The BSA launches the 2012 Beverage Standards Awards – the Michelin stars of the coffee industry - 10/02/2012

	Rebecca Stone, owner, The Bottle Kiln, showing the five coffee cup logos, representing the BSA Five Cup Accredited Standard

 

The Beverage Standards Association (www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk) is calling all ‘out of home’ cafes (fixed & mobile) and restaurants to enter this year’s prestigious Beverage Standards Awards – the Michelin stars of the coffee industry, open to members and non-members.

As with the famous Michelin Guide, only anonymous trained assessors will provide accurate and impartial assessments of an outlet’s beverages and service. Instead of ‘stars’, the BSA’s ‘cup’ rankings will be awarded to the different outlets. These BSA cup logos will be displayed on the doors or windows to show the general public the standard of the outlet.

The cups are a recognised symbol on the door. If a café has three coffee cups, for example, the general public will know its beverages, service and facilities are very good – more than that, they will know it’s outstanding.

Rebecca Stone, owner of The Bottle Kiln, which in last year’s Awards not only achieved 5 cup status, the highest BSA cup grade but also the Best Cappuccino, Latte and Flat White Award, says “I recommend every coffee shop out there to enter as the Awards are an excellent tool to push the standards of a business higher while offering an opportunity to receive feedback on many aspects of your business,” she says. “The great publicity surrounding the Awards helps bring The Bottle Kiln to the forefront of potential customers. The competition is a positive tool to focus staff, achieve maximum levels of customer service and maintain consistency and quality of products.”

Martyn Herriott, Executive Director, Beverage Standards Association (BSA) says “We urge all coffee shops to enter these Awards. The general public will be able to assess coffee shops in the same way as restaurants by seeing how many coffee cups an outlet has been awarded – so it will boost business. We are hopeful of awarding the highest cup grade of five coffee cups again this year.

We know that the return of the industry’s National Accreditation Standards Scheme is invaluable for owners, operators and customers alike. All entries to the Awards receive feedback advice from the judges’ reports. For the first time, as part of the Awards, entrants will be judged on environmental sustainability - for example, whether they use recycled materials and follow a strict environmental policy."

In addition to the cup ranking competition where outlets will be able to score between 1 and 5 BSA cups, five being the maximum grading, there will be the five National Best Drinks Awards for Best Small Espresso, Best Cappuccino, Latte or Flat White Coffee, Best Filter or Cafetiere Coffee, Best Tea and Best Hot Chocolate.

Sponsors of the Awards include: 
Kimbo UK, 3M Water Filtration, Barry Callebaut and Taylors of Harrogate.

HOW TO ENTER
Entries can include cafes, tea shops, cafes within hotels or bars, restaurant, mobiles, beverage carts and service areas. One entry fee covers entry to the BSA National Accreditation Standard Scheme and all five Beverage Awards. The fee is £38 (plus VAT) for BSA members per café/site/mobile per entry and £50 (plus VAT) for non BSA members per café/site/mobile per entry. Closing date for entries to be received is 23 May, 2012.

For more information and an entry form, visit www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk

Judging starts in May and the Awards will be presented at a glittering Awards ceremony in London in September.

WHAT PAST WINNERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BEVERAGE STANDARDS AWARDS
“It was great to take confidence in what we are doing with regards to serving exceptional beverages and providing a warm and inviting environment. Word of mouth and a sense of pride from our regular custom has increased and the number of new customers is on the up.”
Gordon Howell, Harlequin & The Attic, York, 2011 BSA Five Cup Accredited Standard and BSA Best Espresso Coffee Award

“It was a great achievement for us to be recognised and acknowledged by the organisation and it added credibility to our brand and we gained a considerable amount of positive PR as a result of winning. It also had a huge boost to the team working within Tea Monkey.”
Tracey Bovingdon, founder, Tea Monkey, Milton Keynes, 2011 BSA Four Cup Accredited Standard and 2011 BSA Best Tea Award winner.

“It has refreshed my outlook on life and encourages me to go for achieving my dreams. It’s generated interest not only from the day to day business, but also from event organisers wanting the best coffee at their event. I was featured in the local paper and it generated interest not only from customers but also businesses that weren’t aware of my service.”
Laura Macrae Cafe2U Aberdeen West, mobile unit, 2011 BSA Four Cup Accredited Standard

“We received publicity in the local paper which produced curious customers to visit us. Winning the BSA Award was reassurance for all the hard work of staff training and knowing that each customer received quality of service and product. I was proud of all the team and my standards; the BSA Award gave a boost to me and my team.”
Nicki Jameson, The Ridge, Haldon Forest Park, near Exeter, 2011 BSA Five Cup Accredited Standard

ABOUT THE BEVERAGE STANDARDS ASSOCIATION
The Association is dedicated to fostering the growth of the UK out-of-home beverage market, to raising the quality of beverages produced and the standard of service provided. One way in which it achieves this is through education; training, information and communication. Another is through better standards of practice, honesty and integrity between all sectors of the industry with all members upholding and protecting these.

The Association provides a platform from which to address the government, legislative bodies and the media on matters which concern members.

For further information about joining the BSA please contact Martyn Herriott at info@beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk.

There are two principal Award Categories:-
This is made up of the BSA's unique 5 cup grading™ scheme.
Sponsored by

Updated: Saturday, 24th March 2012