Capital Coffee - Out to Lunch - It's Baton Rouge

Next time you re in a hotel room with a little coffee maker, take a
look at the individual coffee pod. There s a good chance it came
from right here in Baton Rouge, headquarters of Pod Pack
International. The local company manufactures and distributes
single cup brewing solutions not only for hotels, but for offices,
restaurants, convenience stores, and homes. And as of recently for
every Taco Bell in the US. Last year, the company announced plans
to expand its presence in Baton Rouge and invest more than 10
million building a new larger manufacturing facility and hiring 19
more employees. Pod Pack s Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer Tom Martin tells Stephanie about the company s
recent exciting successes after what Tom describes as being "a 15
year startup". Pod Pack isn t the only coffee company in Baton
Rouge. Ian Melancon is the second generation owner of River Road
Coffees, a family business that for 20 years has been roasting high
quality, signature blends of coffees for the Baton Rouge market.
The company has a thriving retail business, both online and in
supermarkets across southeast Louisiana, and sells to restaurants,
office clients and convenience stores. In an interesting
explanation of the coffee industry, both Tom and Ian explain how
Starbucks hasn t killed the coffe biz, it s saved it. Photos over
lunch at Mansur s on the Boulevard.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.