PEOPLE NEWS.

Passion Tea Company

Julie Hoffer, previously with

Emily Rose, has recently gone solo and started Passion Tea Company with the head office located in Nassau, Bahamas. The company will focus their attention on foodservice/cup service for restaurants and hotels as well as promoting a new line of iced teas. Hoffer, who has many years of experience in tea blending, is confident and excited about Passion Tea Company and experimented with new flavors and blending techniques to create a refreshing line of teas. Working together with the Barcardi Rum Group, she has included Barcardi Rum in a range of tea blends and now offers the Nassau Royale Liqueur in Coconut, Pineapple, Banana and Vanilla. With her hands on approach to business, Hoffer has produced what she believes to be the ultra premium line of teas.

Being Bahamian herself, she understands the concept of a fine tea. Hoffer acknowledges the competitive environment and realizes the beverage industry to be fierce, but she feels confident that she has a superior quality product and the packaging to support it.

Robertet Announces Staff Addition & Promotions

Robertet Flavors, Inc. recently announced the following staff addition and promotions:

Elizabeth Feeley was promoted to technical administration supervisor. She has been employed at Robertet Flavors for 10 years.

Angela Getzel was promoted to food technologist. She has been employed at Robertet for three years as an associate food technologist.

Chris Iasparro was promoted to flavorist. He has worked as associate flavorist at Robertet for the past four years.

Joan Muniz has joined the company as a customer service representative in the customer service department.

Suzanne Niekrasz was promoted to director of marketing communications. She has been employed at Robertet for the past six years.

Starbucks Names New Executives

Starbucks Coffee Company recently named Jim Alling, senior vice president, North American Retail, and Henry "Hank" J. Suerth, senior vice president, Business Alliances. Suerth replaces Ailing who had previously served as senior vice president, Business Alliances.

As senior vice president, North American Retail, Alling will replace Bruce Craig, who is retiring at the end of 2001. Alling will assume responsibility of maintaining Starbucks aggressive retail growth plans and continue Craig's goal of continuously improving the customer experience.

"Jim's leadership skills and financial acumen along with his commitment to offer the highest quality products to Starbucks customers are significant assets to North American Retail," said Paul Davis, president, North America.

"Hank's extensive experience, broad and deep management skills, and visionary leadership will be a strong asset," Davis said. "He brings a unique perspective that will positively impact the overall development of the company."

Five Roses Quality Tea's New U.S. Distributor

National Brands Limited named Grant Fairlie of John Sommer, Inc. as distributor of Five Roses Quality Tea for the U.S.

"I'm enthusiastic about this opportunity to introduce Five Roses' signature tea blends into the U.S. market and create a dialogue with the buyers to meet their needs. Five Roses looks forward to actively providing excitement in stores and in the media to pull our signature products off the shelves." says Fair lie.

He went on to become director of procurement for Checker's, South Africa's largest supermarket chain, and director of procurement for Compass Group, South Africa, a division of Compass PLC, the largest food service company in the U.K. Fairlie moved to the U.S. in 1999 and bought the renown John Sommer, Inc. Company, with head offices in Novato, CA.

Key Technology Names Product Manager

Key Technology, Inc. has promoted Rick Garrett to product manager for the Processing/Preparation Systems equipment product line. As product manager, he will be responsible for development and marketing of Key's award-winning Turbo-Flo blancher/cooker; fruit and vegetable cleaning and cooling equipment; sizing, mixing, and metering equipment; and other processing products.

Garrett joined Key in January 1999. He has served as project manager for Key's Impulse electromagnetic conveyors, and on the development teams for the Marathon and Horizon conveying products. He is currently managing standardization of belt conveyor design. Before joining Key, he was a mechanical and project engineer in the pulp-paper industry, and managed production for a consumer food-appliance firm.

Gordon Wicher, Key's vice president/general manager of Process Control Systems, stated, "Rick's expertise in engineering design and management, and his understanding of processing challenges will help Key continue to improve and develop new products to meet our customers' expanding needs."