Orlando’s First Monday Magazine shared the Orange County Convention Center’s good green news with this article on Centerplate’s 100 percent biodegradable foodservice solution.

There’s good news for the green conscious coming out of Orange County Convention Center. Centerplate, a hospitality partner to many of North America’s premier convention centers and sports stadiums, has introduced a 100 percent biodegradable food service solution for Orlando.

Under the new program, all the convention center’s disposable food service items – from cups to flatware to napkins – will be fully biodegradable. The biodegradable products are being phased into the center’s operations, with a targeted completion date of next month.

The program underscores Centerplate’s expertise in implementing environmentally conscious food service solutions at major venues. For the Orange County Convention Center, the program amplifies the venue’s standing as one of the most environmentally sound convention centers in the nation and follows its achievement in 2007 of the elite ISO 14001:2004 certification, an international environmental standard that helps organizations limit the negative impact of their operations on the environment. In addition, at Orlando’s center, Centerplate recycled more than 270,000 gallons of grease solids and used cooking oil last year and recovered 33 percent of the facility’s food and beverage waste to be used for recycling.

Do you believe Darden Restaurants’ new building?

For starters, the $152 million cost of the building is a big number. Most impressively, though, the 469,000-square-foot facility was designed to achieve Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. Upon final certification from USGBC, it will become the largest “LEED Gold NC” building in Florida.

Darden’s commitment to sustainability is evident in numerous design and construction elements found in its new home. They include recycling more than 90 percent of the waste generated from construction; a high-effiency heating and air-conditioning system; and an automatic lighting systems that dims or brightens according to the amount of sunlight entering the building, helping to reduce energy consumption by 16 percent.

Daren calls the structure a Restaurant Support Center. I call it a testament to the company’s belief in sustainability as well as its commitment to the region.

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Staying on the subject of good green, OUC and clean energy company Petra Solar have teamed up to launch the first utility pole-mounted solar photovoltaic system in Florida.

Ten of Petra Solar’s SunWave intelligent photovoltaic solar systems are being installed on OUC utility poles along Curry Ford Road. The demonstration project is expected to help enhance the smart grid capabilities and reliability of the electric distribution grid. Essentially, the SunWave systems not only turn street light and utility poles into solar generators, but they also communicate with the electric grid and are able to offer smart grid capabilities. Petra Solar worked in collaboration with the University of Central Florida in developing the pole-mounted approach to clean energy generation.

Notably, last spring OUC and Orange County flipped the switch on the largest rooftop solar array in the Southeast, a I-megawatt installation atop the Orange County Convention Center. OUC also offers solar PV and thermal programs that help lower the upfront costs of solar for residential and commercial customers.
 

Article By: Michael Candelaria

New Franchise Relationship Offers Potential to Extend Jamba Juice’s Offerings to Centerplate-serviced Convention Centers, Sports Stadiums and Entertainment Venues Nationwide

Emeryville, CA – December 15, 2009 (NASDAQ: JMBA)-- Jamba Juice and Centerplate, the hospitality partner to North America’s premier convention centers and sports stadiums, announced today a new franchise relationship to offer Jamba Juice menu items to Centerplate’s  guests with the initial debut of Jamba Juice® kiosks at select locations.  With the potential to expand across additional Centerplate partner venues, each kiosk location will offer a selection of better-for-you, delicious, high quality Jamba Juice products.

“This new relationship offers Jamba Juice an excellent opportunity to expand offerings into new venue types across the country ranging from professional sports stadiums to performing arts complexes,” said Thibault de Chatellus, senior vice president, global franchise and development, Jamba Juice Company.  “Our goal is to provide additional meal options to fans, families, and individuals seeking health-oriented fare they already know and love when out and about enjoying fun activities together.”

Capitalizing on the trend towards better-for-you options within the QSR category, Jamba Juice, which is recognized as one of the healthier, quick serve food and beverage brands, will initially add the Jamba Juice product line to the food service offerings at select Centerplate-serviced venues.  Beginning with the introduction of Jamba Juice kiosks, Jamba and Centerplate have plans to further expand in late 2010 with the development of “fast fare” quick service programs that will enable the brand to fit into additional concession locations within each venue and handle the high throughput required by those operations.

“We are thrilled to offer our clients and guests the Jamba Juice line of products, enhancing our food service menu line-up with additional healthy choices,” said Bob Pascal, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Centerplate.  “Jamba is a trusted brand that will be a hit with fans looking for delicious choices while enjoying their favorite events.”

With products made from high quality, great tasting ingredients, Jamba Juice offers customers a variety of better-for-you products that contain no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup, and zero grams of trans fat.  Jamba Juice also offers menu options for customers with special dietary needs including non-dairy, non-gluten, vegetarian, and vegan.
 
“Jamba Juice is always looking for ways to help people feel good while they are doing what they love,” said James D. White, president and CEO, Jamba Juice Company.  “Our relationship with Centerplate gives us the opportunity to bring great tasting, healthy lifestyle products to fans while they are cheering for their preferred team or singing along with their favorite band.  We have always been an active lifestyle brand and now we have the potential to reach new fans in arenas, stadiums, and convention centers across the nation.”

Centerplate’s relationship with Jamba Juice follows the recent announcement of its merger with Boston Culinary Group, one of the largest foodservice management companies in the recreation and leisure industry, with the transaction slated for early 2010, In addition, Centerplate is preparing to serve as a hospitality partner to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

In addition to the relationship with Centerplate, Jamba Juice franchise growth in other non-traditional outlets, such as college campuses, airports, malls, grocery stores, and other small formats, is a key component of Jamba Juice’s 2009-2010 Blend Plan.  The Company believes there are potential opportunities for at least 2,700 total stores in the U.S. and that the franchise strategy will better position Jamba Juice for growth, by increasing brand presence with reduced capital outlay.

About Jamba, Inc.
Jamba, Inc. (Nasdaq: JMBA) is a holding company and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Jamba Juice Company, owns and franchises JAMBA JUICE® stores. Founded in 1990, Jamba Juice is a leading restaurant retailer of better-for-you food and beverage offerings, including great tasting fruit smoothies, juices, and teas, hot oatmeal made with organic steel cut oats, wraps, salads, sandwiches, and California Flatbreads™, and a variety of baked goods and snacks. As of October 6, 2009, Jamba Juice had 742 locations consisting of 488 company- owned and operated stores and 254 franchise stores. For the nearest location or a complete menu, visit the Jamba Juice website at www.jambajuice.com or call 1-866-4R-FRUIT.

About Centerplate
Centerplate creates “Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results.” in more than 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 11 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, over 100 major College Bowl Games and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration.   Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release (including information incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference herein) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are those involving future events and future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projects as well as the current beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “outlook”, “believes”, “expects”, “appears”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “anticipates”, or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, are intended to identify such forward looking statements. Any statement that is not a historical fact, including estimates, projections, future trends and the outcome of events that have not yet occurred, is a forward-looking statement.  Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our reports filed with the SEC.  Many of such factors relate to events and circumstances that are beyond our control.  You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

NRN Jamba Juice.pdf

Check out the article below to read about a few stadium football favorite foods...

MSN Delish.pdf

Hospitality leader selected by City of Baltimore to serve 1.2 million square foot venue

STAMFORD, CT. (November 11, 2009) – Centerplate, the hospitality partner to North America’s premier convention centers and sports venues, announced today it has been awarded the long-term contract by the City of Baltimore as the hospitality partner for the Baltimore Convention Center.  Spanning 1.2 million square feet, the Center serves as one of the premier locations for conventions, tradeshows and expositions in the country.  With the new contract, Centerplate continues to accelerate its growth and expanded presence across convention centers, sports stadiums and entertainment venues.

Baltimore Biz Journal.pdf

VT Pulse Baltimore CC.pdf