 billion in cash. The deal comes as the casual dining sector is ailing as… read more

Edward Don & Company Has Acquired Atlanta-Based Atlanta Fixture and Sales Company Inc. Edward Don & Company, a nationwide distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies, announced today the acquisition of certain assets of Atlanta Fixture and Sales Company, Inc., located in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1927, Atlanta Fixture has been a leading foodservice equipment and supplies distributor… read more