Bob Andersen was promoted to president of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. He previously served as executive vice president for the United Franchise Group food division that includes The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and Jon Smith Subs.
One of the great things about the foodservice industry is the way it continues to draw entrepreneurs. That is because the foodservice industry still has a place for someone with a vision and passion to pursue it. Such is the case with Daniel Shemtob, founder and executive chef for Born From The Lime Truck.
Scott Turbeville was appointed vice president of sales for Carter-Hoffmann, Doyon and NuVu. All three foodservice equipment lines are part of Middleby Corp. He previously was with Nieco, also a Middleby brand.
Is the saga to determine whether Ali Group or Middleby will eventually own Welbilt about to come to an end? Perhaps.
Hotel & Restaurant Supply, a Meridian, Miss.-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealership, promoted four longtime associates to corporate leadership positions.
Winholt Equipment Group hired Erica Verderico to serve as West Coast regional sales manager and moved company veteran Bradley Williamson into a sales project manager role.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers promoted Andrew Thengvall to chief development officer. For the last six years, Thengvall served as the fast-casual chain’s senior vice president of strategic growth and chief legal officer. His promotion was in addition to Freddy’s adding two new people to its development team.
John “Jack” Sparacio passed away on June 21, 2021, in Carlsbad, Calif., following a long illness. The 78-year-old Sparacio had previously served as president of Lang Manufacturing, a Washington-based foodservice equipment manufacturer.
First Watch, a 420-unit breakfast, lunch and brunch chain, opened a new headquarters in University Park, Fla.
Hatco promoted Christian Yungbluth to director of global marketing. He joined Hatco earlier this year as the director of business development for Ovention Ovens, a Hatco brand.
Private equity firm Luminate Capital Partners has sold AutoQuotes to TA Associates. As part of this deal, AutoQuotes will become part of Revalize, a cloud-based software platform for manufacturers, per a release announcing the deal. Jim Contardi will serve as CEO of Revalize.
Foodservice equipment manufacturer Alto-Shaam hired Kasey Klingensmith to serve as regional sales manager, central.
Alto-Shaam promoted Bill Rodgers to director of regional key accounts for the Wisconsin-based foodservice equipment manufacturer.
Welbilt has agreed to Ali Group’s all-cash offer of $24 per share and the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement. The deal, with an enterprise value of $4.8 billion, is expected to close in early 2022 and has been approved by the boards of directors for both companies.
PT Holdings, the parent company of foodservice equipment parts distributor Parts Town, has acquired General Parts, a Bloomington, Minn.-based service agent, from Encore One. Financial aspects of the deal were not disclosed.
Update: 10 a.m., July 14, 2021
Another day, another restaurant acquisition. This time it was multiconcept operator SPB Hospitality adding J. Alexander’s to its portfolio of restaurant concepts that includes other steakhouses as well as pizza and craft brewery restaurants. SPB will pay $220 million, a 14% premium over J. Alexander’s closing price on July 1, 2021, which was the last trading day prior to the merger agreement, per a release announcing the deal. SPB expects this sale to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Ric Smith, a restaurant industry veteran with a development-oriented track record, was hired as sr. vice president of development for Scooter’s Coffee.
BEST Restaurant Equipment & Design, a Columbus, Ohio-based foodservice equipment and supplies dealer, promoted three company veterans.
