BENTON HARBOR, MICH.—Whirlpool Corp. has once again been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies. This marks the twelfth consecutive year that Whirlpool Corp. has been named to the list, which includes the most respected and reputable companies around the world, as ranked by peers within their respective industries. “We are honored to be named one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies for the twelfth year in a row,” said Marc Bitzer, CEO and Chairman, Whirlpool Corp. “The recognition is a direct result of the dedication and innovative thinking by our team members, all of whom...

Three stories caught my attention this past week. First, as reported in Reuters and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels around the United States are expected to increase up to a foot over the next 30 years due to climate change—as much as they have risen in the last century. Sea levels will tend to be higher along the Atlantic and Gulf shores, because of greater land subsidence there, than along the Pacific coasts. The NOAA study, designed as a planning tool to mitigate and adapt to rising sea levels predicted, has a high degree...

SHELTON, CONN.—Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group and the The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) have announced the relaunch of the all-new Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show (FRLS) to take place November 1 to 4, 2022 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. This newly reinvented gathering for the restaurant, foodservice, lodging and hospitality industry will replace the historic FRLS, traditionally held in Orlando in September. “After 40 years of hosting the FRLA Show in Orlando, we felt it was time for a refresh for this important industry event, which our association has long been a partner in,” said Carol...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program released 14 draft assessments for fisheries that “pose risks to the survival of the endangered North Atlantic right whale.” This includes proposing that the U.S. American lobster fishery, Jonah crab fishery, and other trap, pot, and gillnet fisheries be added to its “Red List” of seafood, or its classification of seafood that businesses and consumers should avoid because they are caught or farmed in ways that have a high risk of harming wildlife or the environment. Seafood Watch is accepting comments on the assessments until February 28. Currently, more than 25,000 restaurants, stores,...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Restaurant Association released its 2022 State of the Restaurant Industry report, which measures the restaurant industry’s continued recovery and examines the status of current and emerging trends across key categories including technology and off-premises business, operations, workforce, food and menus, and more. Key findings illustrating how the restaurant industry continues its recovery include: The foodservice industry is forecast to reach $898 billion in sales in 2022. The foodservice industry workforce is projected to grow by 400,000 jobs, for total industry employment of 14.9 million by the end of 2022. More than half of restaurant operators said it would be...

Green Lodging News has reported on illegal fishing and overfishing in the past—in fact as recently as this past October. It is important that every buyer of fish be aware of the problems as well as the certifications that ensure properly caught fish. Just yesterday, Oceana released a new report showing that the illegal seafood trade, fueled in part by U.S. demand, is hurting local fishing communities around the world. Oceana says this demonstrates the need to expand traceability and transparency requirements for all seafood imports. The United States is the world’s largest seafood importing country, yet around 60 percent of...

DENHAM, U.K.—The ubiquitous bar counter can be found worldwide and while each one differs by design, locale, menu, and culture, its purpose is universal—the easy flow of drink and conversation. And it was brought to a shocking halt in 2020. Pandemic images of unfilled taps, empty glasses, and barstools collecting dust will forever be etched in the minds of those who work in hospitality, but so will the feeling of elation when they finally reopened for business. “For bars and restaurants around the world, the return of diners and drinkers in 2021 was a huge sigh of relief,” says Alex...

NASHVILLE—The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville’s premier luxury hotel, announced the opening of Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges, a new restaurant and bar by internationally celebrated chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Drusie & Darr marks Jean-Georges’ first restaurant in the South and comes on the cusp of a property-wide revitalization after The Hermitage Hotel opened its doors nearly 112 years ago. Many times, throughout its history, The Hermitage Hotel has set the tone for dining in Nashville. Drusie & Darr now brings a fresh, modern dining destination to the city and a rejuvenated space from award-winning interior designer Thomas Juul-Hansen. “It’s an honor to be...

CHICAGO—Restaurant customers can expect to see health taking center stage on restaurant menus in 2022. The National Restaurant Association recently released its annual What’s Hot Culinary Forecast, which offers a detailed look at the topics, trends, and products expected to drive restaurant menus in the coming year across a variety of categories including daypart occasions, menu categories, beverages, flavors, global inspirations, packaging/off-premises trends and industry macro-trends. After demand for comfort food surged during the height of the pandemic, consumers are refocusing on better-for-you options, with foods that are believed to have immunity-boosting qualities and plant-based sandwiches making up three of...

TUTTLINGEN, GERMANY—VITO AG, the German market leader for filtration systems, announced the launch of a new product to fulfill the rising need for high-quality and easy to use filtration systems for deep fryers: The VITO VL oil filter system. The frying oil filter is simply placed inside your deep fryer and filters your frying oil at service temperature. It provides oil savings of up to 50 percent, an increased oil quality and reduced workload around the fryers while being one of the safest options. Being the most powerful in-tank filtration system VITO ever built, the VL filters over 26 gallons of...