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How To Choose An Office Coffee Service

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:05:00 GMT

Canadians drink more coffee than Americans, according to the Coffee Association of Canada. Just under half of Americans drink coffee daily. But for Canadians, the percentage is much higher at 62%. And a lot of that consumption takes place at work.

In recent years, the trend has been towards higher quality and darker roast coffees. Dan Wilkinson, a senior account manager at Imperial Coffee and Services, likes to talk about “the Starbucks factor.”

“The days of weak and inferior office coffee are gone, along with those glass pots that sat on burners for so long that people ended up with bitter coffee,” says Wilkinson.

Wilkinson has seen many changes in his 25 years of service. Perhaps the biggest has been the growing popularity of single cup machines, allowing everyone to enjoy their favourite selection. No longer are employees locked into a single choice. And many of the machines can also brew tea and espresso drinks.

Surveys show office coffee is the benefit employees prefer most. It ranks above holiday parties and small bonuses. Office coffee is also a way of extending hospitality to guests.

When choosing an office coffee vendor, ask for references and make sure you understand the exact level of service being provided. Here are some questions to ask:

Will you have your own highly trained account manager who visits your workplace regularly to take care of everything from replenishing supplies to modifying your program? These really aren’t tasks that can be handled by an anonymous order-taker from a phone bank or — even worse — by the delivery guy.

What happens if your machine breaks down? Will your supplier fix your machine on the spot or swap it out? How quickly? On one recent day, Wilkinson fixed one machine himself and ordered two replacement machines for another client’s machine. (One will serve as a backup.) Repairs or swaps can almost always be done within 24 hours and sometimes much more quickly. "My record is 30 minutes," says Wilkinson.

All this is at no extra charge to the client. It’s all part of the service.

How long has your supplier been around? Is it a pioneer in the business, like Imperial Coffee and Services, founded in 1974? Does it have thousands of satisfied customers?

Does your supplier provide one-stop shopping? Can it also take care of all your break room needs, from vending, to water, to kitchen supplies?

How many trucks does your coffee supplier have on the road? How big are its maintenance and logistics departments?

Everyone promises great service. But make sure your supplier is well positioned to deliver on those promises.

Imperial Coffee

Eco-Friendly Imperial Coffee Buys Carbon Credits

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:37:00 GMT

Eco-Friendly Imperial Coffee Buys Carbon Credits

Imperial Coffee has once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental excellence by purchasing carbon credits from Carbonzero to offset a portion of the emissions resulting from its participation a Law Office Management Association event in Collingwood, Ontario on October 27-29, 2011.

Imperial Coffee and Services President Mark Steiner said: "Imperial Coffee is proud to be not only the market leader but also the environmental leader in office coffee, water services and vending in Toronto and Ontario. We are pleased to have mitigated the environmental impact of our participation in this meeting by purchasing offsetting carbon credits."

The emissions reductions were purchased from the Niagara, Ontario Landfill Gas to Energy Project. The project is publicly listed on the CSA Clean Projects Registry and has been third party verified under ISO-14064-2 by ICF International. This projects collects, captures and recovers landfill gas originating at the East Quarry Landfill in Niagara and processes it into a useable fuel source for distribution via pipeline to a nearby recycled paper mill. More information is available at www.carbonzero.com/projects

Imperial Coffee and Services has long been committed to a "go green" mandate. Imperial Coffee and Services provides customers with aggressive options in the areas of responsibility, sustainability and minimization of waste. Among many initiatives are: bio-degradable packaging, re-cycling brewers and filter packs, and using Greenware cold drink cups. The Imperial Coffee and Services warehouse uses energy-efficient radiant heating.

Imperial Coffee and Services offers Fair Trade and sustainable coffee from such leading suppliers as Starbucks, Timothy's and Flavia. Imperial Coffee and Services also offers its own private label Fair Trade and sustainable coffee.

Imperial Coffee

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. Expands Recycling Program

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:31:00 GMT

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. Expands Recycling Program

Imperial Coffee and services Inc., the Toronto and Ontario market leader in office coffee service for more than 35 years, announced today that it is expanding a recycling program following successful completion of a pilot program.

"When customers speak, we listen,” said Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. President Mark Steiner. “It’s been that way for more than 35 years. Our customers have been asking for a recycling program for single serve coffee packages, and we are thrilled to offer it to them. We’ll be working with our customers and recycling partners to make offices more sustainable and reduce waste. Imperial Coffee has long been the market leader in environmental initiatives on everything from energy efficiency to carbon credits, so this is the logical next step."

Imperial Coffee’s office coffee service customers will now have the option of taking action to prevent single-serve Mars Drink packs from ending up in landfills. They can place the used fresh packs in office collection boxes, then ship them via Fedex to Imperial Coffee's partner, TerraCycle. TerraCycle then recycles the fresh packs into new products. Additional information is available the Recycle Your Fresh Packs Website.

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. offers Fair Trade and sustainable coffee from such leading suppliers as Starbucks, Timothy's and Flavia. Imperial Coffee and Services also offers its own private label Fair Trade and sustainable coffee.

Imperial Coffee

Imperial Customer Service Representative Honoured For Excellence

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:33:00 GMT

Imperial Customer Service Representative Honoured For Excellence

Imperial Coffee and Sevices Inc., the industry leader in office coffee service in Ontario for more than 35 years, is pleased to announce that Tony Arujo, one of its Customer Service Representatives, has been honoured for outstanding service by a leading vending and coffee industry trade publication.

Arujo was named quarterly driver of the year by www.vendingmarketingwatch.com after an online nomination process that took into account everything from safety record to customer satisfaction. With more than 30 years of service, Arujo is also something of an iron man: he has missed fewer than five days of work during his long career.

"Tony Arujo has been our downtown customer service representative, looking after our largest and most prestigious customers for longer than we can remember," Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. President Mark Steiner told www.vendingmarketingwatch.com . “He is beloved by his accounts, and year after year receives the most customer accolades.” Steiner called Arujo "a true professional" who is one of the first people in the office every morning.

Arujo faces some challenges, coping with heavy traffic in downtown Toronto and high-end Toronto customers. He told www.vendingmarketingwatch.com that the independence of the job appeals to him most. “I’m by myself out there. I go at my own pace and do it how I want to do it.”

Arujo has seen many changes in the coffee service industry. He started in the glass coffee pot era, but notes "now there’s Flavia machines, K-Cups, and machines that grind the coffee beans right there. The technology has come a long way.” Another change is providing one-stop shopping to customers by offering everything from soft drinks to cleaning supplies.

Imperial Coffee

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. Expands Charitable Giving

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:23:00 GMT

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. Expands Charitable Giving

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc., the industry leader in office coffee service for Toronto and Ontario, is expanding its charitable, environmental and community service commitments with a $5,000 contribution to Humber River Regional Hospital.

"As a family business that grew, we are deeply committed to our community in various ways," said Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. President Mark Steiner. "It's been that way for more than 35 years. The Humber River Regional Hospital donation is just the latest example."

Among the many charities Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. supports financially with cash contributions are Princess Margaret Hospital, Baycrest Center, and the Toronto Hospital Fund.

"We're also proud to be contributing to the United Way for the seventh consecutive year," said Steiner. Last summer, the Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. logo appeared on posters United Way has placed on Toronto Transit Commission vehicles to thank corporate supporters.

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. contributes free coffee the Breast Centre at Mount Sinai Hosptial. And it has also contributed coffee to Casey House, Canada’s longest-serving HIV/AIDS hospital, since its inception.

On the environmental front, Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. has long been committed to a "go green" mandate. Imperial Coffee and Services provides customers with aggressive options in the areas of responsibility, sustainability and minimization of waste. Among many initiatives are: bio-degradable packaging, re-cycling brewers and filter packs, and using Greenware cold drink cups. The Imperial Coffee and Services warehouse uses energy-efficient radiant heating. The company has also purchased carbon credits to partially offset emissions from its participation at a conference.

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. offers Fair Trade and sustainable coffee from such leading suppliers as Starbucks, Timothy's and Mars Drinks.Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. also offers its own private label Fair Trade and sustainable coffee.

About Imperial Coffee
Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. is a family-owned coffee, vending and water supply company that serves workplaces with more than 15 employees. Founded in 1974, it has long been the market leader for office coffee services in Toronto and Ontario. Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. takes great pride in offering outstanding products and customer service and is equally proud that 52 of its 124 employees have been with the company for more than 10 years.

Imperial Coffee

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. Recognized for United Way Contribution

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:15:00 GMT

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. Recognized for United Way Contribution

The latest example of Imperial Coffee and Services Inc.'s deep commitment to its community and corporate social responsibility will see the company recognized for its contribution to United Way of Toronto.

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc., the industry leader in office coffee service for Toronto and Ontario, will be recognized for its role in helping employees and pensioners of the Toronto Transit Commission raise over $900,000 for United Way of Toronto.

United Way's mission is “to meet urgent human needs and improve social conditions by mobilizing the community’s volunteer and financial resources in a common cause of caring.” Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. contributed free coffee to the United Way's fundraising campaign. Its contribution will be recognized in an upcoming poster campaign on Toronto Transit Commission vehicles.

"As a family business that grew, we are deeply committed to our community in various ways," said Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. President Mark Steiner. "It's been that way for more than 35 years. Contributing to the United Way of Toronto for the seventh consecutive career is just one of many charitable, environmental and corporate social responsibility initiatives."

Among the many charities Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. supports financially with cash contributions are Princess Margaret Hospital, Baycrest Center, and the Toronto Hospital Fund.

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. contributes free coffee the Breast Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital. And it has also contributed coffee to Casey House, Canada’s longest-serving HIV/AIDS hospital, since its inception.

About Imperial Coffee

Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. is a family-owned coffee, vending and water supply company that serves workplaces with more than 15 employees. Founded in 1974, it has long been the market leader for office coffee services in Toronto and Ontario. Imperial Coffee and Services Inc. takes great pride in offering outstanding products and customer service and is equally proud that 52 of its 124 employees have been with the company for more than 10 years.

Imperial Coffee