Selected Archives
Selected stories 2011-2021
Restaurant Industry Provides White House Solutions to Impact Supply Chain Shortages and Delays11/1/2021
Today the National Restaurant Association sent a letter to President Joseph R. Biden, highlighting how supply chain challenges and inflation are weighing down restaurant industry rebuilding and suggesting solutions that would have a long-term impact if implemented. The letter highlights the current state of the industry, and how the drop in consumer confidence brought on by the delta variant this summer halted the small gains restaurants made earlier this year. At the same time, restaurants are facing massive supply shortages and delays while food costs are soaring. This situation is increasing costs, restricting supply, and limiting the industry’s ability to function. For example:
Read the full letter here. Preferred Source, a manufacturers’ representative firm representing equipment and supplies manufacturers to the foodservice industry, today announced the sale of Preferred Source to Danny Monnat and Jacquelyn Mangione.
Preferred Source is an industry leading manufacturers representative firm serving equipment and supplies manufacturers in Texas & Oklahoma for more than three decades. Preferred Source maintains showrooms in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, serving customers in the distribution, chain & independent restaurants, hotel & gaming, colleges & universities, consultants, convenience stores, and K-12 segments. Mark Sass, Principal, said, “Ken and I are proud to announce the sale of Preferred Source to Danny and Jacquelyn. We know their experience, tenacity, and commitment to the business will be the driving force behind an exciting new phase for Preferred Source, our customers, and manufacturers.” Ken Bigger, Principal, said, “Jacquelyn and Danny have been integral to the growth and success of Preferred Source over the last decade. Today is the culmination of our long-established succession plan for Jacquelyn & Danny to take over the business. We are excited for them, our manufacturers, and the future of Preferred Source.” “Danny and I are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn alongside two of the best in the industry. We have benefited greatly from Mark and Ken’s direction and are excited and ready to lead Preferred Source into the future,” said Jacquelyn Mangione. “We are committed to building on the strong foundation we have laid and look forward to upholding the reputation of excellence Preferred Source has always been known for.” “We are grateful to Mark and Ken for their years of mentorship and partnership which have led us to this moment. Together, with their guidance, we have built Preferred Source into a preeminent rep firm. Jacquelyn and I are looking forward to building on the principals of what has made our business thrive for over three decades with an eye to the future and the evolving needs of our customers, employees, and manufacturers. We are excited to usher in this new era.” said Danny Monnat. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Additional personnel announcements will follow at later date. For more information, please visit www.preferredsource.com Contact: [email protected] Phone: 972-672-1191 Organization: Preferred Source Address: 3440 Sojourn Suite 225 Carrollton, TX 75006 Edward Don & Company, the leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies, has named Elias C. Tavarez Chief Financial Officer as part of a long-term succession plan. Tavarez will succeed Jim Jones, who will remain in his current role as Chief Operating Officer and Board Member. Tavarez has over 15 years of experience in senior financial roles.
Prior to joining DON, he served as CFO of Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors in Detroit Michigan. He also served in senior financial roles at Dunns River Brands, LaLa US and PepsiCo where he was known for driving financial strategy and performance. “I am pleased to welcome Elias to our leadership team,” said Steve Don, President and Chief Executive Officer. “His deep and extensive experience in leading financial operations in a fast-paced distribution business will allow us to continue to create value for the company and our customers. I am confident Elias will provide strong leadership and is an excellent addition to the DON team.” “I am honored to join Edward Don & Company and continue the great work with Steve Don and team.” said Tavarez. “DON has a strong reputation for servicing customers and I am particularly thrilled to join in DON’s 100th anniversary year.” As CFO, Tavarez will lead the Company’s finance organization and will be responsible for accounting, treasury, financial planning & analysis, tax and banking relations. Edward Don & Company has also named Phil Blas as Regional Sales Manager. In his new position, Blas will be responsible for managing sales teams and driving new business opportunities for the California and Pacific Northwest Regions. Prior to joining DON, he served 12 years with Smith & Greene responsible for sales out of the Seattle, Portland and Denver offices. Blas worked his way from street sales to sales manager for smallwares to quickly being promoted to FED Sales Manager, where he spent the majority of his time on design, build and remodeling projects. Blas stated, "I am excited for the expanded territory and growing with DON’s amazing California Team. The West Coast has tremendous potential and all the right pieces in place to make some noise!” Blas graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Fine Arts – Multimedia Design. He spends his free time with his wife and two kids camping, golfing and traveling by exploring new places and enjoying new experiences. About Edward Don & Company Owned and operated by the Don family since 1921, Edward Don & Company is the world's leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies. Headquartered in Woodridge, IL, the company is the chosen supplier to all types of foodservice businesses including independent restaurants, national chains, health care, hospitality, country clubs, schools and universities, government institutions, and foodservice management. DON, with approximately 1,000+ employees, operates a nationwide distribution network supported by seven full- service distribution centers – in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle – and also owns and operates its own transportation fleet. DON serves national and multi-unit account programs with flexible, customized solutions that meet the needs of both the corporate office and the individual units. DON’s Foodservice Equipment Division offers full-service kitchen design, equipment purchasing, and installation. For more information, please visit www.don.com A design object and an innovative tableware concept in one. La Boule takes Villeroy & Boch back to its original strengths in ceramics and design, offering top restaurants a spectacular tableware set for two people that will add an extra ‘wow’ factor to any fine dining experience. La Boule consists of two Premium Porcelain bowls, two deep and two flat plates and a serving plate that fit together to create a perfect spherical shape: impressing at first glance with its unique aesthetics before revealing its clever and surprising function. La Boule provides inspiration for novel and imaginative table settings, overturning conventions, and offers chefs amazing creative scope to showcase exceptional dishes. The rediscovery of an icon In the 1970s, Helen von Boch, always far ahead of her time, rewrote design history with the “Sphere”. La Boule is the modern new interpretation of this exclusive porcelain sphere, featuring a revised design and contemporary colours. It is currently available in four versions: matt black, shiny white, contrasting black-and-white and the new La Boule Pure Beige, inspired by soft natural colours. Four looks, four styles
The two single-colour La Boule versions in black and white impress with their understated elegance: in shiny white or deep black with a matt surface and natural feel, the porcelain is an eye-catching feature on the table. Thanks to their colours and textures, the items also lend themselves ideally to combinations with the successful The Rock series. La Boule black & white captures the imagination with interactions of contrasts. The colours of black and white come together with shiny and matt textures to create both visual and haptic appeal, making them an eye-catching feature for diners. With its soft shimmer and flowing curves, the La Boule Pure Beige annual edition is like a pearl from the ocean. Inspired by nature, in combination the delicate beige shades reveal their full beauty. The subtle contrast of matt and shiny surfaces gives La Boule Pure Beige a particularly sophisticated look. For more information, please visit: https://pro.villeroy-boch.com/us/us/dining-lifestyle/hospitality.html G.E.T. Enterprises, LLC is pleased to announce today that it has completed the acquisition of cheforwardTM , LLC, a design leader in foodservice dinnerware, displayware, and tabletop accessories with an emphasis on melamine.
cheforward is led by David Richman, a foodservice leader and innovator for more than three decades. The cheforwardTM brand brings innovation to foodservice by marrying forward-thinking design with the right materials to provide products that delight chefs and customers alike. cheforward’s products are designed to complement chef creations and elevate perceived value. G.E.T. Enterprises, LLC will nurture and build the cheforwardTM brand and the founder, David Richman, will continue to provide his leading design vision and customer insights going forward. David states: “I am thrilled that G.E.T Enterprises will carry the cheforward brand forward. This is the ideal team to continue cheforward’s growth trajectory, supporting our mission to enable chefs’ culinary inspirations to be creatively plated in a way that delights their guests. I look forward to consulting with the G.E.T. Enterprises leadership team to build and expand the brand.” Jim White, CEO G.E.T. Enterprises, LLC and The Foodware Group, commented: “it has been a pleasure to get to know David and Nina Richman and develop the right chemistry to join forces and build cheforwardTM as a leading fashion-forward design brand in our portfolio to serve the foodservice industry.” cheforward will remain a standalone brand in the G.E.T. Enterprises portfolio; however, the products will now be stocked in our warehouses and customers will be able to purchase the cheforwardTM brand as part of their total G.E.T. Enterprises, LLC order within their existing terms and conditions such as free freight qualifications. Adding the cheforward brand to G.E.T. Enterprises’ portfolio supports our mission to provide innovatively designed, operationally durable products backed by exceptional customer service. Edward Don & Company, the nation’s leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies, celebrates 100 years of servicing everything from independent restaurants and national chains to healthcare, hotels, hospitality, country clubs, schools, government institutions, foodservice management facilities and much, much more. Selling everything but the food.
Here's a link to a brief video produced for the anniversary: https://youtu.be/SezkmjK9Zqk Founded in 1921, the Don family began selling janitorial and restaurant supplies out of the family’s Chicago home. With no money to open a showroom, the family decided to bring the showroom to the customers by creating a catalog as a way to get orders and build the business. Today that catalog is known as the DON Big Book and has set the standard as one of the best customer resources in the industry. In 1928, the family opened a warehouse in Chicago. This was the humble beginning of a business owned by a family. Now with seven nationwide strategically positioned distribution centers and over 1.3 million square feet of warehouse space, DON has stayed disciplined and remains customer- focused . Third generation family President and CEO, Steve Don commented on this paramount milestone, “I am proud to be part of DON’s 100-year celebration. We have always been a customer- focused culture, putting the customer first and helping them succeed has been our mission by providing the best products, services and solutions. Customers are the reason we’ve been in business for 100 years. Without customers, you don’t have anything.” Steve also stated, “It’s also our people who make the difference, we have the best in the industry. I would like to thank our dedicated associates and supplier partners for their continued commitment to success and focus on the customer. Without our associates, suppliers and customers, we would not exist.” Further Facts:
About Edward Don & Company Owned and operated by the Don family since 1921, Edward Don & Company is the world's leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies. Headquartered in Woodridge, IL, the company is the chosen supplier to all types of foodservice businesses including independent restaurants, national chains, health care, hospitality, country clubs, schools and universities, government institutions, and foodservice management. DON, with approximately 1,000+ employees, operates a nationwide distribution network supported by seven full- service distribution centers – in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle – and also owns and operates its own transportation fleet. DON serves national and multi - unit account programs with flexible, customized solutions that meet the needs of both the corporate office and the individual units. DON’s Foodservice Equipment Division offers full-service kitchen design, equipment purchasing, and installation. For more information, please visit: www.don.com . With the recent addition of three top-level sales executives, along with the re-opening of the hospitality sector here in America, there's lots happening at Mikasa Hospitality these days. So, we thought we would attempt to learn a little more of what is going on at this new entrant to the hospitality tabletop category by speaking with David Mackrell, President of Mikasa Hospitality. In addition to overseeing Mikasa Hospitality, David is also President of Tabletop for the parent company, Lifetime Brands. Here's what he had to say:
TabletopJournal: Mikasa Hospitality launched in May of 2019 at the NRA Show. That seems like forever ago, where is the Mikasa Hospitality brand now and what product categories within the hospitality sector are you focusing on? David Mackrell: The Mikasa Hospitality Brand is very well situated, stocked with product and ready to go! We have used the downturn in our industry caused by the pandemic to increase our investment and position ourselves to be a premier long-term partner to the industry. The Mikasa brand is very well known to stand for quality and design. Not only are we part of a public and financially secure company, our distribution and warehousing networks are state of the art. We will bring consistency in quality, value, design and most of all having product in the warehouse ready to ship. We sincerely believe in what we are doing and how we are servicing the foodservice industry. Our current product categories encompass dinnerware, glassware, flatware, melamine, serveware and displays. TJ: You’ve added some very well-known hospitality tabletop talent lately. Tell us about your organization and if you’re expecting to continue to expand, and if so – what types of positions are you looking to add? DM: We are very excited about the team we have put together. We continue to add top level talent to Mikasa Hospitality to insure we provide the appropriate product, services and knowledge for our customers. We want the industry to fully understand our meaningful capabilities and long-term commitment in good and bad times. These industry professionals are well known for their knowledge, honesty and values. We currently have 3 VP of sales (East, Midwest and West), as well as a VP of National accounts and a VP of product/marketing. We are continuing to search for other team members that have our vision. Product and sales will be two main areas that we will supplement on top of the core professionals that currently make up Mikasa Hospitality. TJ: Beyond the products you mentioned, what will be the “go-to-market” strategy for the Mikasa Hospitality brand? DM: Our strategy is simple, partner with key distributors and industry participants, stay in stock, ship on time and service the needs of our customers. Provide them with solutions by offering quality, design, value and availability. They can count on Mikasa Hospitality to be there when they need us. TJ: Now, that we’re working closer to being post-covid, what’s the medium-longer term vision you have for the Mikasa Hospitality brand? DM: We have continued to invest throughout the covid time period. Our vision is to continue to support the restaurants, hotels, bars and other foodservice establishments. We continue to innovate and develop product for a post-covid world as we need to be fluid in our offerings to help our customers adapt to a changing world. It’s important to let our customers know that we are and will be in stock for their needs. We are willing to work with them to find the solutions they need to succeed. Future growth may include acquisitions to expand our presence. TJ: The COVID pandemic has caused so much upheaval in the foodservice industry. What should foodservice and hospitality customers who might be considering purchase tabletop products expect from Mikasa Hospitality and your growing team? DM: They should expect their order to ship on time and for us to remain in stock. Our Mikasa Hospitality product is strictly “Foodservice Quality” and will thrive in the industry. We will be a responsible partner in value, quality and being stock for their needs. As our team continues to grow, so will our product selection and offerings. Further, as I mentioned before, we will evolve our product offering as the foodservice needs change in a post-covid world. It was announced today that Oneida Hospitality Group (OHG) has signed an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Pasabahce Glassware. The agreement includes representation for the Pasabahce foodservice portfolio in the United States. “Pasabahce is known throughout the industry as a leader in material innovation, technology, and offering an extensive range of high-quality and durable glassware.” states Scott McDaniel, CEO of Oneida Hospitality Group. “We are excited to form this partnership that will bring immediate value to our customers.” Pasabahce glassware started producing glassware in Turkey in 1935 and has been serving the US marketplace for multiple decades. As a vertically integrated producer, Pasabahce can provide flexible value-added solutions to customers with their extensive range of premium lead-free crystal, high-quality glass stemware, and selections for beer, spirits, and general barware. “In positioning OHG for future growth and in line with our mission to better serve our distributor and operator customers with a complete tabletop solution, we wanted to align ourselves with a reputable and innovative glassware company.” Comments Bryan O’Rourke, President of Oneida Hospitality Group. “Pasabahce provides us with technology, expert design capabilities, and committed production. They are the very best at what they do.” Oneida Hospitality Group is currently arranging for product to be stocked in their primary distribution center located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Oneida Hospitality Group (formerly Crown Brands LLC) was founded to manage the alignment of three highly regarded suppliers, Focus Foodservice, Update International and Johnson-Rose. These companies have consistently led innovation across small-wares, kitchen tools, food preparation products, and back-of-the-house storage and transportation products for the commercial food service and hospitality industries. In 2015 and 2018, Co-Rect Products and Tomlinson Industries were added to this impressive portfolio. In 2019 Crown Brands acquired the assets of the Oneida brand which added table-top products to the company portfolio - becoming a one stop partner for all foodservice E&S categories. With over 200 years combined experience, Oneida Hospitality Group and its affiliate brands have the knowledge, expertise and resources to bring best in class products and service to all channels within the food service and hospitality marketplace.
For more information about Oneida Hospitality Group, please visit: www.oneidahospitality.com Many tabletop companies have been quietly busy behind the scenes as they prepare for the predicted comeback of the hospitality sector. The team at Tuxton China is no exception and we love their newest introduction – Cocktail Tumblers!
And typical for the folks at Tuxton is to keep things simple – and fun. “We’re excited to launch these new ceramic cocktail tumblers as an innovative new addition to our rustic, yet Artisan collections”, says Steve Abourisk, Tuxton’s Vice President of Sales. “The handcrafted style, matte glaze finish and dimple indent on the side, adds to the talents of all mixologists creating fun new beverage presentations.” With the new Cocktail Tumblers from Tuxton being available in 2 glaze colors – Peacock and Sagebrush – that’s really the only decision that operators have to make. Which will they choose? Our suggestion: Take them both! (after all, who can resist dimples?) The texture and artisanal colors of these cocktail tumblers will elevate the craft beverage program within any type of foodservice venue. Each tumbler features a distinct glazing pattern providing a unique character to each piece and presentation. As we said, these ceramic tumblers are available in two glaze colors, Peacock and Sagebrush with a 10 oz. capacity. So, go ahead - upgrade your beverage presentation with Tuxton! For more information, please visit: https://www.tuxton.com/
There are many who will read this and have their own stories about Arne. I will simply end by saying I was glad to have known Arne Osterby and to call him my friend. The picture of Arne shown here is from an article that appeared in Aug-Sept issue of The Valley Table in 2008 by writer Abby Luby and photographer Jerry Novesky.
This story captures a lot of who Arne was. Here is a link to a copy of that article on our friend: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dh5vUr78KZQ8qZGk-QH3f0rdjXCAtxDr/view?usp=sharing A special thank you to Arne’s wife Eileen for being kind enough to share the obituary below. ARNE E. OSTERBY July 17, 1925 –December 31, 2020 Cornwall, NY Arne E. Osterby died on December 31, 2020 at his home in Cornwall, NY. Mr. Osterby was born on July 17, 1925 in Halmstad Sweden, the son of John Wilhelm and Alma Osterby. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Stockholm, studied Interior Design at New York University and was a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. Arne came to the United States in 1948 and managed the exclusive Madison Avenue Swedish furniture and art store owned by the Bonnier Family known as Bonniers. He used his design skills to create an environment envied by Tiffany’s and Bloomingdale’s which set a trend that earned him several awards and citations. His adept public relations’ skills resulted in friendships with individuals such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, Charles Laughton and New York City Mayor John Lindsay. His friendships included artists and designers Isamu Noguchi, Victor Vasarely, Salvador Dali, Bjorn Wiinblad, Carol Summers and Bruno Mathsson, among others. When sculptor Isamu Noguchi came to the United States, they worked as a team to produce Noguchi’s ‘Akari’ lamps and developed a lasting friendship. Arne founded Rosenthal’s Hotel & Restaurant Division and cultivated the company into a multimillion dollar business. He served as Vice Chairman of the International Hotel/Motel Restaurant Show Exhibitor Advisory Committee and also served a three year term on Chicago’s NRA Exhibitor Advisory Board. He was a member of Distinguished Restaurants of North America’s (DirRoNa), Hall of Fame and is listed in “Who’s Who” in the East. In 1995, Mr. Osterby joined Gene Williamson, a former Managing Director of Rosenthal, and formed Osterby & Williamson, representatives and consultants to the foodservice industry. Mr. Osterby is predeceased by his first wife, Maria, and brother Rune. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Eileen V. Osterby. Survivors include his stepdaughter, Jennifer Harvey, husband Shawn, and grandson, Ethan of Camp Wood, Texas, as well as many cousins residing in Sweden. Arne will be missed by so many in the community who he touched through the years. A Celebration of Mr. Osterby’s life will be held this coming summer with the date to be determined due to the Covid Pandemic. Donations may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan & Counties, Inc. Arrangements by Flynn Funeral Home, Monroe, NY. |
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November 2021
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