| World Tea Expo Awards Best New Products |
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CONTACT: Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy (540) 752-8269 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HI-RES PHOTOS OF PRODUCTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST WORLD TEA EXPO AWARDS BEST NEW PRODUCTS
Innovators to be honored at May 2-4 Trade Show in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS (April 23, 2009)—World Tea Expo is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 World Tea Expo® New Product Awards. Although the Expo highlighted new products for the specialty tea industry at the last two shows, this year marks the first time it honors the most innovative and creative products with awards. Exhibitors submitted 200 new products for display, and all of them will be highlighted in showcases at the 2009 World Tea Expo, May 2-4 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. “It was extremely difficult to pick just eight out of such a large group of truly imaginative and interesting products,” said Kim Jage, vice president of sales and marketing for World Tea Expo and a member of the committee that selected winners. “But we felt it was important to give the best of the best the recognition they deserve, as well as call attention to all the amazing innovation going on in the specialty tea business.” Out of the 200 products, the committee nominated 22 finalists for top honors. Eight products – one in each of eight categories – have won awards. They will be noted in the official World Tea Expo show guide, at their booths in the exhibit hall, and in the new product showcase displays. The winners are: • Accessories category: Tea Butler, Tea Butler Illuminated Tea Selection Chests (Booth 316) • Baked Goods category: The Tea House Times, Victorian House Scones (Booth 511) • Innovation category: Northwest Glass Designs, Double Wall Tea Cup 16oz. (Booth 610) • Open Class: Sungarden Specialty Tea, Hario Chaor Tea Maker (Booth 515) • Packaging category: Teas Etc., Get Real, Get Loose (Booth 600) • Publication category: Benjamin Press, The New Tea Companion: A Guide to Teas throughout the World (Booth 701) • Tea as an Ingredient category: Torn Ranch, Green Tea Gourmet Gift Tray (Booth 215) • Tea Ware category: FORLIFE, Hospitality Teapot (Booth 710) “We’re just elated that the committee chose us as a winner in the tea accessory category,” said Tea Butler President Fran Terry. “We have finally realized our dream for the Butler product line with the ultimate tea presentation chest, an illuminated version which brings the tea presentation process to a new elegant level.” “The entire staff at Torn Ranch was honored and thrilled that our Green Tea Gourmet Gift Tray was selected,” added Rich Shaffer, sales director for Torn Ranch. “We can’t say that we were aiming to win an award – but that we are constantly working with our tea business based clients, to help them reach their business and lifestyle goals.” Bruce Richardson, owner of Benjamin Press, noted: “Jane Pettigrew and I receive feedback from tea professionals, in both the United States and England, who tell us they use this book for staff training. They are constantly turning to it as a major reference tool as they search for brewing instructions and tasting notes. Thanks to the growing awareness of specialty teas, this book, now in its third edition, continues to be a basic resource in every serious tea drinker's library.” Each year, World Tea Expo attracts thousands of retailers, tea room owners, spa managers, specialty grocery store owners and other business professionals to view more than 200 specialty tea wholesale suppliers and related vendors exhibiting new products and innovations. The Expo has increased in size and scope for the last six years consecutively, earning it and its organizers multiple awards for growth and vision. To register for or find more information about the 2009 World Tea Expo, visit www.worldteaexpo.com. ### The World Tea Expo® is a robust marketplace that brings together hundreds of new products, the latest industry innovations and relevant, cutting-edge educational sessions, providing tea professionals with a one-stop opportunity to help drive their business, field industry growth and encourage further exploration of the art and science of tea. The Fastest 50 awards are given by Tradeshow Week Magazine, a leading publication covering the trade and consumer event industry. The World Tea Expo, World Tea News™ , World Tea Championship™ , World Tea Ratings™, World Tea Buyers Guide™, World Tea Webinars™ and Best Tea Business™ awards are produced by SFG Group LLC, a Nevada-based company. The next World Tea Expo will take place at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, May 2-4, 2009. For more information, visit www.worldteaexpo.com. |
