Seymourpowell has designed the new fascia and interface of COMPACT, a brand-new self-serve coffee machine aimed at the convenience sector for client Coffee Nation, the UK's leading gourmet vended speciality coffee company. COMPACT is set to launch at the 2008 Convenience Retail Show in Birmingham in April 2008
As a complimentary addition to Coffee Nation's existing portfolio, which is currently available in over 550 motorway, petrol forecourt and convenience stores across the country, the COMPACT is an ideal solution for grocery; convenience and forecourt stores wanting to build a profitable, fresh coffee business. COMPACT is set to be the star of the show at CRS with its sleek fascia and simple user interface, delivering customers fresh Latte, Cappuccino and Americano, Mocha and Hot Chocolate.
The average Coffee Nation site generates sales of £40,000, whilst its top performing site makes over £400,000. From just one metre of floor space, the COMPACT is set to maximize valuable retail space in convenience stores and create a profitable 24 hour coffee business, delivering real gourmet coffee in less than a minute.
Matthew Tidnam, Senior Designer at Seymourpowell, commented: "Our biggest challenge on this project was to design a left-to-right consumer interface with this project within a small product architecture with a central dispense unit. We also had to apply the design language we have been developing for Coffee Nation right across the brand to the unit's materials and finishes, as well as designing all the graphics for this particular machine on a tight timeline. Our relationship with KMF Precision Sheet Metals was critical to the project's successful conclusion."
Scott Martin, Chief Executive of Coffee Nation concluded: "With the launch of COMPACT, there is now a perfect Coffee Nation solution for independent and convenience retailers wanting to take advantage of the rapidly growing 'coffee on the go' sector. Like our existing CLASSIC model, we are confident the COMPACT will be a huge success."
Coffee Nation keeps things simple for its retail partners with its unique operating infrastructure and revenue share model. Every machine is connected to the internet and monitored by a dedicated helpline. Coffee Nation doesn't outsource its service; its in-house service team routinely visit each site. When machine faults are recorded, service engineers are on site within a matter of hours, whatever time of day, enabling retailers to run a 24 hour coffee business.