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[[Image:Royal Cup logo. | [[Image:Royal Cup logo.jpg|right|225px]] | ||
'''Royal Cup Coffee, Inc.''' is a privately-held coffee and tea importer, roaster and distributor based at 160 [[Cleage Drive]] near [[Pinson Valley Parkway]] in northeast [[Birmingham]]. The company distributes to restaurants, offices, hotels, airlines, resorts and convenience stores across North America and the Caribbean. It also provides and maintains coffee serving equipment through a national network of trained route managers and technicians. The business reported $176 million in sales for [[2007]] and employs over 600 workers. | '''Royal Cup Coffee, Inc.''' is a privately-held coffee and tea importer, roaster and distributor based at 160 [[Cleage Drive]] near [[Pinson Valley Parkway]] in northeast [[Birmingham]]. The company distributes to restaurants, offices, hotels, airlines, resorts and convenience stores across North America and the Caribbean. It also provides and maintains coffee serving equipment through a national network of trained route managers and technicians. The business reported $176 million in sales for [[2007]] and employs over 600 workers. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
<gallery> | |||
Image:Royal Cup 1920 ad.jpg|1920 ad for Batterton Coffee Co. | |||
Image:Royal Cup 1928.png|1928 ad for Royal Cup Blend Coffee | |||
Image:Royal Cup label 1930s.jpg|1930s Royal Cup label | |||
</gallery> | |||
The Royal Cup name was first used to designate a brand of coffees and teas sold by the '''Batterton Coffee Company'''. The company was founded under another name in [[1896]] and bought out of near-failure in [[1906]] by [[Henry Batterton]]. Batterton revived the company and sold Royal Cup as well as '''Garland''' brand beverages and spices. | The Royal Cup name was first used to designate a brand of coffees and teas sold by the '''Batterton Coffee Company'''. The company was founded under another name in [[1896]] and bought out of near-failure in [[1906]] by [[Henry Batterton]]. Batterton revived the company and sold Royal Cup as well as '''Garland''' brand beverages and spices. | ||
Revision as of 01:30, 31 January 2011
Royal Cup Coffee, Inc. is a privately-held coffee and tea importer, roaster and distributor based at 160 Cleage Drive near Pinson Valley Parkway in northeast Birmingham. The company distributes to restaurants, offices, hotels, airlines, resorts and convenience stores across North America and the Caribbean. It also provides and maintains coffee serving equipment through a national network of trained route managers and technicians. The business reported $176 million in sales for 2007 and employs over 600 workers.
History
1920 ad for Batterton Coffee Co.
1928 ad for Royal Cup Blend Coffee
1930s Royal Cup label
The Royal Cup name was first used to designate a brand of coffees and teas sold by the Batterton Coffee Company. The company was founded under another name in 1896 and bought out of near-failure in 1906 by Henry Batterton. Batterton revived the company and sold Royal Cup as well as Garland brand beverages and spices.
For most of its life the company operated out of its own three-story brick building at 2401 1st Avenue North downtown.
The Batterton family sold the business to Billy Smith in 1950. When Smith died in 1968 his son, Bill Smith, Jr took over the company. Later his younger brother, Hatton came on board.
During the 1980s the company operated as a national licensing system. In 1998 the Smiths took full ownership of the system.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 the company sent a truck to "Ground Zero" to serve coffee to rescue workers.
In 2003 Royal Cup began buying coffee from farms certified by the Rainforest Alliance for meeting high environmental and social standards in their operations.
References
- Nobles, Barr (June 7, 2002) "Royal Cup Coffee brews own brand of success." Birmingham Business Journal
- Zganjar, Leslie (June 13, 2003) "A century later, folks still drawn to Royal Cup's aroma." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Royal Cup Coffee website
- Profile of Royal Cup from "Good Morning Alabama" on YouTube.com