CHICAGO—Cintas Corp., the largest uniform supplier in North America, has introduced its 2014 Uniform Collection. The Uniform Collection features more than 70 new colors and styles and is the first collection to include shoes and branded promotional products. Together with the company’s new website, the Uniform Collection offers retail-inspired apparel and products for professionals in multiple industries, including healthcare, gaming, hospitality and foodservice.In response to fashion trends featuring shades of grey, Cintas introduced the color within its Regeneration Suiting Collection and Velocity Housekeeping Collection, both made out of recycled polyester. These collections enable organizations to outfit staff in charcoal...

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—Five years in the planning, the Biohotel Organic Suites is just one month from opening in Bogota, Colombia in the district of Usaquen, known as the culinary and cultural hub of the city. The seven-story, 72-room property is “my retirement plan,” says Samuel Huertas, majority owner. Huertas is aiming for LEED Gold certification for the hotel that includes the Green Piece restaurant and meeting space to accommodate up to 150 people.True to its name, the Biohotel Organic Suites is green throughout. The exterior of the building features windows made from recycled glass and vertical “gardens” that help to...

FALLS CHURCH, VA.—A recent benchmarking survey commissioned by the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) finds widespread but varied acceptance of foodservice packaging by material recovery facilities.“We are encouraged by the number of material recovery facilities already accepting various foodservice packaging,” said FPI President Lynn M. Dyer. “We have found that both the industry and consumers often think these products are not recycled. This study not only refutes that assumption but shows promise for increased acceptance.”Responses from nearly 70 material recovery facilities, called MRFs, in the United States and Canada showed that the three most accepted products are cup sleeves, pizza...

STAMFORD, CONN.—As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that, beginning July 2014, it will no longer procure shark fin in any of its nearly 1,200 hotels or 1,300 restaurants around the world. The company has committed to completely eliminating the consumption of shark fin, without exception, in all restaurants and food and beverage services across its global portfolio by year-end. Starwood is the first global hotel operator to take this strong stand and commit to banning the ingredient across its entire portfolio.“At Starwood, we believe economic growth and the well-being of...

INWOOD, N.Y.—Electrolux has published its annual Sustainability Report for 2013, highlighting a new target to halve the Group’s CO2 impact by 2020 compared to 2005. The report, available here, focuses on how the business strategy and the approach to sustainability are intertwined.“At Electrolux we want to deliver smarter, more resource-efficient solutions to more people around the world,” said Keith McLoughlin, President and CEO of Electrolux. “To make this kind of positive difference every day, sustainability has to be fully embedded across our organization and right at the core of our business strategy.”The biggest environmental impact created by Electrolux is...

ST. JOSEPH, MICH.—Maytag Commercial Laundry recently welcomed two new team members—Dawn Marie Smith, marketing manager, and Eric DeJong, senior product manager.   “Dawn and Eric are proven leaders who will help us grow our business through their strategic product and marketing efforts,” said Bob English, general manager at Maytag Commercial Laundry. “With extensive industry-related experience, we are better poised to support our customers and our robust commercial laundry product portfolio.”  Smith has held a variety of successful roles in sales, brand, merchandising and product development since joining Whirlpool. In her new role, she will lead the Maytag Commercial brand strategy,...

CHICAGO—An independent panel of foodservice operator experts from across the industry has selected finalists for the third annual 2014 Operator Innovation Awards. The judges have selected finalists in each of five categories: Health and Nutrition, Marketing, Menu Development, Sustainability and Technology. The winners in each category, in addition to the Innovator of the Year, will be announced live in Chicago at the Destination: Celebration gala on Saturday, May 17, during the 2014 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show.  “The Operator Innovations Awards finalists demonstrate the business case for innovation by connecting with consumers in new and interesting ways that...

RIPON, WIS.—Huebsch has extended its product range with the introduction of the HT200, a 200-pound tumble dryer for on-premises laundry accounts. Available with Galaxy controls, the single-pocket tumble dryer can help laundry operators increase staff productivity and utility efficiency.“We are committed to providing our commercial laundry customers with the most efficient and durable equipment to meet their unique laundry needs,” Huebsch North American Sales Manager Kathryn Q. Rowen said. “With a capacity range of 25 to 200 pounds, Huebsch has a tumble dryer that will deliver on-premises laundries of any size fast dry times without wasting energy.”The Galaxy-equipped HT200...

MONTGOMERY, ALA.—Wind Creek Hospitality (WCH), one of the largest hospitality companies in Alabama, announced a new initiative focused on promoting regional food that includes growers, purveyors, consumers, chefs and restaurateurs, amateur cooks, food banks, and nonprofits promoting healthy lifestyles.  “Wind Creek’s Southern Table: Setting a Place for Good Food” is a multi-faceted initiative spearheaded by WCH President Jay Dorris. Designed to expand access to good food for citizens across the region, this effort will promote the culinary industry and its traditions, and support locally grown and produced food.In making the announcement in Montgomery, WCH’s Vice President of Marketing Michael...

CHICAGO—Master-Bilt’s award-winning Master Controller, featuring Web2Walk-In software, is now Apple iOS compatible making remote monitoring and adjustment of walk-ins accessible from any device with an Internet connection including a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. The newest Master Controller will debut at the 2014 National Restaurant Show May 17 to 20 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.In addition to iOS compatibility, a new defrost function built into the Master Controller’s Web2Walk-In software monitors coil temperature and automatically turns on evaporator fans for a short time when the coil is warm to melt accumulated frost and ice from the fan guards. This function...