Will Tea Ever be as Big as Coffee? Panel Discussion with Market Leaders
Friday, June 1, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
In the U.S. there are over 25,000 coffee shops and - best estimates suggest - around 3,500 tea retail locations. Can the tea retail market catch up to coffee in size? Will the coffee retailers absorb much of the projected growth in tea sales? In recent years, a new breed of tea retailer has spawned and many have secured success in multiple locations. Will this rising tide float all boats? You will not want to miss this uniquely insightful panel discuss the future of the tea retail market.
Moderator: George Jage, President, World Tea Media
Panelists:
David Bellisario, President, Teaopia
Charles Cain, Vice President, Tazo Merchant & Operations, Starbucks
Joseph Cugine, President, Argo Tea
David De Candia, Director of Tea, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Supply Chain Transparency: 3 Part Panel Discussion
Saturday, June 2, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join this in-depth discussion covering sustainability and supply chain ethics. The conversation begins with certifying organizations and a look at self-certification, followed by the cost-benefits to the licensees; their missions, their brands, and their bottom lines. Finally, a panel of producers will discuss if the promise of transparency is making a positive change in the industry.
Moderator: Dan Bolton, Editor, World Tea News
Panelists:
Maya Albanese, Business Development CPG, Rainforest Alliance
Anu Huhtisaari, Programme Manager, Ethical Tea Partnership
Keith Hutjens, Director of Tea Procurement, Tazo
Beth Johnston, Founder & CEO, Teas Etc.
Joshua Kaiser, CEO, Rishi Tea
Nora Pittenger, Business Development CPG, Fair Trade USA
Kavi Seneviratne, Managing Director, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC
Sanje Widyaratne, Walters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates
The Food Safety and Modernatization Act - What Does it Mean for Tea?
Executive & Technical Content
Saturday, June 2, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in January 2011 and aims to shift the focus on food safety from cure to prevention. This session outlines the key provisions in the Act that all Companies on the tea supply chain need to be aware of. If you think the implications of the Act are not relevant to your business then you are probably wrong.
Speaker: Richard Enticott, President and CEO, Martin Bauer Group
TDS in RTD: How Much is Enough?
Executive & Technical Content
Sunday, June 3, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Ready-to-Drink tea is booming and the fastest growing market segment with hundreds of new products being introduced each year. Existing RTD teas range from tea-flavored sugar water to brewed tea with minimal additives. Should there be internal or external regulation or labeling on “Real Tea”? What should be measured and how should this be communicated or enforced? This unique mix of panelists will review the opportunities, pitfalls, and challenges of such a program and the possible effects of doing nothing.
Moderator: Rob McCaleb, Founder and President, Herb Research Foundation
Panelists:
Frank Jaksch, CEO, ChromaDex
Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association
Joe Simrany, President, Tea Association of the USA, Inc
Ray Welch, President, ThirsTea Corporation
Applying Principles of Taste Biology to the Appreciation of Teas and Food Pairings
Executive & Technical Content
Sunday, June 3, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In this lecture/workshop, you will develop a fresh new understanding of how the taste system works; experience the practical application of this system for enjoying the tastes of tea; and find a renewed appreciation for the versatility of tea as a partner both with and in foods.
Speaker: Dr. Virginia Utermohlen-Lovelace, Associate Professor, Cornell University
