Steuben Foods Launches Whitney's
Brand in New Multiserve SafePaks™

Steuben Foods Inc., a privately held food and dairy company based in Jamaica, NY, specializes in extended shelf life food and dairy products. When Steuben Foods decided to break into the convenience store foodservice category with a new line of iced coffees and teas, they went searching for the right aseptic solution.

Steuben invented the Whitney's brand specifically to bring a premium quality product to convenience stores and quick-service restaurants. The company's experience in aseptic packaging gave them an edge, but the right dispenser was the missing link to complete a very versatile 2.5-gallon package that never needs refrigeration and that has a long shelf life, even after initial dispensing.

Aseptic dispensing

The answer, literally, came from the International Dispensing Corporation (IDC), a research and development company specializing in dispensing innovations. Whitney's premium iced coffees and teas will be distributed in Multiserve SafePaks™, the latest advance in aseptic packaging and dispensing from IDC, using new technology called The Answer™.

The Answer dispenser allows product to be dispensed safely and efficiently from a flexible package without refrigeration or preservatives. The Answer moderates flow through small holes and achieves a hermetic seal with the patented dispenser designed so it snaps back into place, like an inverted umbrella, when it recloses. The main limitations of The Answer are viscosity and particulate matter, so most soups would not be suitable to this type of dispenser.

The aseptic process that Steuben has mastered for more than 25 years sterilizes beverages in seconds, compared to other forms of processing which often overcook products and compromise taste. The Answer prevents microorganisms and oxygen from entering the package and compromising product safety, nutritional value, or taste. This unique technology delivers significant advantages to convenience stores and quick-service restaurants, who are required to maintain the highest level of product safety despite having limited refrigeration space.

Demand is growing

"There is tremendous market demand for high-quality iced coffees and teas that can be safely and efficiently served to consumers," says Ken Schlossberg, president of Steuben Foods. "Because of our groundbreaking package, there is no capital barrier to entry, making it an ideal no-hassle solution for foodservice operators."

Whitney's iced coffees and teas come fresh and ready-to-drink, with no mixing required, and are easy to dispense over ice with a simple push of a button. The Multiserve SafePak's user-friendly dispensing improves service and efficiency in foodservice environments; its closed system prevents spills and other unsafe conditions. From an ecological standpoint, energy is conserved and the carbon footprint associated with refrigeration is eliminated, and the package is completely recyclable.

"We developed the Multiserve SafePak and The Answer for just this sort of application—to dispense multiple servings safely and easily in high-traffic operations like convenience stores and quick-service restaurants," says Greg Abbott, founder and chairman of IDC. The novel, high-impact coffee bar will feature four vibrant Multiserve SafePaks—two premixed dairy-based iced coffees and preservative-free sweetened lemon and chai tea.