vendors

Berkeley, Calif. — In partnership with ALDI, Grabango has launched ALDIgo checkout-free shopping at a Chicago-area grocery store. ALDI is the first major U.S. grocery retailer to deploy checkout-free technology in an existing, full-size store. The technology, which ALDI deployed at one suburban location, allows shoppers to skip the line and save time. “The launch of ALDIgo is a pivotal moment for the grocery industry,” says Will Glaser, CEO of Grabango. “Although more challenging, it was important to us to launch this technology in a typical store and not one …

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Port Washington, N.Y. — WAC Lighting has appointed Becky Li to president, following the retirement of former president Dirk Wald. Founder Tony Wang will continue his role as chairman of WAC. Renowned for its cutting-edge architectural, decorative and landscape lighting solutions, WAC stands as a manufacturing and technology leader. “Becky has always been an integral and dedicated executive at our firm,” says Wang. “With her wealth of experience in senior executive roles and adept strategic planning skills, we are confident in her ability to lead. We look forward to watching …

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— By Jaime Bettencourt — Creating destination stores for lasting connections. The meteoric rise of e-commerce has forced traditional brick-and-mortar retail to reckon with a new reality: physical stores must provide immersive in-store experiences. Retailers failing to integrate digital channels and offer the best of online shopping offline will struggle to stay competitive in this omnichannel environment. Major brands have learned the hard way that simply having a physical location won’t suffice, with some closing hundreds of underperforming stores because they weren’t offering customers experiences beyond mere product displays and …

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— By Ron Prager — HVAC: Major changes in the industry have arrived. There are major changes occurring in the HVAC industry and they are going to affect both HVAC contractors and end users in a significant way. We anticipate that these changes will also impact building codes, cost of construction and cost of equipment installation. Some of what is presented below is established fact and some is based on my best guess as to what we believe the impacts will be. I will identify which items fall into which …

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Eatontown, N.J. — Total Comfort Group, a national industry leader in HVAC/R, electrical and plumbing systems, has promoted Christian Tunis to client success manager. In his new role, Tunis will leverage his extensive experience and expertise to drive exceptional client satisfaction and retention as the company continues to grow nationally. A valued employee since 2018, Tunis previously served as senior account manager. “We are thrilled to promote Christian Tunis to the role of client success manager,” says Daniel Eberenz, vice president of operations. “His proven track record of leadership and …

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Red Bank, N.J. — SMG Holdings LLC, a pioneering provider of integrated facility management solutions, has launched SMG HVAC, a specialized division dedicated to serving the HVAC needs of multi-site retailers across North America. With an eye toward the evolving demands within the retail sector, SMG HVAC has been crafted to offer tailored HVAC services that prioritize energy efficiency, indoor air quality and seamless operations for retail chains. “The establishment of SMG HVAC marks a significant milestone in our journey,” says Shannon Prato, CEO of SMG Holdings LLC. “We understand …

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— By Herschel Pazornick — Turning to design and technology to streamline restaurant operations. There are numerous reasons restaurant operators prioritize streamlining operations. The main reason being that efficient and effective operations are crucial to long term success. Staying ahead of technology, incorporating the latest innovations and being mindful of space layout can lead to faster service and reduced wait times for customers. Here are a few ways operators can streamline operations: Keeping Design in Mind To optimize speed of service, kitchens should be designed mindfully to allow chefs to …

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Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies broke its own sustainability record by recycling and converting more than 314 million pounds of used cooking oil (UCO) into renewable diesel or biodiesel in 2023, breaking the record set in 2022 by 25 million pounds. The company continues to help its 40,000 customers nationwide be more sustainable and reach their Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) goals to create a cleaner, more livable planet. With the support of renewable energy partners such as Chevron Renewable Energy Group, Restaurant Technologies converts 100% of UCO collected into renewable diesel …

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Glenview, Ill. — ITW Food Equipment Group has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor among ENERGY STAR awards. This year marks the 17th consecutive year ITW Food Equipment Group has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and 15th consecutive year receiving the Sustained Excellence award. “The development of energy-efficient products is an absolute priority for our brands …

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Conyers, Ga. — Hillphoenix Industrial has formed a strategic partnership with Cool Refrigeration Systems & Solutions, based in Hagerstown, Md., to represent its industrial CO2 refrigeration systems solutions in the Eastern U.S. and Canada. This mutually beneficial partnership became official on March 20, 2024. “We’re excited about our partnership with Hillphoenix Industrial,” says Don Chason, managing partner of Cool Refrigeration Systems & Solutions. “Our team brings a high level of expertise in the industrial CO2 refrigeration market, which makes our relationship with Hillphoenix Industrial a perfect fit.” With a knowledgeable …

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