CHICAGO — The National Restaurant Association, Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (NRA Show) has been rescheduled to run from May 5 to 8, 2012 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Originally scheduled to run from May 19 to 22, the change was made to avoid overlap with the Global G8 and NATO Summit scheduled to take place in Chicago from May 15 to 22.

WASHINGTON — U.S. restaurant operator optimism rose in June to 100.6 on the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI), up 0.8 per cent from May’s level of 99.9.

This is the sixth time in the last seven months the monthly composite index — that tracks the health and outlook of the U.S. restaurant industry — rose above 100, indicating a period of expansion. “

MILFORD, Conn. — Subway is kicking its health profile up another notch, adding calcium and vitamin-D-fortified bread to its menu.

The Milford, Conn.-based chain, which already has a Fresh Fit menu, complete with eight subs featuring less than 400 calories, now offers 30 per cent of the daily recommended calcium and 20 per cent of the daily recommended Vitamin D in its six-inch servings of bread at its U.S. stores.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Two will become one with news that the Naperville, Ill.-based water treatment and process-improvement company Nalco Holding Company will merge with a subsidiary of Ecolab Inc. in an estimated $8-billion transaction, including assumed Nalco net debt.

“We believe we can help accelerate Nalco’s investments in its product innovation and sales and service force, enhancing the range of effective and efficient solutions,” said Douglas Baker, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of the St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab, a cleaning, sanitizing and food-safety company. “We are excited by the potential our combined operations offer and the improved solutions we will bring to our customers as well as additional opportunities for both companies’ associates.”