Name: Dan Hart
Title: CEO
Company:
Southern
Refreshment
Services
Years in the OCS
industry: 30 years
Q:
How did you get your start
in coffee?
A:
We started a vending company
in 1981. The business was
growing and our customers started
to talk to us about their coffee
needs. The coffee was an extension
of our vending business, and now it
is a separate division of Southern
Refreshment Services.
Q:
What are the most signif-
cant trends/innovations in
coffee/tea service?
A:
Single cup continues to grow.
Bean-to-cup is growing in the
high-end offces. Tea is also becom-
ing important to the non-coffee
drinkers and a drink in the after-
noon for everybody.
Q:
What are the biggest
challenges facing you in the
year ahead and beyond?
A:
Finding quality personnel to sell
and service the customer cor-
rectly. Government regulations are
and will be issues in every business.
Q:
What are you looking for-
ward to at CTW?
A:
CTW is a great place to
exchange ideas and meet new
business leaders. You get to see new
products and the latest ideas that
will shape your business in the
future. Networking at CTW can be
something that will help your entire
career and business.
What's
hot
in
OCS
today?
Here
are
the
latest
insights
about
the
coffee
service
industry
from
CTW
regulars.
Name: Karen
Webster
Title: Chief
Financial Offcer
Company: Newco
Enterprises, Inc.
Years in the OCS
industry: 26
Q:
Tell us a bit
about yourself.
A:
I joined Newco in 1988, with
a background in fnance and
human resources. My role in fnance
afforded me the opportunity to
work with our customers, evaluate
their needs and develop affordable
fnance programs to assist with
their purchase of coffee and tea
brewing equipment.
Q:
What trends/innovations are
having the most impact on
the industry?
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40 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com September 2014
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