Hal and Diane Steuber, the husband-and-wife co-founders of Associated Services Coffee Co. in San Leandro, Calif., two pioneers in the coffee service industry, took great interest the presentation on coffee trends by financial expert Ross Colbert at the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) CoffeeTea&Water Show in Las Vegas. While the Steubers are now retired from active duty, they noted Colbert’s comments on rising costs, stiffer competition and opportunities in point-of-use water coolers very important for anyone interested in the industry’s future. Hal Steuber received NAMA’s 2011 Coffee Legends award during the show. To listen to the podcast interview, click here.
Editor’s Insight: In this interview, Hal Steuber, who received the Coffee Legends award this week at the CoffeeTea&Water Show in Las Vegas, notes he was alarmed by some of the information in this presentation by Rabobank’s Ross Colbert.
For Steuber to say he is alarmed about current trends says something about the relevance of the information that was presented at NAMA.
Hal and his wife, Diane, launched their coffee service business in 1972 when the coffee service business model was virtually unknown. They lived through all of the challenges the industry faced over the years before retiring and passing their company on to their son, Tom.
The refreshment service operators who were unable to attend the recent show in Las Vegas should make a point of finding out more about the information presented. VendingMarketWatch will be providing seminar summaries. 10-21-11 By Elliot Maras
