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Meet one of our top Baristas

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

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Tags: barista, Blenz.com, Staff

Entrepreneur Showcase, Small Business BC

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the sold out Entrepreneur Showcase featuring exhibits from 17 amazing entrepreneurs. Blenz baristas supplied coffee and lattes for the attendees. George Moen, President of Blenz and keynote speaker, spoke on his experiences as an entrepreneur over the last 30 years. The event was a huge success.

Here are a few images from the evening…

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Tags: barista, Blenz.com, ENTREPRENEUR SHOWCASE, George Moen, lattes, premium coffee, Small Business BC

Blenz Coffee at Granville and Davie Re-Opens with High Style

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

August 26, 2009

Blenz Coffee at Granville and Davie Re-Opens with High Style, High Traffic, and High Energy

Vancouver, BC – August 26, 2009 After a stunning renovation, the highly anticipated re-opening last Friday of Blenz Coffee at Granville and Davie jump started the weekend club scene on Granville Street.

franchised partners

New Blenz franchisee Frank Scott has joined his partner Sunny Bhayana to operate the 24 hour Blenz
Coffee location. Friends and neighbours toasted the store’s suave new store design with free signature
beverages and treats at the high-traffic corner coffee shop. The celebration attracted a large crowd of
people while club style top-40 music boomed from the DJ booth well into the evening.

“Blenz has successfully operated in this location for over ten years”, stated George Moen, President of Blenz Coffee. “Our ability to rekindle the great vibe in this neighbourhood is perfectly timed with the completion of the Canada Line. We look forward to a positive response from local customers and we’re confident they’ll appreciate the effort made here to give them a great environment to come to.”

Guests at the party were openly pleased with the look and feel of the store. Multi-level dropped ceilings,

bamboo cabinetry, digital screens, lots of comfy leather seating, with various changes in equipment and service elements clearly indicate this store is more than a makeover – essentially, it’s a brand new store.

The store also has a new energy. Already an experienced business man, Frank Scott knows it will take dedication to complete the transformation. Having already owned several Pizza Factories and a food manufacturing company, Frank’s plan is to now focus

solely on his new Blenz store to ensure the local clientele knows he shares their commitment to the neighbourhood.

Frank has also hired a new team of trained baristas to deliver Blenz Coffee’s premium handmade beverages and friendly service. “What made me choose Blenz Coffee are its trusted brand power and the vision the Company has adopted,” remarked Frank. “I love my newly renovated store and how it fits right into the neighbourhood. I’m really excited to see what I can do here.”.

About Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd™

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd is a premium retailer of handmade specialty coffees, organic teas and other innovative beverages. All Blenz Coffee’s beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. World class barista training and a drive to provide a superior customer experience has fueled their steady growth. Blenz Coffee now operates a large network of franchise locations in British Columbia and abroad including Japan and the Philippines.

For more information about Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd., please contact:
Nanako Aramaki
Manager of Media Relations
Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd.
Suite 300 – 535 Thurlow Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3L2
Telephone: (604) 682-2995
Email: press2@blenz.com
Website: www.blenz.com

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Tags: barista, Blenz.com, Granville, innovative beverages, organic, premium coffee, teas

Blenz Opens store in Penticton

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

July 2, 2009

Blenz Coffee Opens Up for South Okanagan Residents and Visitors

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd. proudly announces the grand opening of Blenz – Penticton, the 5th Blenz location in the Okanagan region and the 54th Blenz location in British Columbia.

Penticton, BC – June 25, 2009. Nancy and Brett DeWitt opened the door to their new Blenz Coffee shop in Penticton today with a Grand Opening Celebration, and invited the entire community to the party. “Nancy and I are pleased to have our Blenz Coffee business located in Penticton. It’s a community we are proud to be part of. We love the coffee business, and we look forward to being part of the Penticton business community too,” says Brett.
Nancy and Brett were excited to welcome their Penticton neighbours to their new Blenz store which has been carefully designed to provide a warm and contemporary ambiance where customers are encouraged to gather and relax, enjoy their beautifully handcrafted quality beverages and treats, and where they can also enjoy use of the free wireless internet and share in a conversation and a smile.

Nancy completed the rigorous six-week Master Barista training program at Blenz Coffee Academy in Vancouver, finishing the course with flying colours. Fellow BCA star, Carol Dyck, who recently took over Blenz in West Kelowna, was happy to make the trip to the Grand Opening of the Blenz – Penticton. Photographers were on hand as the two celebrated Nancy’s launch with hugs and thumbs up.

Blenz Master Franchisor for the Okanagan region, David McDougall, was enthusiastic about this newest addition to the Okanagan franchise. “We are very pleased that Nancy and Brett DeWitt have joined the Blenz family as the franchise partner and operators of the new Blenz Coffee store in Penticton. We think their enthusiasm for business and passion for coffee will play a major part in their success in Penticton.” As to the Penticton location, McDougall’s business partner, Graham Hawkins, said, “It’s been a priority for us to locate a Blenz Coffee store in Penticton. It’s a thriving community, and we’re sure that Blenz will be well-received by all the people of the city.”

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd. has built a strong reputation as providers of fine coffee, tea, and chocolate-based beverages in the Okanagan region. MacDougall and Hawkins are confident in their continued opportunities for growth of their franchise. This is the fifth Blenz location in the Okanagan Valley, and they continue to work on new opportunities in the area.

About Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd™

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd is a premium retailer of coffee, tea and other innovative and delicious specialty beverages. All of Blenz’ beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. Blenz’ commitment to serving a great cup of coffee, providing an excellent customer experience, and providing world-class staff training, has fueled Blenz’ growth from its inception. Blenz operates a network of over 85 franchise locations in British Columbia, Japan, China, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and the Philippines.

Visit the Blenz photostream on

Contact:

Linda Olsen Communications Manager
Blenz Coffee
300 – 535 Thurlow Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3L2
Tel (604) 682-2995
press2@blenz.com
www.blenz.com

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Tags: barista, Blenz coffee, franchise, grand opening, master franchise, Okanagan, Penticton, premium coffee, specialty beverages, tea

A local latte expert

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

DANIEL TAM
METRO VANCOUVER
June 25, 2009 5:13 a.m.

One of North America’s top baristas is making lattes right here in Vancouver.

Blenz Coffee employee Philip Wang finished third in the Millrock Latte Art Competition, the premier North American coffee and tea tradeshow.

The contest took place on June 15 in Las Vegas where Wang showcased his pouring skills against competitors from across the continent.

He first finished in the Top 10 and eventually made it into a five-way tie for third, where he was able to beat out the competition and take his place as the third best barista in North America.

Wang started working as a barista more than three years ago at Cito Espresso downtown.
“That’s where I first learned latte art,” said Wang.

He relocated to Blenz’s Vancouver public library location, and eventually settled into his current post at the Yaletown branch and has been there ever since.

Drawn by both the skill and the intricacy of the art form, Wang said he is particularly intrigued by “the creativity of the designs.”

Another competition will take place in Seattle in September, and Wang is hoping he will be one of the 40 baristas chosen to take part.

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Tags: barista, Best Barista, Blenz.com, latte, millrock latte art competition, Premium Coffee, tea

The Millrock Free-Pour Latte Art Championship

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

The Millrock Free-Pour Latte Art Championship has always been the highlight event at Coffee Fest – a coffee and tea trade show in North America. 50 competitors will be pouring lattes at the upcoming Coffee Fest over the weekend of June 12-14, 2009 in Las Vegas.

Blenz is sponsoring Team BC to compete which includes Tony Tsai of Blenz Library Square (winner of the March 2009 Blenz Latte Art Competition) and Philip Wang of Blenz Yaletown (3rd place winner of the March 2009 Blenz Latte Art Competition).

Layla Osberg, Blenz Director of Training and two-time champion of the Millrock, will be accompanying the two baristas.

For more information go to www.coffeefest.com.

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Tags: barista, Coffee Fest, free pour, Las Vegas, latte, latte art, latte art competition, latte art winners, millrock, Millrock Free-Pour Latte Art Championship, Premium Coffee

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