NZer Wins Jamaica Blue Barista of the Year Title
Sydney, Wednesday 9 February 2005…David Yorke, Barista for Jamaica Blue Riccarton, Christchurch has won the “Jamaica
Blue Barista of the Year 2005” title at a recent trans-Tasman competition in Sydney. David triumphed over three
Australian finalists to secure the title, scoring highly in all key areas including: preparation; technical competency;
knowledge of craft; taste, and presentation.
The ecstatic 30 year old said, “The secret to making great coffee is passion, I love my job and get a buzz from watching
customers enjoy their coffee experience. I am very grateful to Jamaica Blue for this opportunity, and am looking forward
to displaying this great trophy at my Riccarton store!”
Judges at the competition included industry veterans: Sean Edwards Managing Director CafeBiz and Editor of Café Culture
Magazine, Andrew Kremmer Founder and Sales Manager Saeco Australia, Fred Vains Jahnus Specialty Coffee Master Roaster,
and Doug Downer Director of Operations and Marketing Foodco.
Foodco’s Doug Downer commented, “With consumers’ taste for coffee becoming more sophisticated every year, it’s important
our baristas have excellent skills and a passion to match. David represents the new breed of barista - energetic and
eager to perfect the art of coffee making.”
The Jamaica Blue Barista of the Year event was the culmination of several month’s of assessment across all Jamaica Blue
stores in Australia and New Zealand. Foodco consultants observed baristas at their stores and selected the best
performers as Finalists. These were: Michelle Kay Olson, Jamaica Blue West Lakes South Australia; Anthony Alexander
Jamaica Blue Greenwood (North Sydney) New South Wales, and Katrina Cochrane Jamaica Blue Carindale (Brisbane)
Queensland.
“Our Barista competition brings key benefits to both the coffee industry and consumers alike,” said Doug Downer Director
of Operations and Marketing Foodco. “By involving all our 47 stores, every store barista had the opportunity to learn
more about our industry. There can only be several Finalists and one Trans-Tasman winner, but competitions such as this
certainly ensure we deliver a fine coffee experience.”
Ends
About Foodco Group
Foodco Group was established in 1989 and is wholly Australian owned. The company owns the Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue
concepts. There are over 200 stores nationally, with additional stores in Dubai, Kuwait, New Zealand, The United Kingdom
and The United States of America.