Blogs
Can the USA be a true tea-growing country?
Tea enthusiasts, can you ever imagine walking into your favourite tea shop and purchasing a “Single Origin Tea from Oregon” or a “Single Estate Tea from California?” At one time, this may have been an utterly nonsensical thought, but apparently, a viable tea-growing industry in the United States is in fact possible.
Global drinks trends in 2020
A recent Euromonitor International webinar discussed global drinks trends amid Covid-19, particularly the collapse of on trade, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and new ways to reach consumers in the home. The webinar focused on three key trends: the collapse of on trade, home as an entertainment hub and premiumisation reimagined.
A virtual reality
Many of the spring and early summer events that were postponed until fall 2020 are being cancelled. As a result, we are seeing an unprecedented number of virtual “summits,” “forums” and “conferences” or “digital events” — the same idea, just different names…
And then there were…
When I think of 2020 conferences, conventions and trade shows, I am reminded of the Agatha Christie novel, And Then There Were None, as so many, well, almost all this year, have fallen victim to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Robotic baristas: job killers or industry drivers?
In this week’s guest blog from Anna Kidron at Rozum Robotics Inc, we will have a look at the idea of robotic baristas, and about the perspectives of this technology in the future.
With coffee, e-commerce is the way to go
While Covid-19 has decimated many industries, one that is flourishing because of the pandemic is e-commerce. And within e-commerce, coffee is among the top sellers, boasting a +38.6% CAGR.
A new style of iced teas
June is National Iced Tea month in the United States, and I am surprised I forgot considering what “big business” iced tea is in the US — between 75% and 80% of all tea consumed is iced tea.
Online tea searches rise in the UK during the lockdown
Move over Tetley, Yorkshire Tea is the UK’s most popular tea! Well, at least in terms of online searches. With stay-at-home directives taking effect in March in many cities around the world, visits to brick ‘n mortar stores, naturally, decreased while online purchases increased. One of the most popular items searched online in the United Kingdom during the lockdown, was tea.
New or temporary strategies for foodservice operators?
New York City, where I live, entered Phase 1 of its reopening on 8 June — one of the last cities in the United States (and possibly globally) to do so. Our Phase 1 includes construction, manufacturing, wholesale, and curbside pick-up for retail, but not foodservice. Within foodservice, it is still take-out (pick up or delivery) only but more operators are beginning to reopen weekly.
Covid-19 and its effect on consumer behaviour
It is June, and by now, many cities and countries around the world have “reopened” or have begun to lift restrictions. As life “after Covid-19” slowly resumes, many are wondering how people’s attitudes towards eating in restaurants, sitting in coffeehouses/cafés, and shopping have changed, and are these changes temporary or permanent. Not all changes though, are bad for business.
Can coffee be resilient against Covid-19?
Coffee has been resilient through many economic recessions and natural disasters, but the Covid-19 pandemic is an utterly unchartered territory. Can coffee be resilient?
Coffee shops adapt to the new normal
As many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, have begun to lift stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders, we are seeing more coffee shops, cafés and restaurants also starting to re-open or expand their operations — if they were active during the lockdown period
21 May — An international day to celebrate tea
Celebrated for the first time this year, International Tea Day offers the opportunity to recognise the importance of the tea industry, from seed to cup, to raise public awareness of the importance of the tea industry and its workers, and to improve the tea value chain.
Achieving profit through passion
I met producer Diofanor Ruiz last November when visiting Colombia with Olam Coffee to learn about its AtSource program. What is evident upon first meeting Diofanor, 51, is his passion for coffee farming.