Winner: Jason Howell , Atlanta District Manager, Royal Cup Coffee

Since the 1890s, when founder Henry T. Batterton’s fresh, flavorful coffee became known as the “Royal Cup of Coffee,” the Birmingham, AL-based company has been serving up hot coffee to people around the state.

Since 1958, the importer, roaster and distributor of premium coffees and teas has been distributing more than 30 varieties of coffee to hotels and restaurants.

As Atlanta District Manager, Jason Howell works with restaurants to develop customized packages of equipment and coffee servers, depending on a restaurant’s needs and what they’re trying to accomplish. Having been a part of the restaurant industry himself, he understands each individual restaurant’s unique needs, and works with local Royal Cup Coffee representatives to ensure restaurants are satisfied with the company’s service and product.

The company purchases large quantities of coffee beans, which allows the company to pass on the value and bulk purchasing to its customers, helping the company keep prices down and be more profitable as well.

For Royal Cup Coffee, however, it’s not just about getting the best bean at the lowest cost. The coffee and tea company works with the Rainforest Alliance to purchase certified-sustainable coffees from farms where workers are provided fair wages, decent housing, schools and access to health care.

Aside from his work managing Royal Cup Coffee operations in the metro Atlanta, Augusta and Athens areas, Howell is also active within the restaurant industry and the community, supporting several nonprofits. He is also involved with the American Culinary Federation Atlanta and Athens chapters, as well as on the GRA’s board of directors. He was named the 2008 and 2009 Manager of the Year Southeast Region for Royal Cup Coffee.

His first job in the restaurant industry was when he was 14 years old as an oyster shucker and busboy at Palmer’s Seafood in Savannah. He has been with Royal Cup Coffee since 2004.

Advice to those just starting out: “Number one: Work hard – very hard. Number two: Be a business partner, whether you’re a chef, restaurateur, salesperson or otherwise, not just a vendor selling a product, or an operator trying to source goods and services. We can all learn from each other and help each other be successful. Number three: Give back to the industry and people that support you financially,” he advises.

Best job he ever held: “My current position with Royal Cup Coffee. Royal Cup Coffee is a family-owned and-operated company with a commitment to producing the finest coffee and tea products available anywhere, plus sensational customer service. The Smith family, [which owns] Royal Cup Coffee, also maintains a commitment to [its] employees and their families, numerous charitable and industry organizations (including the GRA), as well as their treasured customers, and that commitment is cultural within Royal Cup Coffee,” he says.

Industry Partner of the Year Finalists

• Chris Coan, General Manager, Business and Government Markets, Gas South
• Barbara Waters Wilson, Marketing Project Manager of Georgia Power

This entry was posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Profiles.