The School Nutrition Association presented its 2025 National Industry Member of the Year Award to Gayle Swain, manager of non-commercial markets for Cambro Manufacturing Company.
Twin Hospitality Group appointed Kim Boerema to serve as chief executive officer for the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant.
South Block, an East Coast-based acai bowl and smoothie chain, named Steve Heeley its president. No stranger to the restaurant industry, Heeley comes to South Block from Pokeworks, where he served as CEO.
The Hansen Group elevates its reach, while Hoshizaki, MPM Food Equipment and Prática High-Speed Ovens update their rep networks.
KaTom Restaurant Supply, a Tennessee-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealer, made a trio of leadership updates.
Brinker International promoted Aaron White to executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief people officer for the company's restaurant brands, Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy.
The Society for Hospitality & Foodservice Management Foundation named the nine winners of its Air Force Hennessy Award Program and Marine Hill Award recipients.
Hoshizaki America introduced Kelly McWilliams as senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Georgia-based manufacturer of ice machines and other equipment for use in commercial kitchens.
SEFA, a dealer-based foodservice equipment and supplies buying group recognized the contributions of some of its member companies and suppliers through a series of annual awards. Specifically, SEFA named Action Sales its Member of the Year and Atosa USA its Supplier of the Year.
LTI hired Alicia Bowen to serve as western regional sales director, the Georgia-based maker of food serving solutions announced on its website.
Smoothie King promoted Gavin Felder to president. He joined the company in May of 2024 and most recently served as the chain’s chief financial officer and will continue in that capacity, too.
Jason Hall, CMC, was promoted to vice president of Middleby’s Crown Steam Group, which includes the Crown, Firex and Market Forge equipment lines.
Aerowerks USA hired Lisa Addison and Ed Larkin to serve as business development managers and opened a manufacturing facility in Gaffney, S.C.
Vollrath Company announced the retirement of two longtime members of its sales force as well as the hiring of four people.
Kevin Hochman, CEO and president of Brinker International, was awarded the 2025 Gold Plate Award from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Hochman was nominated in the Chain Full Service category and selected from the eight honorees who took home Silver Plate awards in 2025.
Fast-casual chain Chipotle Mexican Grill will make several updates to its leadership team. Notably, Jason Kidd will become chief operating officer for Chipotle Mexican Grill, effective May 19, 2025.
PRIDE Centric Resources and NAFED, the National Association of Food Equipment Dealers, have come together to form a purchasing cooperative known as Alignity Group. Both NAFED and PRIDE have equal ownership in this new purchasing cooperative.
Overall sales of foodservice equipment and supply items were flat during the first quarter 2025, per data from the Business Barometer published by the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry. For the second quarter of 2025, reps project a 1% increase in sales. For the year, reps project sales will increase 2.7% compared to 2024.
Rippe Associates hired Theresa Gervenak, CFSP to serve as associate principal for the Education Studio.
