Everything has changed since the Coronavirus came to the United States. To learn more about the current state of the Coffee Industry and how it has affected Newco’s approach to product building we interviewed Luke Webster, who is involved with Newco’s Touchless Solutions.
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What’s your name and position at Newco Enterprises?
My name is Luke Webster, growing up around Newco I have held lots of positions here, starting with disassembling scrap brewers for parts sometime around 1993 or 1994. From there I worked in shipping, polishing, cutting grass, foam pad shooting, refurbishing/tech service, assembly, and then a variety of office jobs including sales and working with the engineering teams over the years. I have had a chance to work with some great people and quite a few characters. Currently I am focused on Newco University (our online learning site for sales and service professionals), specific project developments, business development, and sales/marketing.
"Trends that we see during COVID-19 will change how most people do business."
How has COVID-19 affected the Coffee Industry in the US?
Due to the Coronavirus the coffee industry in the past 6 months have changed. Offices, cafes and restaurants have been closed for months due to quarantine regulations, which means most people have been spending less time in public places drinking coffee and more time at home. Only recently have businesses started to open back up.
Newco and our partners are quickly adapting to serve Newco customers in a way that complies with CDC guidelines. I hope soon things will return to somewhat normal, but I don’t think they will ever be the quite same and the trends that we see during COVID-19 will change how most people do business.
What are the biggest challenges Newco faces as a manufacturer in the new world of COVID-19?
One of the biggest challenges is first staying healthy as a company. Newco employees’ health and wellbeing are a top priority during this time. Secondly, staying healthy as a business by making our customers successful in this new era. The hardest test for us thus far is getting new ideas to the market quickly, while also ensuring the products are high quality and dependable.
How is Newco Enterprises overcoming these challenges in order to help their customer base?
At Newco we view these challenges an opportunity to be innovative. Newco has a long history of inventing new products for the coffee and tea industry. We do this by investing in new technologies and getting creative. At the same time, we make it a point to listen to our customers, find out what exactly their needs are and how we can develop products to help them.
"Our goal is to have a broad assortment of solutions to fit the needs of our customers as they navigate what is right for them in a constantly changing environment."
Can you explain what are Newco Touchless Solutions?
Newco Touchless Solutions is our response to the recent changes in the industry. They are Newco products and tips that help reduce, or in some cases, eliminate touch points on brewers and equipment. There is no shortage of technology to aid in this endeavor, such as: Bluetooth, WiFi, NCF, QR Code and others. The key is fitting the right technology to the right application, so that it is effective and efficient. Our goal is to have a broad assortment of solutions to fit the needs of our customers as they navigate what is right for them in a constantly changing environment.