Something new is brewing for the February 2008 Convenience Retailing Conference in San Antonio, Texas. For the first time in the event’s history, Andrew Hetzel of leading retail coffee consultancy Cafemakers will teach attendees the ins and outs of specialty coffee.

“I’m delighted by the way that convenience retailers have welcomed this opportunity to learn more about specialty coffee and the techniques that can improve beverage quality and flavor in convenience store settings,” says Hetzel.

Described as a unique learning platform for retailers to pursue personal and professional growth while networking among industry leaders, CRC’s 2008 symposium boasts an impressive lineup of featured speakers, including: Dr. Stephen Covey, founder and vice chairman of FranklinCovey, Steve Wosniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, and 2008 presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney.

Attendees of Mr. Hetzel’s C-Store Specialty Coffee Success session, sponsored by Sara Lee Foodservice, will have the opportunity to experience professional coffee tasting, learn the basics of specialty coffee preparation and hear case examples that highlight critical success factors necessary to implement successful specialty coffee programs in convenience stores.
The 2008 Convenience Retailing Conference will be held at the San Antonio Grand Hyatt on February 11-13. For more information and to register, visit the conference website at www.convenienceretailing.com