National Coffee Day is on September 29ISTOCK.COM
Enjoying a cup of coffee is one of life’s simple pleasures, but ensuring Canadians have access to the widest range of beans and brews requires companies in the sector to optimize complex supply chain processes, develop omni-channel strategies and adopt innovative new technology applications like blockchain.
These subjects are all on the agenda for The Craft of Coffee, the Coffee Association of Canada’s (CAC) annual conference to be held this year on November 6 in Toronto.
With operations around the world, Starbucks is at the forefront of innovation, and Michael Conway, EVP and president of Starbucks Canada, will be the keynote speaker at the conference, sharing insights into the leading-edge initiatives that drive the company’s success.
One of the most anticipated events at the conference will be highlights from CAC’s 2018 Coffee Drinking Trends Study, the association’s annual proprietary report that tracks consumer preferences and category statistics.
CAC president Lesya Balych-Cooper says the study shows that espresso-based beverages consumed by 18- to 24-year-olds are still the primary drivers of growth in the Canadian market.
“An increase in the percentage of people who acknowledged ‘coffee is good for my health’ in the survey is also interesting,” she says.
“There have been so many studies in recent years confirming coffee consumption is positively related to health and well-being,” says Ms. Balych-Cooper, noting a study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine showing coffee may boost longevity, and a Harvard-led study that concluded drinking one to five cups of coffee per day was associated with fewer deaths from cardiovascular and neurological disease.
Trends aside, one of the conference guarantees is that delegates will be able to enjoy a great cup of coffee as they contemplate the emergence of influences like crypto-currencies and blockchain.
Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s Editorial department was not involved in its creation.