We are currently operating in a fast-paced world in which consumers demand new solutions that integrate with the latest devices for at-your-fingers’ convenience. However, with a growing portfolio of locations, vendors are in search for the same quality of convenience and support that the retail industry has awarded consumers. As such, the industry has transitioned from facilitating convenient retail transactions for consumers and grown into selling convenience to vendors. In today’s ever-changing vending landscape, operators need to be able to spend less, sell more and gain control of operations. Additionally, they need to rinse and repeat that streamlined process for multiple locations, all while keeping pace with the latest payment acceptance methods. This leaves vendors scrambling to find a technology provider that truly offers an all-in-one, holistic solution—especially if they also manage micro market or dining businesses. 365 Retail Markets works to remain a premier partner in the vending business by providing a suite of solutions that empower vendors to not only facilitate quick, convenient transactions for consumers but also to minimise inefficiencies in day-to-day operations. Vendors looking to streamline their process and improve consumer experiences should consider the following 365 Retail Markets solutions: ConnectedCampus: This first-of-its-kind, fully integrated consumer experience ecosystem seamlessly connects a location’s 365-based micro market, office coffee service (OCS) and vending technology. Leveraging a Global Market Account (GMA), consumers can create and fund accounts, view purchase history, scan and pay for products, and connect to any location’s 365 devices, all with the flexibility between direct kiosk interaction or the mobile app – 365Pay – for an easy, contactless approach. This level of consumer convenience extends to the operator by eliminating account support tasks operators may otherwise have to execute. Vending Management Software (VMS): 365 Retail Markets offers a multitude of VMS features with inter-connected systems allowing vendors to manage their business end-to-end by: Receiving real-time alerts regarding jams or device failures Cutting inventory costs by ordering precise amounts with pre-kitting Tracking products from warehouse to restock with warehouse management capabilities Eliminating unnecessary stops with dynamic routing capabilities Reducing theft, remotely monitoring cash meters and tracking money bags Menu management and food compliance software: 365 Retail Markets’ most recent menu management solution empowers vendors and food service operators to manage menus, including nutritional data and allergy compliance. Additional functionality includes: Automatically calculate nutrition, allergens and costs of your recipes Organise recipes, create menus and menu cycles See at-a-glance how to make recipes healthier or reduce costs Minimise food waste and report on popular dishes Reporting and dashboards for cost per dish, cost per day or cost per menu Easily report on allergens via digital data sheets Direct link with your suppliers to ensure correct data As technology advances, so too, does vendor and operator work styles. Vendors are not stagnant for eight-hour workdays. They are remote, mobile workers who move between countless locations, devices and concerns rendering many of their patterns unpredictable. Therefore, much like consumers, vendors also require frictionless transactions, mobile-accessible market management functions and data that will help them make the best business decisions for each of their individual and unique needs. 365 Retail Markets offers a variety of solutions that can easily be tailored to each vendor’s specific business needs – empowering them to manage their business succinctly from an office or through mobile devices while on the go. Convenience for your company and your consumer is just one call away. Contact a 365 Retail Markets account manager to learn more today.

Under its Nescafé brand, Nestlé has launched Ice Roast, it’s first soluble coffee designed especially for use in iced coffee beverages. The product was crafted by experts at Nestlé’s coffee R&D centre in Orbe, Switzerland, in response to rising demand for products that allow people to recreate “café-style” cold coffee experiences in the home. Nestlé says that today, 15% of coffee in the world is consumed cold. Nescafé Ice Roast is made with 100% Robusta coffee beans that are grown and produced sustainably, with a tailored roasting profile to provide a lightly roasted soluble coffee without harsh or bitter notes. The company states that the extraction process was optimised to give a refreshing taste and clear appearance in the cup, with a coffee granule structure that dissolves quickly and easily. Damien Tissot, head of Nestlé’s product technology centre for coffee in Orbe, said: “With Ice Roast, we’ve created a light-medium roast that’s ideal to drink cold, with a smooth texture and cocoa notes that unlocks new sensory territory. By applying an innovative mindset, our teams have created a new sensory experience in cold coffee.” The Ice Roast coffee is launching in China this month, with Mexico to follow.

US kitchenware brand, Dash, has introduced a new cold brew coffee machine ahead of National Cold Brew Day. Dash is a housewares brand produced by StoreBound. Using Dash's patented VacuPress technology – a pressurised brewing process – the Rapid Cold Brew Coffee Maker extracts the maximum amount of flavour for a smooth batch of mild, regular or bold cold brew in as little as nine minutes, using the ground coffee or tea leaf of consumers' choice. Currently available in black, the machine is distinguished by "its clean, sediment-free finish, ensuring less acidity and a smooth sip experience for those with sensitive stomachs," said the company. Evan Dash, StoreBound's founder and CEO, commented: "As warm weather rolls in, we know our consumers are craving cold drinks but don't always have the time or budget to run out and grab a coffee shop cold brew on the daily. To alleviate this stressor, we wanted to give them a product that addresses these needs while delivering a true cold brew taste and experience at home." He continued: "Our Rapid Cold Brew Coffee Maker marks a new venture into the ever-growing coffee space and fuels our consumers who seek to live out their best lives in an accessible way that's good for both their wallets and bodies".

Online registration is now open for the Watercoolers Europe (WE) event that will be held at the InterContinental Vienna from 25-27 October 2023. With great pleasure, WE will celebrate its 30th anniversary in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria. That is 30 years of promoting healthy hydration; 30 years of communication with legislators across Europe to support the industry; 30 years of product innovation and development; and 30 years of dedicated work to protect our members’ investments. The event promises to be a door opener for fresh business ideas and to make new valuable contacts. There will be a warm welcome to members of ICBWA (International Council of Bottled Water Associations) as they join us in Vienna, bringing valued expertise from other continents. WE’s chair, Marzia Mariotti, said: “We have the annual WE Gala Dinner and Aqua Awards in the magnificent Palais Ferstel – a wonderful evening that nobody from our industry should miss. I will be delighted to welcome you to Vienna.” The detailed programme is available now here: we-event.eu/event-programme.

The Water Quality Association (WQA) Convention & Exposition will take place from 18-20 April 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event gives attendees the opportunity to meet some of the leading companies in the water treatment industry. Angie Silberhorn, CMP events director at WQA, reveals what we can expect from this year’s event. What can we expect from this year's event? The WQA Convention & Exposition is the most comprehensive annual gathering of water treatment professionals in North America. More than 2,500 participants are expected to join us for the event, with nearly 200 exhibitors (one-third of which are international) showcasing the latest products and technology, as well as four days of stellar industry education and networking. Our keynote session will be a dynamic event with live entertainment, leadership awards, an industry update from our president and executive director and our keynote speaker, Mae Stevens, an environmental and water infrastructure policy expert who advocates for point-of-use and point-of-entry applications and will deliver a 'state of the industry' message. You can also anticipate some elements of surprise and delight. Every year, the WQA Convention & Exposition has a keyword – this year's being 'Momentum'. Could you tell us more about that and what 'Momentum' entails? The need for quality water is everywhere and becoming increasingly recognised, so the momentum in our industry is rapidly building. Our annual flagship event must match that momentum. Our members depend on our convention to stay up to date on the latest trends, water science, business best practices and legislative and regulatory affairs. So, the convention, with the pandemic in our rearview mirror, is also building momentum in the experience we deliver as we’re seeing growth in membership, exhibitors, international attendees and first-time attendees. Have there been any changes or updates to the event since the last annual convention and exposition? As the industry continues to build momentum, so does WQA. We just saw the EPA announce its new regulatory goals for PFAS, one of the emerging contaminants that’s getting so much attention. And PFAS will be front and centre at this convention. We’ll have a one-day PFAS symposium along with education sessions and discussions in our Dealers and Manufacturers Sections Meetings. In addition, we’ll discuss our 2023 Consumer Opinion Study, a survey of consumers’ awareness and understanding of water quality issues and treatment options. That survey is done every two years, so this will be very important as we put the pandemic behind us and see what consumers are thinking and saying about water. With less than a month to go, this must be a very busy time for the events team. What does it look like behind the scenes as you prepare for this year's event? With a new and expanded WQA events team representing three generations, we’re looking at all aspects of the 2023 convention and beyond with fresh perspectives. We’re excited to be keeping and improving upon tried-and-true elements while also infusing fresh ideas. We’re in the final push ahead of the event, putting in long hours dotting the I’s, crossing the T’s and packing the boxes. The teamwork is outstanding, and we’re excited to deliver an incomparable experience. Is there anything else about WQA Convention & Exposition 2023 you would like to share? Each year’s convention has its own unique vibe, and this year surely will as well. We know new relationships will develop, longtime friendships will be rekindled, new business opportunities will emerge, and we’ll move the industry forward. Avoid FOMO, join us!

Carabao energy drink has expanded its offering with new Carabao Sport drink, available in two fruity flavours: Orange and Mixed Berry. Designed to aid hydration, the carbohydrate-electrolyte drink with added B vitamins launches this spring in a 500ml bottle. Carabao Sport is a flavoured still isotonic sports drink with sugars and sweeteners – Sucralose and Acesulfame K. The new fruit-flavoured formulas contain 4.4g of sugar per 100ml and 113 calories per bottle and are free of aspartame. John Luck, chief marketing officer at Carabao, said: “We’re delighted to expand our offering of great tasting fruit-flavoured drinks with the launch of Carabao Sport – a new isotonic sport drink, designed to aid hydration.” He added: “Carabao Sport includes the carbohydrates and electrolytes required to support prolonged exercise that you would expect to find in a sports drink, but it is our unique combination of aspartame free, added B vitamins, 100% natural colours and flavours and fantastic flavour that makes our drink special.” Consumers can find the new Carabao Sport drinks at UK retailers and petrol stations.

Hiru Corporation has entered into a “multi-million-dollar” agreement to package still and sparkling water products for Voss Water in the Western US. As part of the co-packing deal, Hiru, operating from its facilities in Glendale, Arizona and Denman, California, will fill still and sparkling water into bottles provided by Voss. The agreement covers all types of bottles used by Voss, including glass, aluminum and plastic containers, across a range of sizes. Kathryn Gavin, president and CEO of Hiru, stated: “This new co-packing agreement with Voss Water has been in the works for several months now and is a natural outgrowth of our ever-expanding ability to meet large client demand on the West Coast of the United States and our successful production history in servicing other similar national brands”. She continued: “We expect this co-packing relationship to become a significant and ongoing revenue source as we continue to meet their future delivery expectations and our manufacturing footprint continues to grow. [Hiru]…is growing at a rapid pace and now includes almost all of the national water bottling companies that are well known to the consuming public.” The precise financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Costa Coffee has appointed Philippe Schaillee as its next CEO, effective 10 April 2023. He will succeed Jill McDonald, who joined the coffee company as chief executive in 2019. McDonald decided to step down in July 2022 to join fast-food chain McDonald’s in an international role. Since McDonald’s departure, Shakir Moin has been serving as interim CEO and will continue to support the business until Schaillee takes over. Most recently, Schaillee has been senior EVP at France-based Groupe SEB, responsible for the small domestic appliances and cookware business units, a position he has held since April 2021. Schaillee, who will now be based in London, will report to the president of global ventures for The Coca-Cola Company – Costa’s parent company – Evguenia Stoichkova. “Philippe is an outstanding leader who comes to Costa with a deep background in business and a passion for building great brands,” said Stoichkova. “We look forward to working with Philippe to expand on the plans we have developed to grow Costa, both in its home country of England and beyond.”

A name that is not just a brand, but a manifesto: Rebel is the dispenser that embodies the rebellious spirit of those who want to break the rules and make a mark on the market with extraordinary performance. With a dispensing capacity of 30 litres per hour, this product is designed to meet the most diverse and specific needs. But that is not all: Rebel also offers the ability to dispense extremely hot and cold water, making it the ideal companion for every setting, from restaurants to offices. All of this is possible thanks to advanced technologies integrated into the product. Cooling is handled by a next-generation ice bank, specifically designed for this product, while the super-hot boiler ensures hot water temperatures of up to 98°C. The contemporary design and the “nonconformist” look of Rebel make it irresistible. Inside, there is ample space to accommodate a filter cartridge and a CO2 cylinder, offering a balance between power, functionality, performance and size.

Global Brands-owned RTD beverage brand, VK, has launched a new range of zero-sugar, low-calorie drinks, VK & Soda. The light range is available in two flavours, VK & Soda Berries and VK & Soda Lime, with each sugar-free drink containing 56 calories. The drinks combine either berry or lime flavours with the brand’s classic vodka. Charlie Leaver, head of brand at Global Brands Ltd, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to release this true innovation for the category – a product enticing the rapidly growing segment of health-conscious consumers, with the full flavour and taste that VK delivers.

Richard’s Rainwater has opened a potable rainwater collection site in Louisiana, in partnership with Faubourg Brewing Co and its parent company, Made By The Water. According to Richard’s Rainwater, the new site is the largest of its kind in the world. Louisiana’s “first-ever” rain capture facility for drinking water is expected to collect more than 2 million gallons of water each year. CEO Taylor O’Neil said: “Collecting rainwater in New Orleans made sense as it’s one of the top three rainiest cities in the US”. He continued: “Faubourg Brewing Co has a rich history of creating quality products and supporting the local community. We are excited to partner with their leadership team to create jobs, support disaster relief and make their facility the most water-conscious brewery in the country.” Richard’s Rainwater is the nation’s first FDA-approved rainwater collection company, capturing newly fallen rain and packaging it into recyclable aluminium cans or glass bottles. Dan Griffin, vice president of operations at Made By The Water, commented: “We’re excited that Faubourg’s state-of-the-art facility is playing an important role in reducing waste in our community while also creating quality jobs in New Orleans East”. He added: “…we have a great respect for pure water as it is the number one ingredient in craft beer, and this partnership with Richard’s further solidifies our commitment to wastewater reduction and responsible use of natural resources. In this case, being good stewards of our environment is also good for our business.” #Bottledrainwater #RichardsRainwater #US

NuZee -owned single-serve coffee brand, DripKit, has collaborated with coffee roaster Rival Bros. Coffee, to launch the Rival Bros. Dripkit. The Rival Bros. Dripkit is a quality, easy-to-use single-serve pour-over, available in two medium roast flavour profiles. The new single-serve packs produce a 10oz cup of coffee, using 17 grams of roasted and ground coffee, in a just-add-water format, creating a freshly ground coffee drink in two minutes. Dripkit founder and CEO, Ilana Kruger, said: “I founded Dripkit with the belief that delicious, pour-over coffee can be an accessible and quick luxury. Our partnership with Rival Bros. enhances the flavour of our brand and offers another delicious way to enjoy our unique coffee format.” The flavours include Whistle and Cuss, with beans from Latin America, Indonesia, and Africa that feature notes of malted dark chocolate and Bourbon Barrel Aged, a blend with smoky, caramel notes, crafted with Brazilian beans and aged for up to two weeks prior to roasting in oak barrels. The single-serve drinks are priced between $17.50-$18.75 per 5-pack. #DripKitCoffee #NuZee #RivalBros #US