“Innovative operators are creating value by crafting new and unique beverages,” says Technomic spokesperson. Technomic’s Beverage Consumer Trend Report found seven out of 10 consumers (71%) now purchase beverages away from home twice a week or more often, up from 66% in 2010. As the economy stabilizes from the recession, restaurants and retail foodservice locations [...]
There are few bargains when it comes to purchasing the right cooking equipment. Functionality and practicality must coincide with an affordable price tag. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor Just like the latest luxury car, a shiny, new piece of foodservice equipment can be hard to resist. But Brian Tucker, foodservice director for Lake, Fla.-based S [...]
To help keep its stores stocked with fresh products, the Pennsylvania chain’s high-volume distribution center sports an inventory accuracy rate exceeding 99.9%. By Patrick Roberts, Contributing Editor The name Wawa is well known throughout the mid-Atlantic states. Its convenience stores are seemingly on every major thoroughfare and, with 400 million customers annually, it presents a serious [...]
Fueled by new flavors and supported by high-quality equipment, the cold and frozen category shows unlimited potential. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor The cold facts go like this: with margins from tobacco and fuel still lagging headed into the summer of 2012, the booming frozen beverage segment has been a pleasant top-performing surprise for convenience [...]
Anheuser-Busch InBev is acquiring the rest of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, the maker of Corona beer, in a deal valued at $20.1 billion, BusinessWeek reported. A-B InBev, which already owns a 50% stake in Modelo, plans to purchase the remaining stock for $9.15 per share. Under the terms of the deal, Grupo Modelo—which brews and [...]
7-Eleven hands out free Slurpee drinks for its 85th birthday, along with a big summer sweepstakes of offers for customers. 7-Eleven prepares for its birthday on July 11, where participating stores in the U.S. and Canada will give away free 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Slurpee drinks are a summer tradition [...]
Vendgogh’s vending system allows customers to purchase cold drinks at the pump. Douglass Distributing Retail Co. is partnering with Vendgogh LLC to pilot gas island vending at their Lone Star Food Store No. 50 in Sherman, Texas—the first installation of its kind in the state of Texas. Vendgogh’s patented, UL-approved vending systems integrates seamlessly with [...]
The Original Slushie Co. to be Mapco’s frozen un-carbonated beverage provider, starting in summer 2012. This summer, Mapco Express Inc. is set to carry The Original Slushie Co. frozen un-carbonated beverage (FUB) product through Sunny Sky Products, a manufacturer and distributor of specialty-dispensed beverages. In a collaborative venture with Mapco, the new partnership entails [...]
Smucker Foodservice promotes the sale of coffee in retail outlets since more than half of U.S. consumers drink coffee on a daily basis. The company is offering c-stores with more coffee solutions since Smucker’s added the Douwe Egberts Cafitesse Liquid Coffee System to its portfolio. Douwe Egberts has been in the coffee business for more than [...]
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposes to ban the sale of large sugary drinks. New York City residents might be in for a shock if Mayor Michael Bloomberg follows through on his proposed ban of sugary drinks with more than 16-ounces in eateries. The ban will affect restaurants, delis, food trucks, sports stadiums and movie [...]
Georgia Coffee, a roast and ground version of the Coca-Cola Co.’s billion-dollar coffee brand, is now available to U.S. retailers. The new product is offered in multiple blends to meet consumers’ needs: dark roast, light roast, decaf and sustainable organic. Each is made of 100% Arabica beans, has a distinct flavor profile and comes in [...]
The board of directors of Orion Food Systems, the foodservice provider of leading brands such as Hot Stuff and Lettieri’s, has announced the appointment of Henry J. (Hank) Suerth as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Suerth brings more than 40 years of experience in a variety of industries, including over 20 years at the President/CEO and [...]
Just in time for summer, Michelob ULTRA has introduced ULTRA 19th Hole Light Tea & Lemonade, an iced tea and lemonade-flavored alcohol beverage inspired by the golf course classic. Available nationwide for a limited time, ULTRA 19th Hole is a lighter alternative to traditional flavored malt beverages that is perfectly suited for an afternoon pool [...]
The new proprietary line provides customers with a beverage that is flavorful as well as healthful. Tedeschi Food Shops has released a new line of proprietary Tedeschi Select Sparkling Waters. The 20-ounce line of calorie-free, caffeine-free and sodium-free waters are available in four unique flavors: Raspberry Blackberry, Kiwi Strawberry, Key Lime and Wild Cherry. Tedeschi [...]
Kangaroo Express celebrates the return of its popular refill cup, which can be refilled with any fountain or frozen beverage for only 25 cents through Labor Day. The Pantry Inc., an independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., has announced details for its second annual Roo Cup deal, a refillable cup for fountain [...]