1883 was a significant year for the world menu. When French herbalist Philibert Routin selected his collection of 35 plant species from the Alps, he did more than create Chambéry Vermouth; he sparked a revolution in the world’s perception of aroma and flavor.

Today is not that different from so many years ago. Modern consumers and operators wants to know what the next big step in flavor will be, and that means searching for new and unique ingredients that challenge the traditional palate. It’s about experimenting and adjusting not only to keep up with demand but to create it. 1883 Maison Routin has a long history of doing just this. Their passionate understanding of the science behind flavor has driven them to continue innovating and inventing for generations. It didn’t take Houston’s long to see how they might enhance our syrup selection.

You need only look at a bottle of 1883 syrup to understand that this vendor is determined to provide an exceptional product. From the design of the label, the style of the bottle, to even the color of the syrup, each element is meticulously designed to entice you into giving it a taste. It’s no wonder why operators are proud to display their bottles of 1883 to customers. But the shape and weight of the glass is no comparison for what’s inside.

1883, without question, offers a premium syrup with every blend. The best ingredients are masterfully combined to elicit the perfect result for both the nose and the palate. Besides crafting a syrup that tastes phenomenal, 1883 also endeavors to make their products authentic. That’s to say that an 1883 cardamom syrup tastes like cardamom; a cayenne pepper syrup tastes like cayenne pepper! It takes a lot of effort to attain that level of fidelity, but 1883 is up to the challenge.

In addition to offering traditional flavors such as Vanilla, Caramel, and Almond, 1883 is known for its more unique options. Besides the previously mentioned spicy cayenne pepper, you’ll find cardamom, madeleine, orchid, blueberry muffin, brownie, caramelized peanut, cherry plum, and even cherry blossom syrup flavors! Whether crafting a coffee, cocktail, or any other recipe, 1883 is dedicated to providing the flavor-enhancing ingredient, no matter how specialized the flavor.

The introduction of this new brand to Houston’s catalog of syrups is meant to enhance the selection of our already existing array of flavors. We believe that 1883 is not just a new option for our customers, but a field of possibility that will compliment any existing syrup order. We look forward to helping you find how that expanded possibility can benefit your business.

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Steven Smith Teamaker (sometimes referred to as Smith Tea) was founded by tea visionary, Steven Smith, to introduce Americans to a new, superior product that would heighten their palates and capture the imagination Smith had refined with his many years in the industry. After co-founding Stash Tea, and then the becoming the mastermind behind Tazo Tea Company, Smith was ready for retirement. However, it wasn’t long before he felt the itch to use his height of experience to develop one more brand, one that would draw even more from his well of creativity and would add a new facet to the industry he had spent a lifetime cultivating.

Houston’s now carries Smith Tea to further enhance our tea selection. This product is made with “only the best tea on the market,” as the Smith Tea website states. Every blend is crafted with meticulous care, not only to provide an exceptional flavor, but also to generate an aroma and appearance that is as unique as it is beautiful. We now offer this premium tea because it meets the demands of a segment of the industry that we believe remains largely untapped: consumers with a deep appreciation and desire for handcrafted tea.

Much of Smith Tea’s product line-up is inspired by its uncommon roots. For starters, the company was born in a 100-year-old blacksmith shop in Portland, Oregon, a city that regularly prides itself on being “weird.” While the location is now used as Smith Tea’s tasting room, the company still draws on the peculiarities of its heritage by developing flavors that are somewhat out of the norm, yet familiar. Here are just a few examples of these distinct takes on classic flavors that have been made available through Houston’s.

Lord Bergamot – reminiscent of Earl Grey, but with a bit more complexity, this black tea is a blend of Ceylon Dimbula and Uva leaves combined with Assam tea and Bergamot oil. The bright richness of the Assam meets citrusy-spicy Bergamot within mineral and floral notes of the companion teas for a malty sweetness.

Meadow – this chamomile tea brings together golden Egyptian flowers, fragrant hyssop, rooibos, rose petals, and linden flowers for a traditional chamomile flavor with a bit of apple and honey on the tail-end. With all of those petals in the bag, this is one chamomile that will have you wowed before it even begins to steep.

Jasmine Silver Tip – if you’re a fan of green tea, then this is definitely the Smith tea for you. Peak green tea leaves are harvested from China’s Fujian Province and steam-fired to seal their flavor. When fresh jasmine buds are added to the mix, the two ingredients form a concoction that is nothing short of magic. Look for hints of brown sugar in this delightful blend.

Exceptional Iced Tea – anyone who enjoys iced tea will tell you that black iced tea is without compare. Smith’s Exceptional Iced Tea combines Assam and Ceylon black teas with classic Nilgiri black tea and a full-flavored Darjeeling. The most prominent flavors you’ll notice are apricot, orange, and a bit of malt: a wonderfully crisp and natural-tasting iced tea.

The initial set of teas that Houston’s has selected from Smith pull from their Black Tea, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, and Iced Tea categories, ensuring that no matter the time of year, the occasion, or the consumer’s preference, we have a tea to match. We are very excited to provide this premium brand of teas, and to help offer a new perspective on your favorite classic.

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From left to right: Ross C., Candice M., Amanda H., Rebecca P., Christina G., Richard C., Jennifer V., and Sam L.

Dr. Smoothie Brands originally came on board with Houston’s in June 2011, starting with approximately 50 different smoothie and frappe mixes. Over the past six and half years, our relationship with Dr. Smoothie Brands has blossomed, and they have quickly become one of Houston’s top vendors. “Dr. Smoothie has become one of our lead-in vendors that gets our sales team in the door with prospective customers,” says Rebecca Phillips, Executive Vice President, “customers know the brand name, and they want the products.”

Dr. Smoothie Brands was purchased by Chicago-based Bevolution Group in late 2016. Taking the opportunity to introduce new management teams for both Houston’s and Bevolution Group, members of our team ventured down to Fullerton, California to visit one of three Bevolution locations. With plants also located in Chicago, Illinois and Frostproof, Florida; the Fullerton plant is where both Dr. Smoothie and Café Essentials products are manufactured and warehoused.

After an introduction to Bevolution Group by CEO Sam Lteif and VP of Sales Richard Crabill, we were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the plant. (For confidentiality purposes, photos weren’t allowed to be taken on the plant floor.) The overall process is extremely efficient, maximizing the production time for both liquid smoothie concentrates and powdered beverage mixes. The ingredients for the liquid smoothie concentrates are mixed onsite in large vats before being hot-packed into clear plastic bottles, and then slowly cooled under streams of chilled water for 45 minutes. Once the bottles are cooled (but still warm to the touch), they are labeled, boxed, and palletized for shipment or storage.

Café Essentials powdered beverage mixes are manufactured by a team of no more than 6 people at a single time, further emphasizing the necessary efficiencies. Again, ingredients are mixed onsite before being dumped into a large hopper than filters, mixes, and dispenses the appropriate amount of product into each package.

THE PRODUCT

Houston’s carries a variety of products from Dr. Smoothie Brands including Classic Smoothie concentrates, 100% Crushed Fruit Smoothie concentrates, Café Essentials frappe and warm beverage mixes, as well as a variety of add-ins and supplements which are not currently manufactured at the Fullerton facility. Dr. Smoothie equates their Classic Smoothie line to other competitive smoothie brands, while positioning 100% Crushed as the all-natural, premium line.

After Bevolution Group acquired Dr. Smoothie Brands last year, Houston’s brought in products from the Tropics Refreshers brand line, also owned by Bevolution. After a soft, off-season introduction, Houston’s and Bevolution have collaborated on a new plan to reintroduce the line in 2018 in conjunction with Coffee Fest and the SCA Global Expo. Often compared to Starbucks’s beverage of the same name, Tropics Refreshers are “handcrafted with a fruit flavored twist that get a little extra oomph from green bean coffee extract,” and the perfect natural, clean-label alternative to other caffeinated beverages. Available in Citrus Mint, Strawberry Acai, and Wildberry, there is sure to be a flavor to suit any pallet.

ABOUT BEVOLUTION

Bevolution’s mission is “setting a standard focused on creating the right culture and putting customers first,” which aligns well with Houston’s focus on customer service and enhancing our internal culture. Bevolution touts themselves as “small enough to be nimble, yet large enough to have scale.” Does that sound familiar?

The company is comprised of four foodservice/beverage industry leaders: Juice Tyme, Lemon-X, Tropics, and Dr. Smoothie Brands. Founded with the purchase of Juice Tyme in 2013, Lteif describes Bevolution as “a fresh thinking company, offering the highest quality beverages, fortified with honesty, innovation, and savvy business growth.” This shows in the organizations continued expansion. Bevolution also acquired Lemon-X (2014) and Tropics (2015) all before bringing Dr. Smoothie Brands on board in 2016. That same year, Bevolution also introduced a new brand of bag-in-a-box beverages, Refrasia, targeting the healthcare industry.

Targeting primarily the specialty coffee and healthcare industries, Bevolution is committed to working with Houston’s to meet the needs of foodservice industry dealers and distributors nationwide.

We look forward to helping Bevolution develop their brands by assisting in nationwide availability and decreasing lead-time to our mutual customers. Keep any eye out for more information on Tropics Refreshers, coming in Spring 2018

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(From left or right) Dean V., Melanie D., Christina G., Rebecca P., Amanda H., Jennifer V., Frank G., and Randy S.

Twenty-five years ago, Houston’s and Torani embarked on the beginning of a long-standing business partnership that has brought ample success and growth to both companies. As one of our top vendors, the Torani management team genuinely understands Houston’s business model and the benefits we provide not only to our customers but to our vendors as well.

After visiting family in Lucca, Italy, Ronaldo and Ezilda Torre returned home to San Francisco, and brought with them hand-written recipes for authentic flavored syrups. Using these recipes, they created Italian Sodas for their neighbors in the North Beach area. With the success of the flavored sodas, Torani was officially launched in 1925 with just five syrup flavors including the tart but sweet citrus flavor, Tamarind. The syrups were later used in bars as liquor flavorings and in the 1980’s to create the first-ever flavored latte, which helped propel Torani into the coffee market and helped to establish their global presence.

Touring the Torani plant

In August of 2017, members of our management team were invited to visit Torani HQ and tour the manufacturing facility and warehouse space. The employee-oriented, family-like culture is immediately apparent, and the bright colors of the office space enhance the high-energy atmosphere. Melanie Dulbecco, Torani’s CEO, describes the company’s culture and business approach as a 92-year old startup, “We’re constantly innovating and growing.” With three automated production lines complete with palletization, Torani’s San Francisco facility runs a very efficient ship. Fresh product is trucked down the street to a newly acquired warehouse space, which is utilized in conjunction with Houston’s and another third party warehouse facility in Texas to house product used to service customers within the U.S.

Dulbecco recalls Torani’s growth through Cash&Carry utilizing our Merchandising Department, “Out real estate with the stores went from a few shelves to half an aisle, seemingly overnight.” With their product now occupying a minimum of 32-feet of shelving space in most Cash&Carry stores, the effects of Houston’s services are evident as Torani’s sales are three to four times higher in stores that our team merchandises.

Christina G. and Rebecca P. at the annual Italian Heritage Parade in San Francisco

Torani’s team is on top of industry trends and constantly working towards developing the next new taste or sensory experience that’s worth sharing in today’s digitally connected society. With research showing younger consumers prefer fanciful flavors, a la Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappe, the food and beverage industry is not exempt from trends starting and going viral on social media. Torani is aware of this, and has invested efforts in their own social media platforms as well as in Research & Development.

To recognize and celebrate our 25 years of partnership, Rebecca Phillips and Christina Graiff joined Torani in their annual appearance in San Francisco’s Italian Heritage Parade. Complete with choreographed dance moves, a decked-out trolley car, 8-foot inflatable Torani bottle, blaring music, candy being handed out to the crowd, and more than 100 Torani employees and their families all donning the same branded red shirt – the level of participation and camaraderie amongst Torani employees is nothing short of inspiring. The parade route travels through the heart of “little Italy,” where restaurant move tables our onto the sidewalk and street, reserving space months in advance just for the parade. All of San Francisco seems to get involved, with one of the highlights of the day being the performance by the Blue Angels

Houston’s looks forward to many more years of partnership with Torani, as we continue to grow and find mutual success in the foodservice and coffee industries!

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