Around the Industry

eEspresso Essential Goes Green!
Espresso Essential, suppliers of Australia’s number one fully automatic real bean to cup espresso coffee and hot chocolate systems, have recently introduced a Rainforest Alliance Certified™ bean blend to their range of in-house roasted gourmet coffee blends. Rainforest Alliance Certified™ means that the beans are grown on farms that meet strict standards, ensuring the environment is better protected and farmers and farm workers receive a better income from their work in the coffee industry.

The Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal is a guarantee that coffee is grown on farms where forests are protected, rivers, soils and wildlife conserved; workers are treated with respect, paid respectable wages, properly equipped and given access to education and medical care. These farms are on a path toward true sustainability.

Now, coffee lovers can support farmers who maintain these rainforest sanctuaries simply by buying beans stamped with the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal of approval. For more information visit www.rainforest-alliance.org and make sure you try Espresso Essential’s Rainforest Alliance blend.

Drinks Sales Up
A shining light during the economic downturn has been the increase in overall food sales and of drinks in particular. But it is where the increase in consumption has occurred that a picture of a changed market is emerging. ‘The economic downturn has resulted in a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour. Demand for beverages in restaurants and cafés has slowed, but this has been more than balanced by the increased sales in quickservice restaurants and for take-home products in the grocery channel.’ Coca Cola Amatil, Trading Update, May 09.

“This report confirms that there are serious questions facing beverage sellers in today’s market and in the future – ‘How to hold on to market gains?’ or ‘How to reclaim lost customer dollars?’ said Minnie Constan.

Domino’s Rolls Out New Design
Domino’s has unveiled a new store design for its stores across Australia and New Zealand. The new contemporary designed Domino’s stores, which were launched earlier this year, have started to roll out with nine stores already undergoing the transformation and a further 12 stores expected to be completed by the end of September. Domino’s Pizza Chief Development Officer Andy Masood said the new-look design was focused on improving the overall customer experience.

“The new-look store design has a very different feel to our current model. The softer tones and wood paneling provide a more welcoming but contemporary feel for customers,” Mr Masood said. “We’ve moved away from the bright florescent lights and introduced a more subtle design palette which still incorporates the red and blue of the Domino’s logo. With the focus on improving the customer area of our stores, the new concept creates a modern environment for customers while also making the menu and front counter easier to navigate.”

Independent Research Reveals
Australians vote Eagle Boys No. 1 Australia’s third largest pizza maker Eagle Boys Pizza has released controversial results from an independent study that proves once and for all that Australians prefer the taste of Eagle Boys’ pizzas over those of pizza multinationals Domino’s and Pizza Hut. The random blind taste test research, conducted across Australia by an independent company, found that almost one in two Australians preferred the taste of Eagle Boys pizzas over comparable pizzas from both Domino’s and Pizza Hut c ombined. “Two years ago we proved that competing pizza chains were pulling the wool over consumers’ eyes when it came to pizza size. Multinationals like Domino’s Pizza were selling smaller pizzas and expected customers not to notice. It was disgraceful and frankly, un-Australian. This time we wanted to prove that Eagle Boys pizzas’ were not only bigger, but they were tastier, too. But we needed proof. That’s why we decided to take to the streets to let Australian pizza lovers chew over it and decide once and for all whose pizzas tested the best,” said Eagle Boys National Marketing Manager Scott Hamilton.