Smithfield Foods Inc. appoints Michael Brown president, COO of Farmland Foods Inc. Also this week: Tyson Foods, Inc., General Mills Foodservice, Ben E. Keith, McCormick For Chefs — Food Away From Home Division of McCormick & Co., Fisher Manufacturing, Marriner Marketing Communications, and Wilbur Curtis Co.

Say what you want about Americans’ desire for lighter menu items. Deep-fried foods still rule in restaurants, and the French fry is king.


Of the roughly 41.3 billion pounds of potatoes grown in the United States each year, 34 percent are made into frozen French fries, according to the 2009 Potato Statistical Yearbook. But as popular as fries are, chefs are working to make them even more popular by using different frying media such as duck fat or olive oil, or by spiking them with flavors ranging from lemon juice to barbecue sauce.


Quick-service Italian chain Fazoli’s calls its new unit prototype the “enhanced service” model, but the updated format is augmenting more than just the customer experience.