{ UCC Q&A }
You recently made two new additions to your Black&White range, exclusively to the UK market. What has the feedback been like from your UK customers? “feedback has been extremely positive – the Black&white4c with under-counter refrigeration is perfect for operators that want to serve a quality coffee with very tight constraints on counter space. it’s a machine for lower volume operators but still packs a punch when it comes to drink variety. “The addition of syrup modules and chocolate to the machine through the Black&white4c with integrated powder and flavour station, while retaining such a small frame, is unique. “what really sets Black&white apart is that it is quality-focused through its entire range. so the new models benefit from the same build quality and features as the larger models.”
In February 2017, we saw reports that consumer spending in the UK had gone down but the number of coffee shops increased dramatically. Why do you think coffee bucks the trend? “coffee is an affordable treat in people’s daily routine. it’s one of life’s little luxuries, but has grown into a mainstream habit. coffee has been a strong sector since the late 1990s and has been in continual growth ever since. as a product it can be easily adapted for new sectors, and it’s relatively simple as a non-coffee-
specialist business to tag it on to your existing offer to deliver a delicious drink. Get the quality right and coffee can be used to drive incremental sales particularly through quiet parts of the day.”
The UK coffee market is expected to grow by 29% in the next five years to £4.3bn. How do you think UCC can capitalise on this? “we believe in partnering with customers, which is more than just supplying a box of coffee. we’re highly experienced throughout all sectors of the hospitality industry and by ensuring we maximise our partners’ coffee sales, we can grow alongside them. “our powerful combination of insight, the finest fresh-roasted beans, roasted here in the uK, and stateof-the-art coffee machines makes us the market leader in delivering a total coffee solution. The way we support businesses to achieve consistently exceptional coffee is what makes us unique and sets us apart from all other coffee businesses in the market.”
Which is your biggest coffee brand in the UK? “lyons is our biggest consumer brand and Grand café, which was recently relaunched with fresh new packaging, is our largest in the out of home market. sustainably sourced, Grand café is our go-to brand for ethically aware businesses.”
“What really sets Black&White apart is that it is quality-focused through its entire range. So the new models benefit from the same build quality and features as the larger models.”
September/October 2017 Food & Drink News
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