Publisher's Viewpoint - Robin Ashton

It’s always important to remember this is a people business. »

Most (but not all) foodservice and E&S market segments are looking up. »

Structural changes mix with economic realities in a dynamic market. »

Despite gloomy economic news, the E&S market is still growing. »

With foodservice ever more international, the program will offer useful insights. »

On the way to the forecast this year, we got a surprise. »

A commitment to service and new ways of feeding people. »

New initiatives on a backdrop of life’s realities. »

Indicators are positive, but high gas and food prices threaten. »

It only takes one lapse to cause a problem. »

We haven’t had that spirit here since…1995? »

Gordon Oates Sr. helped build Vulcan into a global powerhouse. »

The E&S market bounces back just in time for The NAFEM Show. »

Our goal: Help operators make informed decisions about distribution partners. »

All three proved the value of the independent rep. »

Noncommercial operators care intensely about E&S-technology best practices. »

After two years of decline, the E&S market has bottomed out. »

We have new ideas for making FER better for dealers. »

Our friend Doug Fryett, one of the leading consultants in our world, said some very smart things in Minneapolis in March, at the worldwide meeting of the Foodservice Consultants Society Int'l. I liked his comments so much, I borrowed them for a presentation I made to the Excell Dealer Buying Network meeting in April. While Doug originally addressed his... »

I write this from Hamburg, Germany, where I am attending Internorga, the big international German foodservice show. No hype: They expect 100,000 visitors. We're here because Foodservice Equipment Reports and fermag.com are international, too, of course. We send our print version of the annual Worldwide Buyers Guide around the world. And, of course, anyone... »