NAFEM and Host to collaborate. M&A outlook for 2026. Uncertain becomes the new economic normal. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

If you attended The NAFEM Show last month in Atlanta, I don’t need to remind you that the idea of applying automation remains alive and well. You could see it clearly in many booths displaying innovative solutions related to automation and other advanced technologies.

Initial thoughts on The NAFEM Show. A closer look at the state of the independent operator. More tariff talk. These stories and more, This Week in Foodservice.

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) recognized 42 allied industry leaders with its Doctorate of Foodservice Award for their contributions to their associations and the industry at-large.

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers presented the 2025 William W. Carpenter Award to Rob Connelly, CFSP, executive chairman and chairman of the board, Henny Penny Corp. and the Louise O’Sullivan Award of Excellence to Mike Whiteley, retired executive vice president, sales & marketing, Hatco Corp.

Steve Spittle, CFSP, president of North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM), and chief commercial officer for Middleby, discusses a wide range of topics, including the current industry operating environment, the state of the supply chain and The NAFEM Show 2025.

The inaugural U.S. Culinary Open will take place during The NAFEM Show, which will run from Feb. 26-28 in Atlanta. The event will feature 12 chefs — selected from a pool of 51 applicants through a ranking process by a culinary advisory board — competing for prizes. Each chef competitor may also have a commis, or assistant chef, between the ages of 18 and 25.

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers introduced its trio of new officers.

NAFEM provides an update on factories’ supply chain issues. Another iconic restaurant closes, while a North Carolina association looks to boost industry employment through a marketing campaign. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

This might have been the unofficial motto of The NAFEM Show 2023, which took place Feb. 1-3 in Orlando, Fla.

That’s a wrap! Four years after COVID-19 put the pause button on The NAFEM Show, foodservice equipment and supplies industry professionals were able to reunite with friends and colleagues, make new connections and see and learn about new equipment and technologies on the market. As this year’s The NAFEM Show illustrated, a lot has changed.

Four years in the making The NAFEM Show 2023 and the events leading up to it did not disappoint.

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers presented the 2023 William W. Carpenter Award posthumously to Mike Carpenter, CFSP and the Louise O’Sullivan Award of Excellence to Buffy Schechter Levy, The NAFEM Show director.

Observations from The NAFEM Show. A c-store tests delivery robots. Plenty of mixed labor news. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) has awarded 31 allied industry leaders with its Doctorate of Foodservice Award for their contributions to their associations and the industry at large.

It’s been four years since the last NAFEM Show and a lot has changed in the foodservice industry.

A primer for The NAFEM Show. Middleby’s latest acquisition. Will the “Skip the Stuff” bill hurt sales of disposables in New York City? Foodservice operators must contend with return-to-work issues, too. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

FE&S sat down with Rich Packer, CFSP, for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the industry, supply chain challenges and more. Oh, and we managed to squeeze in a little dialogue about The NAFEM Show 2023, too.