Foodservice Equipment & Supplies articles from September 2004

Foodservice Equipment & Supplies archives from September 2004

Time for new partnerships?(Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association)(Editorial)
September 1, 2004... We're all familiar with the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The question that many E&S professionals are now posing at internal meetings and industry gatherings alike is equally simple--Are the relationships and rewards programs...

FEDA releases Econ. Survey results.(people & events)(Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association)(economic)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... FEDA has published the results from its latest Economic Survey. The study, which was conducted online, is based upon responses from 83 dealer principals. According to FEDA, 45% of the surveys respondents described current sales as good....

FE&S announces 2004 Tabletop winners.(people & events)(Foodservice Equipment & Supplies)
September 1, 2004... Foodservice Equipment & Supplies has announced the winners of its 2004 Tabletop Performance Awards. The competition's entries are judged upon their aesthetic appeal and cohesiveness and on their contributions to the goals of their...

Hussmann sells manufacturing facility.(people & events)(Imperial Manufacturing Ice Cold Coolers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Hussmann Corp. has sold its walk-in cooler manufacturing facility in Montgomery, Ala., to Imperial Manufacturing of Alabama, a subsidiary of Imperial Manufacturing Ice Cold Coolers. The deal closed on Aug. 7, and Imperial has stated that it...

Oneida restructures debt.(people & events)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Oneida has announced that it has restructured $233.2 million in debt. Under the new debt structure, Oneida converted $30 million of its indebtedness into approximately 62% of its common stock. The balance of the debt affected by this...

FAST names sales & marketing V.P.(people & events)(Food Automation-Service Techniques )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Stratford, Conn.-based Food Automation-Service Techniques (FAST), a maker of integrated process controllers for foodservice equipment, has named Scott Kensey its vice president of sales and marketing. In his new position, Kensey will...

Cecilware acquires new product line.(people & events)
September 1, 2004... Cecilware Corp., Long Island City, N.Y., has acquired the Frysaver product line from Blickman Enterprises/Dana Lu Imports. An oil filtration system for fryers, Frysaver products were designed and manufactured by Blickman for more than 25...

NSF expands gas plumbing certification.(people & events; NSF International )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... NSF International has expanded its plastics certification program to include certification for gas pipes and fittings constructed of polyethylene (PE). Based on this change, PE gas piping systems can now receive certification under...

EDI moves headquarters.(people & events)(EDI Marketing Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The EDI Marketing Group has announced that it has moved its headquarters. The organization is still based in Ashville, N.C., though it has relocated to a larger office due to staff expansion. Effective immediately, EDI's new address is:...

ServSafe third edition available in Spanish.(people & events)(National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation)(ServSafe Essentials)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has announced that the third edition of ServSafe Essentials is now available in Spanish. One of the foodservice industry's leading food safety programs, ServSafe covets the FDA...

UL shifting facilities.(people & events; Underwriters Labs )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Underwriters Labs has announced that it is changing the focus of its Research Triangle Park, N.C., operation. The facility will now focus on providing certification services to a number of high-tech industries in the southeast United...

NSC hires Hesse.(people & events; Bob Hesse)(National Service Cooperative)(National Service Cooperative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... National Service Cooperative, a service agency group headquartered in Omaha, Neb., has hired Bob Hesse to the post of national sales manager. Hesse comes to NSC from the automotive aftermarket parts and services industry, where he worked...

FE&S announces flipbook release.(people & events)(Foodservice Equipment and Supplies)(Getting into the Loop with Smart Kitchens)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine has announced that it has released its second electronic flipbook. The flipbook, entitled, "Getting Into The Loop With Smart Kitchens," is designed to serve as an introduction to smart-kitchen...

Schlotzsky's files Ch. 11.(people & events)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Schlotzsky's has filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio. The company, which recently ousted its senior management team and hired a bank to assist in a refinancing, listed liabilities of $71.3 million...

Ventilation Web site launched.(people & events)(George Zawacki)(Cini-Little International)(commercial kitchen ventilation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... George Zawacki, formerly a design consultant with Cini-Little International, has officially launched www.up-yourstack.com, a web site designed to offer information on commercial kitchen ventilation. The site went live on Aug. 10, coinciding...

Ricca-Newmark names two principals.(people & events)(Ricca-Newmark Design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Ricca-Newmark Design has named Sean Callnin and David Chislett foodservice design principals. Callnin has worked with RND since 2002, most recently serving as a project director with the consultancy. In his new role, he will focus on...

McDonald.(people & events)(same-store sales )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... McDonald's has announced its same-store sales for July. Systemwide, the company posted same-store sales growth of 6.4%. In the United States, same-store sales increased by 7.8%, while the company reported 2.1% same-store sales growth in Europe....

Burger King.(people & events)(same-store sales )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Burger King has announced its same-store sales for the month of July. U.S. systemwide same-store sales increased by 12.9% compared to the same period last year, with franchised units posting growth of 12.4% and company-owned stores reporting...

Brinker International.(people & events)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Brinker International has announced its financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter. Compared to the year-ago period, the firm's revenue during the period increased by 16.2% to $1.02 billion. Excluding certain restructuring charges, diluted...

Bob Evans Farms has released its same-store sales results for the five weeks that ended on July 30.(people & events)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Bob Evans Farms has released its same-store sales results for the five weeks that ended on July 30. Bob Evans units' same-store sales declined by 2% compared to the year-ago period, while menu prices increased by approximately 2.4%.

Panera Bread Co. has reported financial results for its fiscal second quarter, which ended July 10.(people & events)
September 1, 2004... Panera Bread Co. has reported financial results for its fiscal second quarter, which ended July 10. Company revenue in the quarter reached $105.3 million, an increase of 31% compared to the same period a year earlier, while net income increased...

Clarification.(people & events)(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2004... Due to a reporting error, FE&S' August cover story, "Managing Margins at Soldier Field," failed to include the name of the project's foodservice consultant, Cini-Little International. FE&S regrets the omission.

Making custom foodservice equipment better, faster, more cost-effective.(SpecFAB Chains & Projects Group)(Eagle Foodservice Equipment)
September 1, 2004... It's a dilemma laced by many chain foodservice operators. Custom equipment is needed, but the price is too high... or it takes too long to fabricate. Eagle Foodservice Equipment and its SpecFAB Division fill the gap between standard...

Northwest Community Hospital: Arlington Heights, Ill.(Facility design: project of the month)
September 1, 2004... Charbroilers, a deck oven, steamers, fryers and other production and serving equipment now occupy a space once furnished with operating tables and stretchers. This hospital's former surgical suite has been transformed into a foodservice that...

Dawn Ragsdale: Scruggs, Div. Strategic Equipment & Supply Corp., Knoxville, Tenn.(DSR of the month)(Interview)
September 1, 2004... Dawn Ragsdale, national accounts manager for the Scruggs division of Dallas-based Strategic Equipment & Supply Corp., has achieved success and earned the respect of clients and coworkers alike. Now, she has garnered recognition as FE&S' DSR of...

A value-added resource.(FE&S 2004-2005 Product Knowledge Guide)
September 1, 2004... Although "value added" is an industry buzzword too often bandied about, it is certainly not a property to be treated lightly. Adding value to customers' transactions is essential to DSRs' functions of closing sales and keeping end-users...

Cleaning supplies.(Sanitation & Safety Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Cleaning supplies are available in many varieties, including wet mops, mop handles, mop buckets, mop wringers, brooms and brushes, dustpans, utility handles, floor squeegees, scouring pads, grill cleaners, plastic spray bottles and...

Air curtains & air doors.(Sanitation & Safety Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Air curtains/doors may use recirculating or non-recirculating air. Recirculating air doors are designed to prevent the loss of heating and air conditioning efficiently while maintaining interior climates. They are used primarily in...

Disposers/pulpers & compactors.(Sanitation & Safety Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Disposers with rotor-fixed cutting teeth are the most common variety, although some may be equipped with swivel cutting teeth or a hammer mill-type grinder. In all instances, a cutter rotates at a high speed inside a stationary...

Protective lighting.(Sanitation & Safety Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Protective lighting is designed in many types, shapes, sizes and watts to offer maximum options in safe illumination. Protective lighting includes standard fluorescents, high output (HO), very high output (VHO), U-shaped fluorescents,...

Warewashers.(Sanitation & Safety Equipment)(warewashing machines)(Rack conveyors)(undercounter)(rackless-conveyor)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Warewasher models include undercounter, door-type, flight-type or rackless-conveyor, rack conveyor-type dishmachines, upright conveyors and circular conveyor-type units. There are also warewashers that are designed to clean specific...

Sinks.(Sanitation & Safety Equipment)(handwashing sinks)
September 1, 2004... * Types: The multiple types of sinks now available for foodservice operations are classified by function. NSF-rated sinks are required to be manufactured with radiused seams, coved corners and integrally welded drainboards for most effective...

Charbroilers & broilers.(Cooking Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Charbroilers come in both floor and countertop models. Specialty broilers include salamanders, wood-burning units and cheese-melters. * Capacities/Footprints: Broiler volumes vary greatly. A 15" x 22" charbroiler's grid can cook...

Fryers.(Cooking Equipment)(Fry tanks )
September 1, 2004... * Types: Traditional fryers are gas- or electric-powered and cook with hot oil. Other models can use infrared or induction heating. A pressure fryer cooks food with a combination of hot oil and steam. * Capacities/Footprints: Fryer wells...

Griddles & grills.(Cooking Equipment)(Griddles/grills )
September 1, 2004... * Types: Griddles/grills cook foods on a smooth, solid surface with a heat source below. A grill is not a cooking appliance per se. Instead, it is a grid of metal bars that holds food over a heat source. Floor and countertop models are...

Rotisseries.(Cooking Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Commercial models generally fall into two categories: batch- and continuous-cooking units. Batch cookers are specified for operations serving high volumes of customers during specific time frames. These models employ a rotating drum...

Microwave ovens.(Cooking Equipment)(Doors)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Commercial microwave ovens can differ significantly from their home-use counterparts in terms of durability, technology, controls and capacity. Some newer commercial oven models effectively combine microwaves with controlled delivery...

Ovens, assorted.(Cooking Equipment)(range oven)
September 1, 2004... * Types: There are many varieties of ovens and, among them all, conventional (or range), convection, impinger and deck (or stack) units (including pizza models) are among the most widely used. The conventional or range oven, so named because it...

Ranges.(Cooking Equipment)(tabletop)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Restaurant (or cafe) ranges are designed for light duty. Heavy-duty ranges are similar, but constructed of sturdier materials to stand up to higher volumes and heavier puts and pans. Heavy-duty models can also be configured and...

Steamers & combi ovens.(Cooking Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: The three major models of steamers are pressure, pressureless (convection) and connectionless. The first utilizes from 5 to 15 lbs. of pressure per square inch (PSI) and cooks at 228[degrees]F. to 250[degrees]F. Generally speaking,...

Coffee brewers & servers.(Serving Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Manual brewers, such as a French press, are intended for use at dining tables. Pour-over brewers and automatic urns are designed to yield traditional "American-style" coffee. These brewers drip heated water over coffee grounds held in...

Food blenders & processors.(Preparation Equipment)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Blenders are typically used for the production of beverages that are usually mixed with ice. They also are used to produce frozen drinks, such as smoothies and shakes, and are sometimes utilized as a food preparation tool. Blender...

Slicers.(Preparation Equipment; food service)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Slicers feature a rotating blade on a movable carriage in either a gravity-fed angled or spring-loaded upright configuration. Angled models are designed to drop slices directly onto a receiving table, while upright slicers commonly use...

Hot prep & display.(Preparation Equipment)(gas-fired hot plates)(countertop ovens)(Roller grill)(Countertop warmers)
September 1, 2004... * Types: This equipment is used for preparation and display of heated foods. Equipment in this category includes induction and gas-fired hot plates, countertop ovens, cooker/warmers and hot wells, warming drawers and holding cabinets, and...

Hot holding cabinets.(Storage & Handling Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Hot holding cabinets can safely maintain all types of heated foods and are available in a multitude of sizes and configurations, from small countertop models to higher-capacity units able to accommodate large rolling racks. Cabinets...

Ice machines & dispensers.(Storage & Handling Equipment)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Available in a number of sizes for countertops or as stand-alone equipment, ice-making machines include models designed to produce different varieties of product including cubes of different sizes and configurations, flakes or crushed...

Ice dispensers.(Storage & Handling Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Stand-alone countertop ice dispensers for foodservice Facilities are generally hand-filled. In high-volume operations, floor-model dispensers can be paired with ice machines. * Capacities: Countertop dispensers can store from 10...

Shelving.(Storage & Handling Equipment)(Steel shelving units)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Shelving units may be solid-metal or of wire construction, with the latter now frequently preferred for storage of foods in most applications. Shelving may be configured in stand-alone stationary units, fitted with casters for mobility...

Cook-chill.(Storage & Handling Equipment)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Cook-chill equipment includes cook tanks, stand-alone refrigeration units, blast chillers and large-batch production systems that can utilize jacketed kettles, bagging and pumping stations, and tumble chillers. Tanks and kettles are...

Reach-in refrigerators & freezers.(Storage & Handling Equipment)(Reach-in chilling equipment)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Reach-in chilling equipment is available in one-, two- and three-door/compartment configurations, as well as wide-body and narrow-body models. Smaller, undercounter reach-ins can provide convenient added storage space for products...

Walk-in refrigerators & freezers.(Storage & Handling Equipment)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Walk-in refrigerators and freezers may be pre-engineered (or pre-fabricated) in standard or customized sizes or built into kitchens. They may be located inside or outside a facility, built with or without floors and may contain...

Pots & pans.(Tabletop & Smallwares)(Sauce pans)( Paella pans)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Cookware includes standard fry pans, saute pans, sauce pans and stockpots. Special-purpose pots and pans include shallow crepe pans, oval fry pans, rectangular pans, paella pans, stir-fry pans, woks and double boilers. Generally, pans...

Tabletop accessories.(Tabletop & Smallwares)(Table lighting)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Tabletop accessories include items that hold condiments, are used to serve side dishes or enhance an operation's ambiance. Among the most common accessories are ashtrays, bread boards or baskets, bud vases, charger plates, cheese bowls...

Chafers.(Tabletop & Smallwares)
September 1, 2004... * Types: Chafers, also called chafing dishes, are freestanding enclosed heated display pieces that hold prepared foods for service on buffets or at catered functions in remote locations. Usually, chafers have a water bath mounted on a stand and...

The benefits of brand loyalty.(parting shot)
September 1, 2004... Over the past 30 years, I have been involved in two industries--textiles and foodservice--which, on the surface, appear to be unrelated but have several things in common. I grew up in Lawrence, Mass., which in the early 1900s was a booming...