The number of American adults who enjoy a daily cup of coffee remained steady in 2013, the annual National Coffee Association of USA’s National Coffee Drinking Trends study showed. However, the popularity of espresso-based coffee drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes, jumped with 18% of the 3,000 adults surveyed saying they drink these daily. This…
Beverages Booming
“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…
With Foodservice Equipment, Cheap Can Be Costly
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…
An Inside Look At Wawa’s Superior Distribution Center
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…
Dispensed Beverage Sales Heating Up
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 Buys Grupo Modelo
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 Celebrates 85 Years In Business
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…
Lone Star Installs Gas Island Vending
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…
Mapco Express, Sunny Sky Products Partner
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’s Foodservice Updates Its Coffee Program
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…