The Beverage Standards Association (BSA) has launched the BSA Awards 2014, the hot drinks industry’s first UK-wide accreditation system, with three new Awards this year.
The Association is calling all ‘out of home’ specialised coffee shops, cafes, tea shops, cafes within hotels or bars, mobiles, beverage carts and restaurants in England, Scotland and Wales to enter this year’s prestigious Awards, which are open to members and non-members.
The aims of the Awards are to raise standards across the industry and help all participating establishments to improve in their chosen field of operation.
Gordon Howell, chairman of the BSA Awards assessors, who in previous years won 5 Cup Accreditation and the first ever BSA Best Espresso Award, says “Our ethos is to raise standards – it’s not just an Awards process. The Awards provide the beverage venue a good insight into how well they are performing. Entrants are not judged, they’re assessed by experienced and calibrated professionals working to standards through a critical questionnaire created by and for the BSA. Another important element of the Awards is that the BSA will give feedback and constructive advice to all entrants.”
Three new Awards
BSA “Raising Standards” Award
“This is what the accreditation system is all about and the winner will have invested time and effort is raising their own standards,” Gordon says. “They will have bought into the BSA accreditation process and will have delivered exceptional improvements in all areas.”
Newcomers’ Award
This is awarded to venues which have performed well in their first year taking part in the BSA assessment programme, combining excellent service with high standards. “Entrants may have been open for ten years or just opened but they must be completely new to our accreditation process,” says Gordon. “We’ll be looking to see whether they have reached the BSA’s high standards.”
BSA “Overall Experience” Award
The winner will have shown exemplary standards in all areas of the accreditation programme and will be a true ambassador for the BSA Gold Standard Best Drinks Awards and the Five Cup Accreditation programme. “This is the ultimate Award for a venue which has excelled above and beyond the call of duty,” says Gordon. “They will be a shining light for the industry.”
About the BSA Awards
The BSA operates two accreditation processes:
The 1 to 5 Cup Accreditation Programme
This is the only hot drinks industry accreditation programme in the UK. It is aimed at evaluating all aspects of the business including environment, facilities, customer service and those all so important beverage standards. The sponsor is 3M Water Filtration Division.
The National Best Drinks Awards
These Gold Standard Awards are presented to venues which have delivered the most exceptional beverages within one of the drinks categories below:
- Best Cappuccino – sponsored by Jaguar Espresso Systems
- Best Latte – sponsored by Jaguar Espresso Systems
- Best Flat White – sponsored by Jaguar Espresso Systems
- Best Espresso – sponsored by Kimbo UK
- Best Hot Chocolate – sponsored by The Kokoa Collection
- Best Tea – sponsored by Ridgways Ltd
- Best Grind & Brew – sponsored by Foster Hughes Ltd
Winners of all Awards will receive a certificate and the 3 to 5 Cup Accredited sites will receive BSA cup decals (two way window sticker) which will be displayed on the doors or windows. This will not only show the general public the standard of the outlet, but also help to attract new customers.
Each “Best Drink” Award Winner will receive a wall plate and a decal sticker confirming and promoting their achievement. The Awards standards are 1 Cup, Good to 4 Cup, Exceptional and 5 Cup, Outstanding.
How to enter
Venues can enter themselves and nominations can be received from suppliers, companies, groups, customers or consultants. One entry fee covers entry to the BSA National Accreditation Programme and the “Best Drinks” Awards. The fee is £90 (including VAT) for non BSA members per venue and £54 (including VAT) for BSA members per venue. The opening date for entries to be sent online is Monday, 21 April and the closing date for entries to be received is Friday, 23rd May 2014. Assessing starts in June and there will be an Awards ceremony in November.
Information and guidance to entrants
Gordon Howell says, “After the Awards, the BSA will give information and guidance to entrants. We will give them a detailed report as well as ideas on how they can improve and we can help them do this. It’s up to them if they choose to take up our offer. Training is a big area where we can help through our links at City & Guilds. At a later stage, we may look at introducing new training courses. We want to move the education and training elements of the BSA closer to the Awards so they work together.”
Value to winners
Mike Haggerton (pictured above), Habitat Café, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, 5 Cup winner and Best Espresso winner in 2013 comments
“For our cafe, taking part in the Beverage Standards Association awards was like a self-fulfilling prophecy. We were already a quality-focused business, but the thought that any customer at any time might be an assessor became a daily topic of conversation amongst staff. This in turn raised the standards of our entire team – not just our baristas but also waiting staff began learning more about the teas and coffees we serve, and even our cooks became more benevolently obsessive about not letting the side down.
“Being a candidate for the awards, win or no win, helped us create a culture of excellence in an industry where it can sometimes be difficult to build and maintain a passionate crew.”
Oakley Wheelwright, Crema Espresso Bar, Bridlington, 5 Cup Winner and Best Latte winner 2013, “Winning the Award from the BSA made a huge impact on my business. After the announcement, we had four record breaking weeks, each bettering the previous. I’d highly recommend anybody to enter, there’s no downsides and numerous benefits.”
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