Coffee Suppliers You Should Know
Melitta
Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions global key account manager Oliver Welschar reveals how his company helps the hospitality industry
When was your company established?
The history of the Melitta Group goes back to 1908, when Melitta Bentz invented the coffee filter and laid the foundation for modern coffee preparation. Melitta’s equipment and service divisions for coffee in the horeca trade go back to 1936, when the first coffee filters for cafés and restaurants were launched.
How many employees does the firm have?
As of 2013, Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions employed 693 people.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions earned 125 million euro (US $141.96 million) in 2013.
What do you think are the latest trends in the coffee industry?
The trend is for quality. Guests have increasingly high standards when it comes to coffee. The quality in the cup must be right. This has been our trend since 107 years, and this is what is essential for customer retention.
What is your best seller to the global hospitality industry?
Supplying professional coffee machines, made in Switzerland, backed up with local technical service teams, which are skilled and committed to support the customer. This package has been our best seller.
Can you tell us what new products you have launched recently?
Our MelittaCafina XT 6. The motto of this fully automatic machine is: “Coffee perfection in every cup”. I know that with this slogan we aim high, but the XT6 was designed for horeca businesses dedicated to superior coffee quality but also seeking greater performance and contemporary design at the same time.
What other news can you share coming out from your company?
The new fully automatic MelittaCafina CT8, designed to meet even higher requirements with regard to performance and ease-of-use. The machine’s high hourly capacity ensures the fastest and most efficient order processing even during peak periods — alternatively, it can also be used in self-service mode. The extra-large touchscreen display provides an even clearer overview, while the easy-to-use menu enables users to break down products into various cup sizes.
What’s the main challenge for the hospitality industry when it comes to coffee and how do you help overcome this?
“Overcome” is not the right word, because challenging customers is the reason why a high class coffee machine manufacturer like Melitta is able to experience such a success story. We are enjoying the tasks our customers confront us with, because this is what separates the sheep from the goats. The challenges for the professional coffee business are greater than ever: our customers want consistently high quality, drink variety, incredible speed, indestructible reliability and total safety — for example, with regard to milk hygiene. They want professional technology that can offer all of this, while at the same time being easy to operate, and with the footprint of a shoebox. By combining all these characteristics in our “MelittaCafina” machines, we are helping our customers.
How do we contact you?
Tel: +49 571/50490
Email: professional@melitta.de
Web: melitta-professional.de
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Franke Coffee Systems
Franke Coffee Systems CMO Roman Köppel reveals the latest news and hot products from his company
Tell us more about your company?
Franke Coffee Systems is a world leading manufacturer of commercial coffee machines. We have the right machine for every coffee demand: from brew-coffee machines, traditional espresso machines, high-tech fully-automatics and capsule machines. We are selling in almost 80 markets globally, and wherever we are active, we also provide professional service and maintenance for our clients.
Why should a restaurant/hotel pick Franke?
Apart from the excellent in-cup-quality we stand for, our machines are known to be very efficient, intuitive and user-friendly. The reliability and service we stand for is, for every foodservice expert, the key to (financial) success.
What are your current hot products?
In March 2015, we launched a new generation of fully automatics — the A200 and the A600. These two products feature the flagship milk system, the Foammaster, a touchscreen user interface, and an integrated system that adds to the user experience and beverage quality.
Something else that is new in our portfolio is the capsule system ‘K fee Professional System’, developed with the capsule experts from K fee. It’s a standalone capsule coffee machine, and an integrated system that also contains our Foammaster fresh milk system — all that you need for B2B coffee convenience.
Trend in coffee in the current market?
We are seeing various markets grow fast — cultures that have coffee potential, which come from a tea background — such as China, for example. Throughout the world, consumers have an increasing awareness for quality and expect a good coffee offering throughout their day — at home, at work, and at all ‘out of home’ consumption points. This leads to a new demand for compact, yet high-end coffee machines that can be operated with ease, and are highly efficient since staff costs are a deal-breaker in foodservice.
How do we contact you?
Tel: +41 62 787 3887
Web: coffee.franke.com
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Gruppo Cimbali
Tell us about your company?
Gruppo Cimbali is a leader in design, production and distribution of professional coffee machines under its brands La Cimbali, Faema and Casadio. The company offers the widest range of coffee solutions for the horeca. sectors, combining technology, ease of use, design, high performance and top quality beverages.
Established in 1912 and based in Binasco, near Milan, Italy, the group has four production plants, all located in Italy, and employs more than 650 people, 35% operating outside Italy.
What is the reach of your product?
In 2013 the company exported 80% of its production to more than 110 countries through its subsidiaries (Italy, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, USA, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Austria), and its 700 direct distributors.
Why should a hotel or restaurant pick your company as a supplier?
The group invests about 5% of its turnover in the R&D Department. The attention paid to the health and the environment is a priority, as shown by the recently obtained ISO 14001 certification. All the products comply with the most stringent international standards for a safety use and food hygiene. Thanks to Ruveco Teck, an exclusive treatment which can reduce the risk of metal release in the drinks delivered, all the group products comply with the DIN 10531, at the moment the only point of reference for regulations on food safety.
Furthermore, our products are designed considering energy saving: insulated boilers, independent coffee groups, stand-by options are just some examples.
Any new product you’d like to highlight?
The M100 HD Turbosteam Milk4 is able to manage water temperature and extraction pressure, the key variables of a perfect espresso. To control them, Gruppo Cimbali patented the HD (High Definition) technology which allows you to run and guide the extraction process in a simple and intuitive way. It provides maximum flexibility in adjusting the delivery temperature (GT technology) and gives the possibility to electronically modulate the extraction water pressure for a customised barista’s blend.
What are the challenges in the market and how do you adapt to these?
The latest trends globally indicate growth in the segment of top-bracket traditional machines, due to the trend toward ‘microtorrefazione’ (the practice of instant, fresh roasting of the green coffee bean) directly on the premises.
What is your latest news?
We have created a special edition of E61 Faema for Faema’s 70th anniversary. E61 continues to be a symbol of Faema excellence, and the limited edition version, celebrating the brand’s 70 years of history, is characterised by a modern look thanks to its anthracite grey body and black back–illuminated glass embellished with seven stars — one for every decade of its history — and the celebratory logo sporting a stylised racing bike with the number 70 inside.
This direct reference to cycling aims to regain the connection between Faema and the sport which peaked in the 60s and 70s with the sponsoring of the professional Faema team and champions such as Eddy Mercks.
In addition, we are present at the Expo Milano 2015 with MUMAC, our coffee machine museum. The exhibition space in Expo contains the eight machines which represent the milestones in the development of the sector, realised by some big Italian brands (La Cimbali, Faema, Gaggia, Bezzera) all of which have contributed to build up the legend of Italian espresso.
Among these brands are: la Cimbali Rapida, the first model built by La Cimbali; Faema Marte, one of the first models equipped with a lever technology; Faema E61, which marked historic turning point in the espresso world thanks to a revolutionary volumetric pump; Cimbali Pitagora, the winner of the prestigious Golden Compass; Faema Tronic, which represents the start of electronics in the manufacturing of professional coffee machines; and La Cimbali M100, the cutting edge of technology and design by La Cimbali.
How do we contact you?
Gruppo Cimbali S.p.A.
Via A. Manzoni, 17, 20082 Binasco (MI) — Italy
Tel: +39 02 900 491
Email: info@gruppocimbali.com
Web: www.gruppocimbali.com
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Sparrow International
Sparrow International founder and CEO Marc Hijazi talks about latest equipment and top trends
Tell us about your company?
Sparrow International provides comprehensive solutions to the foodservice industry with a wide range of professional horeca equipment and ingredients from leading international brands. Established in 2012, with my leadership and experience of previously founding La Marquise Group, Sparrow International specialises in both the coffee and gelato segments. Following the inauguration of its new facilities in Dubai and the launch of a base in Saudi Arabia, Sparrow International has confirmed its key supplier position.
Why should a restaurant/hotel pick your company as a supplier?
Our coffee products and equipment reflect the extensive experience of our partners in the coffee service and retail industries, always dedicated to the delivery of uncompromised quality. We pride ourselves on being the first Middle East distributor to combine the most iconic and historical coffee roasting company with the most advanced coffee machine manufacturers, allowing us to be able to cover the entire scope of our customers’ requirements.
Our new 1000m2 facility located near Mall of the Emirates has been designed to group all of our departments under one roof, ensuring consistent and timely support to all of our customers’ operations. Our new building hosts a showroom, administration, a training room, our store, maintenance facilities, and logistics/dispatch.
What are your current hot products?
The new top-of-the-range Rancilio Classe 11 is an accessible and intuitive professional machine that breaks down generational and cultural barriers due to the fact of being easy to understand and quick to learn. With Xcelsius technology, the coffee machine becomes a winning ally, and an essential tool able to catch the most excellent olfactory and gustatory sensations, which are specific and peculiar to every result in the cup.
One trend in coffee you are seeing in the current market?
We see an increasing need for advanced barista training with a strong focus on product knowledge and quality, which is way beyond basic serving techniques, as demanding customers are regularly interacting with baristas for a bespoke experience.
How do we contact you?
Marc Hijazi, CEO
Tel: +971 4 340 4795
Email: info@sparrow-international.com
Web: www.sparrow-international.com
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Coffee Planet
Coffee Planet managing director Robert Jones reveals why the company has grown strength to strength in the last decade
Tell us about your company?
Coffee Planet is a true crop-to-cup coffee company. Since launching in 2005 and delivering innovative coffee solutions, our customers get freshly roasted coffee wherever they are — be it self-service machines, five-star hotels, restaurants, catering companies, offices, supermarkets, our own branded cafés, or our online store.
The most important element of our coffee is the bean, as we ensure each and every single bean is roasted to perfection. Our state–of–the–art, HACCP-certified roastery in Dubai roasts and blends premium 100% Arabica beans sourced directly by our roastmaster.
Representing several leading brands of coffee equipment, accessories and related consumables, we provide the perfect equipment solution. Our coffee professionals (account managers, quality controllers, trainers and service technicians) play a vital role, performing regular audits to ensure our strict standards are achieved.
Why should the industry pick your company?
Our commitment to quality ensures that we only source speciality–graded 100% Arabica coffee beans direct from farmers in over 22 countries across the world. The coffee beans that make it into our cups go through a stringent selection and grading process before we purchase them. ensuring that every bean meets the highest standards of quality our customers have come to expect from the Coffee Planet Roastery. Additionally, we are UTZ certified — which means we support coffee farmers directly, in learning better farming methods and improving their working conditions, whilst also supporting with education and healthcare for their children.
What are your current hot products?
We had a great start to 2015 with the launch of our single serve foodservice capsule range. Compatible with Nespresso machines, they provide a consistent, efficient and speedy solution to freshly roasted coffee. Available in four distinct taste profiles and roast strengths crafted by our roastmaster, each capsule caters to a host of consumer palates.
As part of our continued efforts to provide complete coffee solutions, we also offer an extensive range of machines from leading manufacturers. The most recent addition to the product line includes the recently launched VA388 Victoria Arduino Black Eagle espresso machine which combines tradition and experience with innovation, high technology and superb reliability.
Trend in coffee in the current market?
We have noticed a marked interest on speciality coffee, especially in Dubai. Two years ago, consumers wanted black, dark-roasted coffee, but now we’re witnessing an interest in a diverse range of blends from the bean belt, including flavour profiles from Ethiopia, Central and South America. Also, people are more interested in locally roasted coffee as they become more aware of the origin of their coffee and the benefit of fresh, good quality coffee that is roasted locally, something we are able to support very well.
How do we contact you?
Tel: 800 Coffee (263333)
Email: coffee@coffeeplanet.com
Web: www.coffeeplanet.com