COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
People & products
PRODUCT PRIZEWINNERS
World Tea Expo has announced the winners of its annual Best New Product Awards. A point-ofpurchase display rack for Mighty Leaf (manufactured by Planet Canit) was the Packaging category winner, and Bkon's espresso-machine-like tea brewer, the Bkon TX, won the Innovation award. Meanwhile, a tea-popsicle treat called
TeaPops grabbed an award in the Ingredients category, Tea's Tea Lattes from Ito En won an Open Class award, the Hario Filter-In Bottle teapot emerged in the Tea Ware category, and Tryeh's Bamboo Tea Scoop and Strainer took the Tea Accessory Prize. The honored products will
be on display at World Tea Expo, which takes place June 7-9. worldteaexpo.com
GLASS IS IN SESSION
An Australian company called Joco is offering consumers and cafés a line of eyecatching reusable to-go mugs made of a unique material: glass. The vessels feature a cyclonic base, a thermal silicone sleeve and an ergonomic lid. They are also,
according to the company, "barista certified." The products are available in a range
of colors and are BPA-free. jococups.com
BREWING UP SALES IDEAS
Brewer manufacturer Wilbur Curtis Company named Krista Reddington new manager of
sales support and marketing. Most recently the marketing and product manager at Melitta
SystemService, Reddington has 10 years of professional marketing experience, including a
stint as senior director of marketing at another brewer company, Fetco. 800/421-6150.
THESE FLAVOR NOTES ARE IN TUNE
The famed Smithsonian Folkways record label
RICHARD SOBOL
wilburcurtis.com
recently teamed with Fort Bragg, Calif., roaster
Thanksgiving Coffee to create a project that honors
the music and coffee created by a co-op in Uganda.
An album of guitar and choral songs from members of the Peace Kawomera co-op was released by
Folkways last month, and Thanksgiving began distributing a Delicious Peace blend using beans from
the farmers. All of the songs on the album were
written and performed by co-op members, and many
mention the ways coffee has allowed individuals of
different religious backgrounds in the area to live
together in harmony.
folkways.si.edu, thanksgivingcoffee.com
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