Wake Up and Smell the Branding: Green Mountain to Change Name to Keurig Finally

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. will ask its shareholders to approve a name change to Keurig Green Mountain Inc. at its annual meeting on March 6 in Burlington. CEO Brian Kelley said Friday he expects shareholders to approve the name change.

“We have been thinking about the name change for a while,” Kelley said. “So much of our business is driven by the Keurig single-cup system. It really is a reflection of who we are as a company.”

Kelley said consumers won’t notice any difference as a result of the name change. Green Mountain Coffee will remain the brand name for the company’s roasted coffee. The Waterbury company has grown to annual sales in excess of $4 billion largely on the success of its K-Cup brewing system, invented by Keurig, which brews coffee quickly in single-serving portions.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters initially took a small stake in Keurig, based in Boston, but seven years ago bought the remaining shares of the company.

“As we have effectively and successfully brought the two companies together, we decided it was time to reflect that in the name of the company,” Kelley said. “The new name emphasizes the fact that the Keurig beverage system has taken America by storm and the Green Mountain brand of coffee is the most powerful brand in that system.”

Green Mountain Coffee stock closed at $80.76 Friday, up 7 cents.

Original article can be found at: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20140110/BUSINESS/301100044/Green-Mountain-Coffee-plans-name-change?nclick_check=1

Panera Bread Puts Branded K-cups on Retail Shelves in US

Panera Bread Co. is getting in on the K-Cup action.

The fast casual chain said it would debut single-serve coffee pods nationwide, featuring the same coffee served at its 1,736 bakery-cafes.

Panera already offers ground coffee, but the pods are meant to be more convenient for customers who want to drink Panera coffee at home. The coffee is from Distant Lands Coffee, based in Texas.

The pods are currently available at Supervalue, Save Mart, Hy-Vee, Dierbergs and select Winn-Dixie locations.

“With Panera Single-Serve Cups we are offering them the same fresh coffee experience in their own kitchen,” Stephanie Crimmins, vice president, said in a statement.

St. Louis-based Panera reported a profit of $43 million on revenue of $572.5 million for the quarter ended Sept. 24. But with just a 1.7 percent rise in comparable same-store sales, company executives are taking “deliberate steps” to drive transactions and add operational capabilities.

Overall, single-cup brewing has taken off in recent years, and now accounts for 13 percent of the market, according to research firm IBISWorld.

“Consumers are increasingly demanding specialized, high-quality coffee products, particularly in single use servings,” analyst IBISWorld Sarah Turk wrote in September.

In October, local coffee roaster Ronnoco Coffee Co. disclosed its own plans to launch a “K-cup” next year. “They’re very much on trend,” said Scott Meader, who is CEO of the $60 million company, at the time.
But Panera may have a harder sell, according to Jack Russo, an analyst with Edward Jones who covers Starbucks.

“Panera is not known really for their coffee but for their sandwiches and breads,” he said in an email message. “But it is worth a try and this can be (a) profitable, high margin business for them if it works out.

Original article can be located here: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2013/11/panera-launches-single-serve-coffee-pods.html

Restaurant Chains Recognize Value In Private Label: Big Name Brands Soon Expanding to Retail

Providing one more indication of how challenging the restaurant business is now, several chains this week announced plans to offer signature menu items at retail.

McDonald’s and Kraft announced a partnership that will test retail sales of McCafé coffee next year in whole-bean, ground and K-cup varieties. The announcement comes almost exactly one year after McDonald’s began selling bagged McCafé coffee at its Canada stores. There, a 340-gram (approximately 12 ounces) bag is sold for CAD $6.99 (about US $6.70). The companies did not say what U.S. pricing will be.

In a statement, McDonald’s said, “”We are building on the momentum of our McCafé beverages in our restaurants by expanding these options…to grocery stores and other retail locations.” Several other chains sell their branded coffee in and outside their stores, including Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme and Panera Bread.

Casual-dining chain Red Robin Gourmet Burgers today said it will sell Red Robin Seasoned Steak Fries in supermarket frozen-food sections. The company says the frozen fries offer “the same great taste as the Bottomless Steak Fries served in Red Robin restaurants.” The 22-oz. packages will have a suggested retail price of $3.19.

Finally, Arby’s announced it is packaging its Signature Sauces available in bottles for a limited time at local stores. These include its Horsey Sauce and its Arby’s Sauce.

Earlier this year, the Whataburger chain began selling its spicy ketchup, regular ketchup and mustard along with Whatafries  french fries through HEB supermarkets. And chains aren’t alone in going retail: Blanc Burgers + Bottles in Kansas City, Mo., sells its bottled ketchup and aïoli at retail.