Fred Steiner of Imperial Coffee and Service, Inc., has been chosen as the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) 2012 Coffee Legend, announced NAMA Director, Coffee and Water Service, Roger Stewart NCE5, CCS.
Tara Burnaman and Kevin Shea, chairpersons for NAMA’s CoffeeTea&Water 2012 (CT&W) will introduce the honoree at 4:15 pm, during the General Session on Tuesday, Nov. 13. CT&W is the single largest education and networking event for coffee, tea and water service operators nationwide, and will be held at the New Orleans Hyatt Regency Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 13 to 15.
“Fred has been in the OCS business for 38 years, and has been recognized by his peers in the past for exemplary business practices and active community participation,” said Stewart, in a prepared statement.
When asked about his accomplishments Steiner said, “I credit them to working very hard, being very lucky and having had the good fortune of meeting Stuart Daw, the first person selected by the National Coffee Service Association (NCSA) as a Coffee Legend, who became my friend and mentor.”
Imperial Coffee and Services Inc., Steiner’s company, is the largest independent operation in Canada, specializing primarily in OCS, which represents approximately 75 percent of the total business which also includes a vending and water division. “We’re a family-run operation that has grown to be the largest independently owned coffee service and vending company in Canada,” said Steiner, “and when our customers speak, we listen.” Currently Imperial operates six branches in Ontario servicing approximately 19,000 machines. Fred was also a partner in Park Avenue Office Services located in South Florida until it was sold to Aramark seven years ago.
A past member of the NCSA and current NAMA member, Steiner was instrumental in bringing an NCSA presence to Canada. In 1992, he was a co-founder of the Ontario Coffee Service Association (OCSA).
His professional awards include NCSA Regional Service Award (1985), the Silver Service Cup Award (1990 & 1992) and the NSCA Silver Service Award in 1992. In 2000, Fred was awarded the NBPA (National Beverage & Products Association) Hall of Fame Award, and in 2006, he was honored by the NBPA with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“A NAMA Coffee Legend is selected from an exemplary group of pioneers, innovators and leaders with a passion for coffee and a willingness to share that passion to help others succeed,” said Stewart. “We applaud Fred who is most deserving of this honor and congratulate him for his success,” he concluded.
