COUNTER INTELLIGENCE TABLET IT BE
Point-of-sale company SelbySoft has added a tablet to its collec- tion of products aimed at coffee and tea retailers. A company with 25 years of POS experience, SelbySoft designed the system to help shop owners and staff get out from behind the counter, pres- ent a sleeker image and "line bust" when the store gets busy. The company sells its system with tablet hardware included; the device features a 10-inch screen. 253/770-2993. selbysoft.com
PEOPLE & PRODUCTS
MORE THAN A CONDIMENT
Veterans of the specialty beverage industry are well acquainted with artisan roasts and blends. Now they can add sugar to the list of products getting the "hand-crafted" tag. A Japanese-based company called Chambre de Sucre is offering cubes, balls, pyramids and other sugar creations that use high-quality sugar and are artfully put together by hand. The products are designed to be given as gifts or featured at tea parties and other events where a shop owner may be trying to up the aesthetic appeal. 714/220-1916. chambredesucre.com
FULL FLAVOR TO GO Tea and tea-product company The Tea Spot has introduced a new way to offer quality loose leaf in a to-go format: the Brewlux. The compostable, corn-based basket filters fit into the top of standard to-go cups and offer ample room for tea leaves to completely unfurl, which allows the beverage itself to reach its taste and aroma potential. The product was developed with the help of a research award The Tea Spot received from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 866/832-7768. brewlux.com
ICED TEA AWARD WINNER
Big Train, a manufacturer of powdered and liquid concentrate beverage mixes, won a 2011 Gourmet Product Award for its Shaken Mango Passion Green Iced Tea. The product was intro- duced to Gourmet Products at the Summer 2011 Fancy Food Show in Washington, D.C. The Gourmet Product Awards program honors companies, products and services that stand out in quality and innovation. The products also may exhibit processes that have added health innova- tions to their respective industries. 949/340-8800. bigtrain.com
60
Fresh Cup Magazine freshcup.com