May 1968 tea
28/04/08 22:58
Paris: The times are changing in Paris, where a luxury foodstore is offering a "May 68" brand of tea to commemorate riots 40 years ago in which anti-capitalist students hurled cobblestones at police.
"Tea with a flavour of revolution", says the chic Fauchon in a statement announcing the launch of the collector item.
The tea, flavoured with lemon zest and rose petals, is packaged in a metal tin emblazoned with the image of a student with a raised fist and slogans from the riots such as It is forbidden to forbid and Poetry is in the street. The cost is 15 euros ($23.5) for 100 grams of tea.
_________________________________
I am having some trouble thinking of lemon zest and rose tea as the 'flavour of revolution.' -jake
link
"Tea with a flavour of revolution", says the chic Fauchon in a statement announcing the launch of the collector item.
The tea, flavoured with lemon zest and rose petals, is packaged in a metal tin emblazoned with the image of a student with a raised fist and slogans from the riots such as It is forbidden to forbid and Poetry is in the street. The cost is 15 euros ($23.5) for 100 grams of tea.
_________________________________
I am having some trouble thinking of lemon zest and rose tea as the 'flavour of revolution.' -jake
link
The Tea Business
28/04/08 08:25
Lapis Teahouse has been exclusively a private label packager for about 4 years now, but initially it began as a retail teahouse and extension of my acupuncture and herbal practice. Smaller private label projects started by chance, but our first big break was a project for Yankee Candle. It was a project that was about a year in the making, and in the end there was little profit, but big lessons learned.
The Yankee Candle project was too large to pack in house with our resources at that time, so I looked for a co-packer that had the ability to fill larger orders. I went to one of the biggest and most renowned companies in the industry, and with plenty of time to work out the details of production, had them set up to run the order for us. I explained that we had a purchase order in hand, but could not pay until the product was in the customers hands. They said this was no problem.
About six months passed, and the production deadline crept closer. And closer. They delayed and stalled. Finally we were at the last moment when it could be run and delivered on time. And suddenly, the co-packer contacted me and said:
"We are ready to start production, but we need a 50% deposit on the order."
Now, keep in mind that this was the very moment it needed to be packed if the order was to deliver on time. And they knew I did not have $35,000 to put down on the order at that time. Then the other shoe dropped...
"Or, if you do not have the money upfront, you can sign the PO over to us, and we will pay you a commission."
There we had it. They put me in a position of having to come up with $35K in a matter of hours, or of losing my biggest account.
It was an unacceptable choice. I spent the next 3 days calling every contact I could find, and looking for another co-packer to run the order. Finally it was done. Two weeks late, and losing almost all my profit margin. What is the moral? I still am not sure. I think it is that even in a business as seemingly pleasant as tea, some people will act unethically for a buck. Sad really. This was a company with millions in assets, taking advantage of a start-up with an opportunity.
One thing is for sure, it has re-affirmed my willingness to talk openly to anyone about their business projects and plans, without conniving and deceit. Tea, coffee and private label in general are booming industries. There is no excuse to not allow the tide to lift all boats. But be careful out there, folks!
The Yankee Candle project was too large to pack in house with our resources at that time, so I looked for a co-packer that had the ability to fill larger orders. I went to one of the biggest and most renowned companies in the industry, and with plenty of time to work out the details of production, had them set up to run the order for us. I explained that we had a purchase order in hand, but could not pay until the product was in the customers hands. They said this was no problem.
About six months passed, and the production deadline crept closer. And closer. They delayed and stalled. Finally we were at the last moment when it could be run and delivered on time. And suddenly, the co-packer contacted me and said:
"We are ready to start production, but we need a 50% deposit on the order."
Now, keep in mind that this was the very moment it needed to be packed if the order was to deliver on time. And they knew I did not have $35,000 to put down on the order at that time. Then the other shoe dropped...
"Or, if you do not have the money upfront, you can sign the PO over to us, and we will pay you a commission."
There we had it. They put me in a position of having to come up with $35K in a matter of hours, or of losing my biggest account.
It was an unacceptable choice. I spent the next 3 days calling every contact I could find, and looking for another co-packer to run the order. Finally it was done. Two weeks late, and losing almost all my profit margin. What is the moral? I still am not sure. I think it is that even in a business as seemingly pleasant as tea, some people will act unethically for a buck. Sad really. This was a company with millions in assets, taking advantage of a start-up with an opportunity.
One thing is for sure, it has re-affirmed my willingness to talk openly to anyone about their business projects and plans, without conniving and deceit. Tea, coffee and private label in general are booming industries. There is no excuse to not allow the tide to lift all boats. But be careful out there, folks!
Wal-Mart launches private label 'green' coffees
18/04/08 23:50
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is continuing to promote its image as an eco-conscious retailer, launching six ‘green’ coffees under its in-store Sam's Choice brand.
The Sam's Choice gourmet coffees are made of Arabica beans and roasted by Cafe Bom Dia, a Brazil-based company known as the world's first carbon neutral coffee roaster. The line includes Fair Trade Certified House Blend, Espresso Roast and French Roast; Rainforest Alliance Certified Breakfast Blend whole bean and ground coffee; and USDA Organic Swiss Water Process Decaffeinated.
“We recognize our customers' desire to buy products that have a positive environmental and social impact, and we are proud to offer an affordable line of coffee that is sourced and roasted with sustainability in mind,” said DeDe Priest, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for Wal-Mart. “If each of Wal-Mart's 200-million shoppers bought one 10-oz. bag of Sam's Choice Rainforest USDA Certified organic coffee, it would prevent 133 million pounds of fertilizers and chemicals from being released into the environment.”
Fair Trade Certified coffee grew tenfold in sales between 2001 and 2006 to US$730-million, according to TransFair USA.
link
The Sam's Choice gourmet coffees are made of Arabica beans and roasted by Cafe Bom Dia, a Brazil-based company known as the world's first carbon neutral coffee roaster. The line includes Fair Trade Certified House Blend, Espresso Roast and French Roast; Rainforest Alliance Certified Breakfast Blend whole bean and ground coffee; and USDA Organic Swiss Water Process Decaffeinated.
“We recognize our customers' desire to buy products that have a positive environmental and social impact, and we are proud to offer an affordable line of coffee that is sourced and roasted with sustainability in mind,” said DeDe Priest, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for Wal-Mart. “If each of Wal-Mart's 200-million shoppers bought one 10-oz. bag of Sam's Choice Rainforest USDA Certified organic coffee, it would prevent 133 million pounds of fertilizers and chemicals from being released into the environment.”
Fair Trade Certified coffee grew tenfold in sales between 2001 and 2006 to US$730-million, according to TransFair USA.
link
Organic food market booms
18/04/08 23:43
Mintel reports that organic food sales have grown a whopping 132% since 2002, while organic beverage sales nearly doubled (97%) during the same period. Together, the organic food and beverage markets now make up a nearly $6 billion dollar a year industry.
“This isn’t a niche market full of environmental health nuts and affluent yuppies anymore,” says Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst at Mintel. “Organic is now part of the picture for everyone from the Hispanic immigrant mother to the hip suburban teen next door. With health issues and food contamination cases in the news, many people have begun looking for safer, more natural food and drink.”
Mintel’s exclusive consumer research shows that over half (52%) of Americans purchased organic foods in the past year, while over a quarter (26%) went for organic beverages. This is a notable increase from the just 34% of consumers who bought either organic food or beverage products in 2002. What is more, nearly a third (32%) of adults now report purchasing organic products “as often as possible.”
Manufacturers have caught on and Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows a steady increase in new organic product development. 2006 saw nearly 1600 new organic food and beverage products launched in the US, over twice the number released in 2002 (732). Even retail grocers have sunk their teeth into organics, currently featuring over 300 private label organic products and entire departments dedicated to organic foods.
link
“This isn’t a niche market full of environmental health nuts and affluent yuppies anymore,” says Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst at Mintel. “Organic is now part of the picture for everyone from the Hispanic immigrant mother to the hip suburban teen next door. With health issues and food contamination cases in the news, many people have begun looking for safer, more natural food and drink.”
Mintel’s exclusive consumer research shows that over half (52%) of Americans purchased organic foods in the past year, while over a quarter (26%) went for organic beverages. This is a notable increase from the just 34% of consumers who bought either organic food or beverage products in 2002. What is more, nearly a third (32%) of adults now report purchasing organic products “as often as possible.”
Manufacturers have caught on and Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows a steady increase in new organic product development. 2006 saw nearly 1600 new organic food and beverage products launched in the US, over twice the number released in 2002 (732). Even retail grocers have sunk their teeth into organics, currently featuring over 300 private label organic products and entire departments dedicated to organic foods.
link
New! Private Label Coffee!
17/04/08 17:48
Never thought I would see it happen, but our private label coffee program is here & ready to package for you-
Featuring all fair trade, organic, Kosher, and delicious coffee, available in custom labeled 12oz bags, and in bulk 5LB quantities.
Check it out at: Private Label Coffee
Featuring all fair trade, organic, Kosher, and delicious coffee, available in custom labeled 12oz bags, and in bulk 5LB quantities.
Check it out at: Private Label Coffee
Tea Expo in Vegas
17/04/08 13:35
Just to give you all the heads up, Lapis Teahouse will be exhibiting at the World Tea Expo again this year. I will be at booth # 647b- we are sharing a display with the BoxCoop from CA in the spirit of Private Label!
