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R e s t a u r a n t D a i l y N e w s M o n d a y, M a y 2 0 , 2 0 1 3 4 4 PORT-A-COOL'S EVAPORATIVE COOLING UNITS FIT WHEN A/C WON'T DO An interview with Ben Wulf, Vice President of Marketing, Port-A-Cool, LLC. RDN: Tell our readers about your com- pany. What's your main line of business? BW: Port-A-Cool, LLC is the worldwide industry leader in the design and manu- facture of portable evaporative cooling units, evaporative cooling media and accessories. Since 1991, our company has been producing a wide range of units that cost effectively cool 500 to 4,000 square feet. Our units can lower temperatures up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit for an hourly operating cost of 0.05 cents to 0.28 cents, depending on the size of the unit. RDN: What would you say makes your company unique? BW: Port-A-Cool portable evaporative cooling units are an ideal way to eco- nomically and effectively reduce temper- atures where traditional air conditioning is impractical or cost prohibitive. We dif- ferentiate ourselves within the evapora- tive cooling industry in two ways. One, we offer the widest variety of products to fit specific applications as evidenced by our newest release for outdoor dining venues. Two, Port-A-Cool units use KÜÜL ® pads cooling media. These pads offer the highest quality rigid cooling media with the highest resin content on the market. The result is the most effi- cient, effective evaporative cooling pos- sible for the end user. RDN: What was the most significant event or series of events affecting your company in the past year? BW: 2011 and 2012 had unprecedented heat waves that affected the nation from coast-to-coast. Business owners and con- sumers began a quest to find cooling solutions that are affordable, practical and effective. Our offering of effective and efficient units ranging in size from industrial applications to residential size uniquely positioned us to offer a cooling solution for virtually every climate and every need. RDN: Describe your company's current marketing strategy. BW: We are working to educate end users and decision makers about the benefits of using evaporative cooling. Our units provide a natural cooling method that utilizes water and requires low wattage to run. There are no refrig- erants or compressors, therefore allow- ing us to make an impact on heat and not our environment. We are focusing our marketing efforts on raising aware- ness in key trade pubs and engaging attendees at trade shows with the prod- uct in person. Seeing and feeling the cool air in person provides the most powerful testimonial. RDN: Are you introducing any new products? BW: Yes, in 2013 we will be unveiling an evaporative cooler that is aimed specifically at cooling outdoor patio venues operated by restaurants and bars. We've harnessed the power of our traditional coolers with a design that is geared to the specific needs of the operator and the patrons. This will translate into the ability to max- imize space and business potential even in unbearable heat. RDN: What distinguishes our products from the competition? BW: We do not experience much com- petition from comparable evaporative cooling competitors. Where air condi- tioning is impractical, most end users will have tried the use of oscillating fans that blow hot, stagnant air versus chilled air. Others operate misting systems that can leave a wet affect without dropping temperatures. There just isn't a compar- ison to our ability to effectively spot cool where it is needed. During the show visit booth 1845 at the National Restaurant Association Show. After the show visit www.port-a- cool.com, email marketing@port-a- cool.com or call 800-695-2942. KARAT WILL BE MADE IN THE USA SOON Beginning as a small shop in 2000 just east of Los Angeles, Lollicup ® USA, Inc. provided hundreds of thirsty cus- tomers with tea or coffee beverages. Since then Lollicup USA, Inc. has evolved to a leading distributor of bev- erage and restaurant solutions as well as the producer of TeaZone ® beverage products, along with providing foodser- vice essentials. Lollicup USA, Inc. is also the manufacturer of Karat premium paper and plastic disposable products and Karat Earth eco-friendly paper and plastic disposables. With the painful realization of a slow recovery from recession, Lollicup USA, Inc. will shift its production of Karat and Karat Earth products to be Made in the USA creating more manu- facturing jobs domestically. Estimated to be carried out within the next couple of years, Lollicup USA, Inc. will build a production plant in California. "We are proud to say we are beginning to shift product production from overseas to United States while others are shifting from being Made in USA," stated Alan Yu, President and CEO of Lollicup USA, Inc. Lollicup USA, Inc. prides itself in delivering a high-quality service and premium products and with plans to be manufactured local- ly Lollicup USA Inc. will be able to reduce its carbon footprint made through shipping and transporta- tion of their products. Whether through its beverage and restaurant products or through its line of paper and plastic disposable products under the Karat and Karat Earth brands, Lollicup USA Inc. is dedicated to creating quality goods. Karat offers a full line of afford- able premium paper and plastics that include PET cups, translucent plastic PP cups, paper hot and cold cups, straws, paper food containers, and other disposables. Complimentary to the sturdy line of Karat prod- ucts are the Karat Earth line by Lollicup USA, Inc. Karat Earth offers a full line of eco- friendly PLA cups and eco- friendly paper food containers that are contemporary and consistent with today's modern and green society. Notably, the Karat Beverage Napkins are widely used at cafes, smoothie stores, and tea shops. They are made from premium paper and are available for custom printing. For more information about Lollicup USA, Inc., TeaZone products, and Karat and Karat Earth products, please visit them at the National Restaurant Association Show booth 1263. CHINESE VISITORS MAKE SPLASH AT THE NRA SHOW In 2012, 171 Chinese (including approx- imately 30 exhibit personnel) attended the NRA Show. This 56 percent increase compared to 2010 is a testament to the growing commerce between the U.S. and China. Based on surveys of the attendees, they represent importers, restaurateurs and HRI suppliers hailing from Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing and a number of other cities. Their interests include fla- vorings, health foods, organic foods, meat and poultry products and equip- ment. They have already purchased more than $49 million and anticipate purchasing an additional $30 million in U.S. food products based on their visit to the show. Chinese culture places a huge emphasis on food and hospitality. Entertaining is a big deal! New Western visitors to China are likely to be awed by the size of some of the larger restaurants, some of which can seat several thousand people in a combination of large open spaces and hundreds of private rooms. Meanwhile, as more and more Chinese families include two wage earners, casu- al dining out has gained greater and greater traction featuring both Western and local style fast foods. The Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional sector has been one of the main beneficiaries of China's economic boom since market liberalization began more than 30 years ago. The growth in business activity and incomes, which has spread across most of China, has created a new and growing middle class with higher standards and expectations. And, the Chinese middle class is creat- ing new generations of young people who have never experienced or wit- nessed the hard times experienced by their grandparents. At this point, middle class con- sumers are expected to be more than 50 percent of all consumers by 2015. As a result of this wide- spread increase in wealth, there will be scores of millions more consumers with disposable income to spend in higher level stores and in better dining establish- ments. These trends are obvious to travel- ers visiting cities such as Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu and Xian in the interior or coastal cities like Dalian, Qingdao or Xiamen. The HRI sector is also supported by increasing demand for a wide vari- ety of Chinese and international cuisines. Pushed by the influx of for- eign business residents and by the booming Chinese travel industry that is taking people around the country and the world, many restaurants are finding success selling a wide variety of non-Chinese foods and in infusing Western foods into their traditional menus. In addition, the huge number of visitors to China is supporting an equally booming business for five star hotels. Although China's population includes a growing number of seniors, the sheer size means that there are plenty of young customers open to international styles and cuisines. Food safety con- cerns and government efforts to improve food safety in the HRI sector have provide a lift for imported food and beverage products from sources perceived to have high qualitative and safety standards. All of this means that China is a strong and growing market for imported food and institutional kitchen products. As a result, the annual NRA Show in Chicago has enjoyed excellent atten- dance from China in recent years, setting a new record in 2011 and remaining strong in 2012. Don't be surprised if Chinese visitors have a strong interest in your product! For more information about opportunities in China, please visit www.usdachina.org.