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NAMA CTW Draws 800 Chapman Wins Coffee Legend Award

STRONG TURNOUT: NAMA Coffee, Tea & Water opening session drew a crowd for keynote address by La Colombe's Todd Carmichael and the presentation of the Coffee Legend Award to industry veteran Howard Chapman, Royal Cup Coffee (Birmingham, AL). ANAHEIM, CA-- The National Automatic Merchandising Association drew nearly 800 industry members to the Anaheim Marriott Hotel here for the association's 12th annual Coffee Tea & Water (CTW) convention. About 130 companies exhibited at the CTW trade show...

December 19, 2019 by Tim Sanford

STRONG TURNOUT:NAMA Coffee, Tea & Water opening session drew a crowd for keynote address by La Colombe's Todd Carmichael and the presentation of the Coffee Legend Award to industry veteran Howard Chapman, Royal Cup Coffee (Birmingham, AL).

ANAHEIM, CA -- The National Automatic Merchandising Association drew nearly 800 industry members to the Anaheim Marriott Hotel here for the association's 12th annual Coffee Tea & Water (CTW) convention. About 130 companies exhibited at the CTW trade show, which once again was organized in cooperation with the International Bottled Water Association.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of NAMA's Coffee Legend Award, which recognizes an industry leader for consistent contribution to the advancement of professional refreshment services. This year's winner is Howard Chapman, Royal Cup Coffee & Tea (Birmingham, AL). The presentation was made during the opening general session of the 2019 CTW, at which chairman Greg Sidwell, G&J Marketing & Sales, presided. The award was presented by Jon Snyder, Snyder Food Services (Fort Wayne, IN), current chairman of the Coffee Service Committee.

Association president and chief executive officer Carla Balakgie hailed Chapman for making "an undeniable impact on the channel and the industry overall."

WELL DONE: At left, Royal Cup's Howard Chapman (left) receives Coffee Legend award from NAMA Coffee Service Committee chairman Jon Snyder, Snyder Food Services (Ft. Wayne, IN). At right, Chapman expresses his appreciation for the honor.

GREG SIDWELL                                        CARLA BALAKGIE

"For his leadership and passion for advancing coffee services and his commitment to helping industry colleagues, we are honored to recognize Howard as this year's Coffee Legend," she applauded.

Chapman, a 30-year veteran of the office refreshments industry, most recently served as president of Royal Cup's office coffee division for nearly 10 years. He joined the company as a district manager in Atlanta, GA, and rose steadily through the executive ranks.

Along with his management responsibilities at Royal Cup, Chapman served in a number of leadership roles for NAMA, culminating in his election to chairman as well as chair of the NAMA Foundation. He was also Coffee Service Committee chair, leading the initial development of the association's Coffee, Tea and Water group's strategic plan and co-chairing its Positioning for Growth Capital Campaign. In 2011, he was recognized as OCS Operator of the Year.

Active in his local community through past leadership roles in the United Way of Central Alabama, Chapman presently serves as an Elder at Mountain Brook Community Church.

Keynoting the general meeting was Todd Carmichael, co-founder and chief executive officer of La Colombe Coffee Roasters (Philadelphia, PA). He was introduced by Karen Webster, chief financial officer of Newco Enterprises (St. Charles, MO).

Carmichael, a world traveler whose remarkable accomplishments include becoming the first American to complete a solo hike across Antarctica from the coast to the South Pole, led off by explaining that he always has been fascinated by trails -- "I'm curious about what's at the end of a trail," he said. This curiosity sparked his interest in coffee, which is grown in exotic places at the end of rewarding trails and he remains an enthusiastic traveler to coffee-growing regions.

"It has been said that all trails have been discovered," Carmichael continued. "They haven't. Nothing is ever finished; you can always make a new trail. You're never finished, either; you always evolve."

Similarly, he said, it is commonly said that life is short -- "But life is very long. It's our memory of it that's short. Life is an endurance match; you want to be the last one standing. Endurance works; passion isn't enough."

Carmichael noted that, throughout the 19th Century, coffee was sold by thousands of small, local roasting companies -- "micro roasters" -- because there was no way to keep ground coffee fresh. That changed in 1900 with the introduction of the vacuum-packed can, which extended the shelf-life sufficiently to permit distribution over much larger territories. "Then Howard Schultz bought Starbucks and put a store on every corner." That changed American coffee again, and micro roasters are back.

KAREN WEBSTER                                     TODD CARMICHAEL

Carmichael, whose early experience included working for Starbucks, partnered with Jean Philippe Iberti to establish La Colombe, originally a coffee-shop in Philadelphia where the partners roasted beans in small batches. Along the way, Carmichael continued his coffee-focused travel, and became the host of two popular programs on the Travel Channel:  Dangerous Groundsand Uncommon Grounds.La Colombe also has become a leading supplier of coffee to restaurants, and continues to open new cafés in major urban areas.

Following his presentation, Carmichael conversed with NAMA's Balakgie. He observed that a key to success is "knowing how to tell a story … and knowing how to tell your story."

Another first at the 2019 NAMA CTW was the presentation of the new People's Choice award winners, selected by showgoers who cast their votes in the exhibit area's New Product Zone. The winners were, in Beverages, La Colombe's Oatmilk Draft Latte in vanilla and caramel flavors; in Breakroom Supplies, Holiday House Distributing for its Deluxe Pod Rack for breakrooms; and in Brewing, Dispensing and Filtration Equipment, Coca-Cola Co.'s Costa. In Creamers, Syrups and Sweeteners, Javamelts' Javamelts plant-based flavored sweeteners. In CTW-Related Food and Snacks, Awake Chocolate's Caffeinated Chocolate Bars; and in Micromarket and Pantry Furniture, Kiosks, Racks, Heating, Cooling, Technology, PopSockets' PopThirst reusable insulated grips for hot-drink cups and cold beverage cans.

"Congratulations to the People's Choice winners," said NAMA vice-president of programs and services Lindsey Nelson. "This year, competition for this honorary title was particularly fierce, given the extensive innovation reflected on the show floor."

The 2020 Coffee Tea & Water show is scheduled for Nov. 9 through 11 in Orlando, FL.

TELLING THE STORY:NAMA president and chief executive officer Carla Balakgie interviews La Colombe Coffee cofounder Todd Carmichael after his keynote address at the CTW convention. World traveler and coffee expert Carmichael identified endurance and story-telliing as keys to success.

 

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