Breaking news for the full foodservice equipment and supplies distribution channel. Includes information on dealers, distributors, design consultants and multi-unit operators spanning leadership changes, mergers and acquisitions, trends, data and much more.
Celebrity chef Paula Deen opened a new restaurant concept in the Smoky Mountains. Located on The Island in Pigeon Forge near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Arcos Dorados, which franchises McDonald’s restaurants in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries, introduced new condiment tables at its Mexican locations.
The Big Salad’s newest location at the University of Michigan (UM) Hospital Café on the Ann Arbor campus represents the blooming concept’s seventh unit system wide. Working with Aramark International, the hospital’s contract foodservice provider, The Big Salad currently operates a gourmet salad bar where customers can create their own salad. They have plans to open a freestanding counter service location to serve gourmet wraps and salads while also adding a selection of healthy fruit smoothies.
Move over chicken fingers and fries. Kids’ menus have grown up with more inventive and healthier dishes than ever before. From miniature versions of regular menu items to those incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables as well as gluten- and allergen-free offerings, little ones have it good when dining out these days.
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Medical Center provides healthcare services to more than 2 million residents in central and northeast Pennsylvania, as it has for the past 100 years. In January 2013, Geisinger Medical Center debuted the first portion of a two-phase improvement project to give foodservice a much-needed boost. The 350-seat Atrium Café, located on the campus’s Hospital for Advanced Medicine, replaced 3 operations. The scatter-system servery features stations for pizza, entrées, grill items, salads and sushi. A convenience store also operates within the servery. Since its opening, participation on the 8,000-employee campus increased 35 percent.
Just Salad opened a location in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, serving both business customers and residents of the area.
Lou Malnati’s, the renowned Chicago-style pizzeria chain, opened a new location in the Windy City’s bustling Lincoln Square neighborhood.
Former Sonic executive Vaughn to assume leadership position for fast-casual Mexican chain.
Multi-concept operator FOCUS Brands named Bruce Schroder president of Moe's Southwest Grill, a fast-casual restaurant chain.
Middleby promotes sales executive to lead its Pitco, MagiKitch'n, Anets and Perfect Fry brands.
