MTS Seating introduced its Contempo Collection of arm chairs, side chairs, and barstools featuring contemporary styling and noted durability. The company also showcases their new Micah line of aluminum contemporary chairs and matching barstools with five new back styles. MTS Seating builds tables and chairs from their 300,000-squarefoot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Temperance, Michigan. The company also operates a 3,000 square foot showroom in Las Vegas, giving them close proximity to one of the world’s heaviest concentrations of hospitality industry designers and buyers. They can be seen at numerous trade shows and industry events in 2007 ...

Alto-Shaam was a recipient of the Kitchen Innovation 2007 Award presented by the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show for the introduction of the Combitherm® Smoker. This patented technology provides the operator with the ability to smoke product, hot or cold, with authentic wood smoke, followed by standard combi mode operation without a transfer of residual smoke flavor. Additional features of this model include oven frying capability, patented automatic steam venting, and a Gold-n-Brown feature for adding additional color when needed. Call 800-558-8744 or visit www.alto-shaam.com for more information ...

Pernod Ricard USA announced that Patrick Piana was named senior VP, spirits marketing. Piana joins Pernod Ricard USA from Moët Hennessy USA, where he served as a senior VP. He will be charged with driving breakthrough marketing for Pernod Ricard USA’s expanded portfolio of premium and super-premium spirits and category leaders, including Chivas Regal, Martell, Kahlúa, Malibu, Stoli, Beefeater, the Glenlivet, and Jameson, among others. In addition to leading the marketing effort behind the U.S. spirits portfolio, Piana will develop and execute global marketing strategy for Pernod Ricard USA-owned brands, including Seagram’s Gin, Wild Turkey, and Hiram Walker Liqueurs ...

During this year’s Women Chefs & Restaurateurs National Conference in Atlanta, Karen MacNeil, chairman of the Professional Wine Studies Program at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California, was awarded the 2006 WCR Golden Goblet Service Award. Sponsored by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, and Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water, the award recognizes one outstanding woman entrepreneur in the beverage profession, who continually strives to enhance the fine dining experience through the making of or serving of wine, spirits, coffee, or tea. MacNeil is the author of The Wine Bible and host of the PBS series “Wine, Food, and Friends with Karen MacNeil” ...

Saputo Cheese USA introduced a website highlighting its enhanced commitment to support the foodservice industry. Operators and distributors are invited to log onto www.saputousafoodservice.com for information about Saputo USA Foodservice products, usage ideas, plant locations, and contacts. The user-friendly site showcases Saputo USA Foodservice’s branded line of aged specialty cheeses, including Blue, Gorgonzola, Swiss, and Feta, and quality Italian cheeses, such as Asiago, Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, Provolone, and Ricotta. A recipe idea center offers ingredient and preparation information in entrée, salad, appetizer, and pizza categories. The website also provides navigation links to the Saputo corporate site and Saputo Cheese USA brand-specific sites ...

Alto-Shaam, Inc. appointed Chris Cheap as an addition to its regional sales management team. In his new role, Chris will be responsible for sales development and management in Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. Chris has a B.S. in food service administration with continuing education in professional sales. As a former director of sales with Nu-Vu and Wilder Manufacturing and a regional sales manager for RATIONAL, he brings with him an extensive background in culinary and operations management ...

They say, “brown is the new black”. One look at the new 2007 Product Catalog from American Metalcraft and you’ll know why. The rich, chocolate- brown cover is accentuated with high-gloss varnished photos and artistic swirls that only hint at what is contained within the 188 pages of this creative catalog. The catalog combines beautiful photography, artistic food styling, concise and descriptive copy with specifications, and prices to detail their extensive product line. Woven throughout seven sections are interesting industry facts supplied by major trade publications. Over 130 new products were added to American Metalcraft’s line, with the majority of the introductions in the fine dining, catering and buffet, and tabletop accessories sections of the catalog. Highlights include a line of green glass bubble platters, a four-sided “tower” addition to the elevation station, highly styled stainless steel platters, melamine bowls and platters, ceramic pizza trays, and over 70 baskets in a variety of styles, colors, and materials. For a free copy, contact American Metalcraft, 800-333-9133, email: info@amnow.com, www.amnow.com ...

Enodis and its operating companies were recently honored by the Electric Foodservice Council with the 2006 Award of Excellence for their innovation and energy efficiency of equipment, as well as continued support of the Electric Foodservice Council. The four top awards went to Enodis, Cleveland Range, Frymaster, and Lincoln. Enodis was recognized as Manufacturer of the Year, Cleveland Range was recognized with the Innovation of the Year Award for Convotherm, and Frymaster and Lincoln were each recognized with the President’s Choice Awards. Frymaster was recognized for outstanding contribution to the advancement of electric foodservice equipment with the introduction of the E4 series, RE electric fryers. Lincoln Foodservice Products was recognized for the Impinger Dual Technology Finisher (DTF-8) ...

The Montague Company, celebrating its 150th anniversary, is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Gary Rupp as director of business development. Rupp’s extensive experience will enhance the current management team as they continue Montague’s record growth. An industry veteran of more than 25 years, formerly sr. VP of sales and marketing with Lang Manufacturing, he will be responsible for additional growth through consultants, dealers, and distributors ...

ReServe Interactive introduces ReServe AnywhereSM, a web-based version of their hospitality management software, remotely accessible by end-users through an Internet connection and hosted by ReServe on secure centralized servers. With the same capabilities and performance of the traditional ReServe client/server application, this virtual solution is implemented via the web and eliminates the need for overhead costs associated with on-site technology management ...

One of the most recognized and respected brands in the world is bringing its brand strength to the foodservice industry. Starbucks Coffee Company, ranked fourth among the “World’s Most Influential Brands” by Brandchannel.com, is steadily increasing its foodservice partnerships. Foodservice operators can benefit in many ways from the addition of strong retail brands like Starbucks. According to one university foodservice director, “Brands are what students recognize and equate with quality.” This can lead to increased traffic, increased customer satisfaction, and higher check averages. Boston Consulting reports that “90 percent of consumers surveyed said a known brand name increased their likelihood to buy.” For more information on how to leverage strong brands like Starbucks in your foodservice operation, visit www.starbucks.com/foodservice ...

Wixon, Inc., a St. Francis, Wisconsin-based food ingredients company, announced it has received organic certification as a processor from Quality Assurance International (QAI), the largest independent certifying organization of its kind in the United States. Organic certification from QAI lets Wixon manufacture, process, and distribute certified organic products and ingredients to the food & beverage industry. The company already partners with other companies to develop a variety of food & beverage products, so it will now work with customers to create customized organic products from start to finish. It also positions Wixon to originate products for the fast-growing organic meat industry, along with producing organic seasonings and blends. QAI will audit the facilities and records annually to assure continued compliance of the NOP standards. For information on Wixon or its products, call 800-841-5304 or visit www.wixon.com ...

The Trinchero Family, owners of Sutter Home Winery and Napa Valley vintners since 1947, celebrate 60 years of winemaking this year. It was on January 7, 1947, that escrow closed on the then-ramshackle Sutter Home Winery. Trinchero siblings, Bob, Vera and Roger, continue to drive the company using the same business ideals practiced by their father, Mario Trinchero, when he and his brother John purchased Sutter Home Winery over half a century ago. When asked about his family’s successes, Vice-Chairman and CEO Roger Trinchero replies, “If you would have told me 25 years ago that our family business would now be the world’s 10th largest winery, I would have said you were crazy. It took the unyielding passion of one man (our father) to find a better life for his family, and it happened” ...

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) National Furniture Center (NFC) presented the 2006 GSA Evergreen Award to Southern Aluminum on December 7, 2006. Southern Aluminum, a HUBZone certified small business located in Magnolia, Arkansas, received the GSA Evergreen Award under the furniture category. The company takes great strides in waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement to manufacture a durable sustainable product that exceeds customers’ expectations. Southern Aluminum manufactures Alulite® folding tables, MardiGras™ tables, iDesign® training tables, Alulite® portable stages, and Southern Piknik® tables and benches, all of which are on GSA contract. All products are crafted from 100 percent recyclable aluminum, making them both lightweight and durable ...

WORLD TEA EXPO 2007 MOVES TO ATLANTA

The World Tea Expo, the nation’s premier marketplace for the tea industry, is moving to Atlanta for 2007. The event will take place June 9, 10, and 11 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The U.S. tea industry continues to skyrocket. Wholesale tea sales grew from $1.84 billion in 1990 to $6.16 billion in 2005 and are expected to reach $10 billion by 2012. Keeping pace with the growth of the industry, the 2006 World Tea Expo in Las Vegas grew in attendance by nearly 60 percent and was named by Tradeshow Week as one of the “Fastest 50” growing trade shows in the United States and Canada. At the 2007 Expo, 300 worldclass companies from around the globe will exhibit and be joined by an expected 5,000 buyers.

A complete range of tea and tea-related products can be found at the event, including wholesalers and packers; bulk, bagged, and ready-to-drink tea; tea bagging equipment and packaging suppliers; as well as gourmet foods, giftware, tea jewelry, chocolate, and other confectionary items.

World Tea Expo president and founder, George Jage, says, “Not only is participation growing exponentially, but we are seeing a huge increase in quality buyers such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Nestle Beverage, Amazon.com, Hyatt Hotels, and Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group.”

The World Tea Expo has formed a new partnership with Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd., an international tradeshow organization. Through this partnership, a significant increase in participants from China is expected, joining exhibitors from Sri Lanka, India, Japan, Nepal, and other important growing regions.

“The increase in participation is growing at a rapid pace with more than 80 percent of the booth space sold at the end of October,” says Kim Frost Jage, World Tea Expo VP of sales & marketing.

With 50 seminars and workshops, the conference is the largest in the world on the business of tea. It continues to evolve with defined tracks for tea knowledge, sales and marketing, foodservice solutions, tea and health, and business development. In addition to workshops, special events are held, ranging from tea ceremonies to cooking with tea demonstrations.

More information on the World Tea Expo, including the floor plan, an interactive directory of exhibitors, and a full listing of events and seminars, can be found on www.worldteaexpo.com.

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