STiR coffee and tea magazine

10 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 1, 2018 (February / March) NEWS Martin Bauer Names New President Martin Bauer Group has announced the appointment of Ennio Ranaboldo as its new president of Martin Bauer Inc., the wholly owned US subsidiary based in Secaucus, NJ. Ennio Ranaboldo Ennio has joined the group after a long tenure at Lavazza, the world-renowned coffee company, where he was instru- mental in establishing it as one of the leading specialty coffee brands in North America. He is a US and Italian national, and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and three children. "We are happy to have Ennio onboard, taking a lead of a capable team, tasked with the job of serving our clients and growing our presence not only organically but through a carefully planned expansion strategy, and a much more robust direct presence in the US." – said Albert Ferstl, managing director and board member of Martin Bauer Group. "It's a true honor to be part of the Martin Bauer family, whose legacy, solidity and outstanding products are not only a guarantee of quality and reliability for the industry and our customers, but the foundation for growth across all channels, also through stronger commercial alliances and, potentially, targeted acquisi- tions," said Ranaboldo. California Coffee Shops Post Cancer Warning Coffee sellers in California, including Starbucks and 7-11, have posted cancer warnings in light of a lawsuit that states consumers are entitled to a "clear and reasonable warning" when products contain compounds that may have adverse effects on their health. The court has not issued a ruling enforcing the suit, but many other coffee shops and California restaurants are expected to comply. Coffee contains trace amounts of acrylamide, a chemical created during the roasting process that has been linked to cancer. Acrylamide appears on California's list of harmful chemicals. Similar warnings are displayed on other foods, such as French fries and potato chips, which can also contain acrylamide. The Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT) filed the lawsuit in 2010, citing Proposition 65 which mandates warnings of possible harm from a range of 800 compounds. The warning is hotly opposed by roasters who cite the health benefits of coffee and a finding by the World Health Organization (WHO) that coffee is "not carcinogenic to humans." In fact, studies show that coffee consumption has been linked to reductions in the risks for certain types of cancer, including skin, prostate, endometrial, colon, and liver cancer. Not all research shows that the small amounts of acryl- amide obtained through diet are harmful, due to the small amounts present. However, a judge ruled that regardless of these findings, acrylamide is known to degrade to glycidamide which is proven to harm DNA and is linked to cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. The warnings are currently posted in shops and could possibly be required on packages of roasted coffee. Keurig and Dr Pepper Snapple Merge Coffee conglomerate JAB Holdings, owners of Keurig Green Mountain, Peet's Coffee & Teas, Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee, Douwe Egberts, Einstein Bagels, and Krispy Kreme Donuts, has announced its intent to enter into an $18.7 billion merger with Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Mondelēz International will retain a 14% stake in the venture which is expected to generate about $11 billion in annual sales. The new firm, to be called Keurig Dr Pepper, "will create a very large beverage company which addresses today's consumer needs, with a powerful platform of consumer brands and an unparalleled distribution capability to reach virtually every consumer, every- where," according to Keurig c.e.o. Bob Gamgort who will assume the top job in Burlington, Vermont. Larry Young, president and c.e.o of Dr Pepper Snapple, said the combination will "attract new brands and beverage categories to our platform in a fast-chang- ing industry landscape."

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