According to GlobeSt.com, A unit of UBS AG has acquired the new headquarters and distribution facility of Edward Don & Co. UBS Asset Management has paid $27.1 million for the build-to-suit facility comprising 362,500 square feet of space in southwest suburban Woodridge.

To read the entire article, go here:
http://www.globest.com/news/12_402/chicago/office/UBS-Asset-Management-Buys-Edward-Dons-New-HQ-for-27M-323715.html

Edward Don & Company is the world's leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies. To learn more about Edward Don & Company, go here: http://www.don.com/

Tabletop Dealers……

              Brand Association

                            Product and Inventory Assortment

                                              Staff Knowledge

 

What defines your BRAND?

QSRweb.com is reporting that Auntie Anne's recently honored its leading national suppliers and supplier representatives for their service and dedication to the company.  Recognized as one of a handful of Outstanding Suppliers was leading tabletop and equipment supplier Edward Don & Company from Chicago.

Edward Don & Company has supported the Auntie Anne's franchise system for more than 15 years, distributing equipment to Auntie Anne's more than 900 domestic stores. Owned and operated by the Don family since 1921, Edward Don & Company is the world's leading distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies.

To read the entire story, go here:
http://www.qsrweb.com/article/196775/Auntie-Anne-s-honors-top-suppliers

We''ve gotten some pretty aggressive feedback on an article we wrote last week on the subject of the passion that needs to be present in the differentiation of your brand - whether you are a restaurateur, a dealer/distributor...or a manufacturer. The blowback came mostly from the dealer community - primarily the equipment and supplies dealer community.

Here's what we said about that group:

Here's a link to the original article:
http://www.tabletopjournal.com/1/post/2012/04/branding-sticky-branding-good-stuff-you-need-to-know.html

Were we a bit too tough on the E&S dealers? 

Not sure.....    In the U.S., when you look across the country, there are some pretty terrific E&S dealers. Edward Don, R.W. Smith, Bargreen-Ellingson ...just to name a few (there are others)....are among the very best in the world at what they do. But, not every dealer is of this high standard. So, for the moment, we stand by our comments.

What do you think?       And, how about E&S dealers in Australia?   U.K.    France?

And, manufacturers.....don't you start!

R.W. Smith & Co., a leading provider of foodservice supplies and equipment, has launched its new business-to-business, custom designed website. The company’s website, http://www.rwsmithco.com/, has become a robust ecommerce platform designed to offer customers an easy and secure method of purchasing top-quality product from an expansive online catalog. Customers will have 24/7 access to their R.W. Smith account to manage orders, invoices and more. R.W. Smith & Co. has developed its new online store with enhanced features to bring convenience and expediency to the shopping experience.

"Through leading ecommerce technology, we have developed an online, interactive method of helping our customers to advance their business,” says Allan Keck, CEO. "The addition of ecommerce affords us the opportunity to highlight our extensive product range and provide our customers with resources for making informed and smart purchases. RWSmithCo.com allows us to strengthen our core services from tabletop solutions to kitchen efficiencies.”

RWSmithCo.com now provides several contemporary and user-friendly merchandising features to facilitate buying activities and inquiries. Visitors to the website are able to:

• Shop our online catalog of approximately 20,000 products
• Use faceted navigation to refine product searches
• Save shopping lists and carts for future purchases
• Manage their account online
• Access industry resources and decision tools
• Chat "live” with friendly and knowledgeable Customer Service representatives

The website showcases hundreds of top-brand product lines, including R.W. Smith’s proprietary tableware collection, Tria.

R.W. Smith & Co. began supplying the foodservice industry in 1935. In 2010, the company celebrated 75 years of service, and in 2011 we were honored to be named "Dealer of the Year” by one of the industry’s most recognized publications, FE&S Magazine.

You can see all of what one of the world's best tabletop dealers has to offer by going here: http://www.rwsmithco.com/