IRVINE, CALIF.—Sensor faucets may be smart, but they are not smart enough. So says Irvine, Calif.-based entrepreneur Joanna Boey. She is the VP Sales/Marketing for SmartFaucets, a company that focuses on improving the guest experience while reducing water consumption and related costs at the same time. You may have experienced malfunctioning sensor faucets—waving your hands with no response below the faucet. “Half the time the touchless faucet fails—the battery fails,” Boey says. The electronic eye can also get dirty, further increasing the chance of malfunction. The valve may also malfunction two or three times a year. Ultimately, the sensor faucet...

MIAMI—Hospitality industry expert Steve Turk, founder of Turk Hospitality Ventures and creator of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, announces the launch of Biscayne Coffee. This newly developed eco-friendly coffee brand was founded with a giving spirit and a big idea: to enjoy delicious coffee roasted in Miami while helping save Biscayne Bay and the wildlife that inhabit it for future generations to enjoy. Ten percent of all Biscayne Coffee sales will be donated to the Biscayne Bay Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in South Florida, whose mission is to increase awareness of the health, safety, and sustainability of waterways on Biscayne Bay. Biscayne Coffee features a variety of...

TROY, OHIO—The ITW Food Equipment Group welcomed food and hospitality industry professionals to see its latest customer-driven innovations in kitchen equipment at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago. High-performance, energy-efficient commercial kitchen products and smart technologies from brands including Hobart, Traulsen, Baxter, Vulcan, Wolf, Berkel, IBEX, Stero and Somat were on display at McCormick Center. This year, two brands from the ITW Food Equipment Group had equipment featured in the Kitchen Innovations Award booth. The IBEX rapid-cook oven is first-in-the-world equipment that delivers combi oven quality at speed oven times. Using radio frequency that is constantly analyzing and adjusting based...

BAYONNE, N.J.—Eastern Tabletop announced its new exclusive U.S. partnership with EcoBurner. Eastern Tabletop began distribution of EcoBurner and EcoServe buffet lines on May 19. This partnership with EcoBurner comes from alignment in both companies’ missions. EcoBurner’s mission is “To improve the quality of buffet services around the world and reduce buffets’ impact on the environment”. Eastern Tabletop boasts that its products “make their mark in the tableware industry with innovation, fine quality, personal service and exceptional value.” This partnership will elevate the green initiatives at Eastern Tabletop and complement its ZOZZ Modular Flat Pack and Hub Buffet System. EcoBurner is in...

BANGKOK—With booming demand for adventurous and eco-conscious travel, northern Norway is one of the last frontiers for a self-sustainable, off-grid destination. The 94-room Six Senses Svart combines a futuristic design and technological innovation with earthy, organic materials that use the least embedded energy. The name Svart, which means black and blue in old Norse, is a reference to the natural heritage of the ancient Svartisen glacier, which lies just within the Arctic Circle, where summer days last forever and winter nights are lit by the breathtaking Northern Lights. To minimize the on-site impact, Six Senses Svart is poised on...

TROY, OHIO—Hobart announced that it is upgrading its LXe Undercounter Commercial Dishwasher with a new Two-Level Racking System. The optional two-level racking kit will allow the dish machine to wash two racks of dishes in a single load and boosts the total machine capacity to 48 racks per hour. “This second level rack boosts the capacity of the machine by doubling the amount of ware that can be washed in a single cycle,” said Hobart Warewash Marketing Manager Jerry Socha. “Restaurants today are struggling with labor issues and need to do whatever they can to free up staff to focus...

SAN FRANCISCO—A plastic alternative made from seaweed is now a reality thanks to the work of LOLIWARE and its founder and CEO Chelsea Briganti. On Earth Day, April 22, the company announced that it has developed the first seaweed pellet—the SEA Tech Pellet—created from natural biomaterials to replace plastic at scale. Already, with the help of American manufacturer Sinclair and Rush, LOLIWARE has produce a seaweed straw that has captured the interest of the hotel industry’s leading chains. The company has also produced disposable cutlery and single use packaging products. From a cost standpoint, the straws are competitive with other leading...

KOHLER, WIS.—Kohler Co. announces that all 16 of its Destination Kohler and Lodge Kohler restaurants are now Certified Green Restaurants. This recognition and impactful step in sustainable dining practices gives Kohler Co. the distinguished honor of having the most Certified Green Restaurants in the state of Wisconsin. The Green Restaurant Association is a national nonprofit organization that provides the only official Certified Green Restaurants mark in the country. The restaurants, located in Kohler, Sheboygan and Green Bay, have implemented scores of sustainable practices to save energy, reduce waste, and lead the restaurant industry towards environmental sustainability. Kohler’s longstanding belief that being a responsible steward of...

The Pacific Northwest is certainly a great place for growing grapes and making wine and now the Washington wine industry has launched the state’s first statewide certified sustainability program for wine grapes, signifying a commitment to quality fruit, environmental stewardship, and healthy communities. Sustainable WA will begin certifying vineyards this summer. “From pest and disease management to sustainable water management, prioritizing worker health and safety and tracking various inputs, this program is environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable,” said Sustainable WA Program Manager, Katlyn Slone. Sustainable WA is the first certified sustainability program built specifically for Washington vineyards. To achieve...

TROY, OHIO—To celebrate its 125th anniversary and the loyal customers who support the brand, Hobart announced it is hosting an equipment giveaway. The Hobart 125th Anniversary Celebration Contest includes prize packages of equipment, along with installation and up to one year of preventive maintenance for two lucky winners: one independent restaurant owner and one independent food retail store owner. Hobart will award the winners based on their local philanthropy and community outreach, as well as how the equipment will impact those initiatives. Contestants will provide this information for the selection process by submitting short narratives through an online entry form. “We...