What are the most significant changes/discoveries/advances that you have witnessed in your segment of the industry over the past year? In the industry as a whole? How have you utilized these [...]]]> Tea & Coffee Trade Journal asked several key players of the industry for their thoughts on what the year 2009 will bring.

What are the most significant changes/discoveries/advances that you have witnessed in your segment of the industry over the past year? In the industry as a whole? How have you utilized these new aspects to benefit your company?

“Two big changes, coffee by the cup as witnessed by the Keurig System and Nespresso. The Keurig brewer, which uses capsules, is a beverage system, not a coffee maker, with the ability to brew a wide variety of coffees, teas, cocoas and soon chai and others. This is being well received in office and now mainstream consumers. Lots of growth opportunities. Nespresso is the leader in the single cup field with $2.2 billion in sales but just has espresso, although they have around 10 types. The coffees are very good with great crema. They are very popular overseas and are being introduced via their own retail stores in the U.S. as well as high-end advertising.”

Dan Cox, Coffee Enterprises, Vermont