PBAC updates its ownership and leadership team, while MarkeTeam makes some big moves in Anaheim. Food Service Solutions and Focus Sales Group make key personnel moves, while Maxwell-McKenney holds a beverage-themed event and Sammic adds to its rep network.
Independent manufacturers’ rep firm Focus Sales Group opened a new showroom in Cambridge, Mass. Focus Sales Group represents a variety of manufacturers, including many providing tabletop and other front-of-house products, across the six New England states. In addition, Focus Sales Group hired Kenny Belanger to serve as a territory sales manager.
Food Service Solutions USA hired Todd Griffith to serve as vice president of sales, Northeast. Griffith previously served as vice president of sales for RPI and held the same role for Marra Forni. Prior to serving those positions, Griffith spent 20 years in sales with Alto-Shaam. Food Service Solutions is a U.S. distributor of a variety of commercial kitchen equipment lines, including Brunner Anliker, Lainox, Orved and Rheninghaus.
Rep firm MarkeTeam Foodservice West expanded its presence in Southern California and Nevada. The firm added the following individuals to its team: Sean Michaud, director of sales, South; Todd McLeish, territory sales manager; Jon Barba, territory sales manager; Andy Tanaka, director of culinary and Cathy Powell, inside sales. All five individuals previously worked with KLH, a Southern California-based rep firm. MarkeTeam West established its headquarters to KLH’s 16,000-square-foot facility in Anaheim. Also, MarkeTeam added the following factories to its line card: Glastender, Duke Manufacturing, InSinkErator and Panasonic. This deal comes on the heels of MarkeTeam Foodservice acquiring Dedicated Foodservice Solutions, a rep firm based in Garden Grove, Calif.
New Jersey-based rep firm Maxwell-McKenney Inc. brought together the chefs, bartenders, and beverage professionals in October for Liquid Chef 215 at Philadelphia Distilling. Headlining this hands-on exploration of modern drink-program techniques and the tools behind them was James Beard Award-winning mixologist Danny Childs, author of Slow Drinks. Other presenters on the program were culinarians Shola Olunloyo, Hari Cameron, Greg Listino, Jesse Dureka, and Michael Kalajian. “Liquid Chef 215 is about giving hospitality pros an edge—practical, scalable methods that translate directly to better guest experiences and stronger margins,” said Matthew McKenney, principal at Maxwell-McKenney Inc.
New York-based rep firm PBAC Associates has established its third generation of internal ownership structure. Joshua Erdheim now serves as president of PBAC; Damon DeMercurio, vice president of sales; Lisa Kerester, director of administration; Jeffery Youker, director of project management and culinary; Cory Perez, business development manager and Josh Finn, director of technical sales. Michael Posternak will continue to serve as chairman and CFO. Co-founder Steve Bauer and prior owner David Aitkenhead will remain in active support roles, per a release.
Sammic added the North Star Agency to its rep network. The firm now represents Sammic in Michigan, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Western Wisconsin, also known as MAFSI region 19.
