Restaurant industry performance improved this spring, according to a recent report by the National Restaurant Association…However, operators continue to have a pessimistic outlook for sales and the economy in the months ahead…just 12 percent of operators expect conditions to improve in six months.
In people news, KeyImpact Sales has appointed Hilmar Jonsson, CMC, to the position of master chef and seafood expert…the company has also named Jack Provenzano director of independent sales, managing the Georgia and central Florida markets. • Gary Dykstra has been appointed president of Lincoln Foodservice Products. • The Cheesecake Factory has appointed veteran marketing executive Mark Mears to the position of senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
Vince Blancato has joined Nuco, working the west coast of Florida. • J. Michael Floyd has been promoted to executive director of food services at the University of Georgia. • International Gourmet Products has added several new staff members…Frederick Blatnik will serve as distributor account representative…Donna Sanborn and Vanessa Wilson will serve in sales support. • Brian Korn has joined Bindi Dessert Company as regional manager.
Congratulations to Todd Kazenske, CEPC, AAC, executive chef of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta, who was named 2007 Chef Educator of the Year by the ACF Atlanta Chapter. • Robert Johnston, president and COO of Tampa-based The Melting Pot Restaurants, was recently named 2008 Restaurateur of the Year by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Our congratulations also go to Russell Scott III, CMC, who was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation…the organization also named the ACF Greater Atlanta Chapter its 2008 National Chapter of the Year.
Broker news…Culinary Resources has been appointed by OK Foods for north and central Florida. • Snack Factory and Joy Foods have appointed C & G Food Brokerage for the state of Florida. • Chandler Foods has appointed Total Food Sales for middle and eastern Tennessee. • Tulkoff Products has appointed KeyImpact Sales for the entire Southeast region. • Roland has appointed Innovative Concept Group for the Florida market.
Swaggerty Sausage has appointed McCormick Brokerage for the state of Georgia. • JLW Food Sales was named Regional Broker of the Year by Allen Canning Co. • Fishery Products International recently announced the appointment of Jim LaBelle to vice president of sales and marketing. • Barrel O’ Fun Snack Foods Co. has appointed McCormick Brokerage Co. for the state of Georgia. • Action Brokerage Consultants has been appointed by Mario Camacho Foods and Mitsui Foods for Florida.
Marty Pearsall has opened a new brokerage company covering the Carolinas…Piedmont Sales & Marketing will focus on smaller manufacturers…Marty has over 20 years of regional manager selling experience…For information, call 704-573-9694 or e-mail PiedmontSM@Carolina.RR.com.
Larry Fidel, president and CEO of the Alabama Restaurant Association, was in a serious car accident in June…He sustained significant injuries and was sent to Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta for treatment...The latest reports have Larry doing well, and he hopes to be back at work at ARA soon.
A correction…In last month’s PPT, we reported that Keith Esbin was a grand prize winner in Dawn’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Contest… Esbin should have been listed as corporate executive chef of the Bar Harbor Seafood Company and Boston Lobster Feast Restaurants. SFSN regrets the error.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Kyle Hughes, son of Gary Hughes of US Foodservice-Lakeland, in a June auto accident...Friends of the Hughes can make a donation in Kyle’s memory to the Kyle Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City, FL 33567.
Our sympathies to the family of Erby Walker, who died recently at the age of 70…Walker was best known as the “What’ll Ya Have” man at Atlanta’s Varsity restaurant, where he worked for more than 55 years.
We were saddened to learn of the death of John Pate on July 13…John worked for Allstate Food Marketing in Jacksonville, Florida for the past 10 years, was a dedicated associate, and a friend to all in the industry...His ever-present smile and great attitude will be sadly missed…He is survived by his wife Nancy, four children and eight grandchildren.
Do you have news for People, Places and Things?
Please email it to mwilliams@sfsn.com.
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