Hy-Vee + Caribou = Great coffee, every time

After 45 years in the food service business we’ve discovered a number of truths, but none more fundamental than this: Coffee matters.

More than half of all adult Americans drink coffee on a daily basis. Like connoisseurs of any beverage, they can’t be fooled — they know the difference between a run-of-the-mill cuppa joe and a coffee selected and brewed with care for maximum freshness, aroma and taste. A restaurant that serves a great cup of coffee can turn a sometime customer into a regular, and a regular customer into a diehard fan.

That’s why Hy-Vee set out to find a partner that can provide our customers with the quality and consistency they expect from a great cup of coffee. After months of research, interviewing and testing brews from several very fine companies, our quest for the world’s best cup of coffee brought us to Caribou.

Caribou, based in Minneapolis,is the second-largest specialty coffee retailer in the United States. The company operates more than 400 outlets in 16 states, including 18 outlets located within Hy-Vee stores. Under the terms of a recent partnership agreement forged between Caribou and Hy-Vee, the coffee company will open more units in Hy-Vee stores and will become the exclusive supplier of the coffee served in Hy-Vee’s Kitchen restaurants.

Read more about this development on Hy-Vee.com, and visit the Caribou website to learn more about the company, its products and its core values. While you’re there, take a look at the Coffee Recommender – a quick quiz to help you determine your Caribou “flavor profile.” (Based on my answers, Caribou roastmasters suggest I might like their Colombia and Lakeshore Blend varieties.)