Celebrating 75 Years!

2010 marks our 75th year in business, and incase you’re wondering just how we got here, we’ve created a [very summarized] timeline marking significant moments in our history from 1935 to 2010.

1935

• David Radway and Lawrence Weingarten are working for a coffee company in Chicago and decide to start their own company on Turner Street in Lansing. They put together $1000 each, and bring along a colleague, Joe Block, who asked to go with them.
• On August 7, 1935, Paramount Coffee opens its doors, and David Radway brings in the first order of 10 pounds.
• By the end of the year, 14,292 pounds had been sold.
• In addition to coffee, tea, spices, and chocolate are also sold at Paramount.
• First expenses of the fledgling company are: a grinder, bags, tape, stapler and staples, and two trucks. One truck cost $31.11 a month, the other $21.50.
• Paramount’s coffee at this point is imported from Swanson Bros. in Chicago.

1936

• A new truck is purchased, and a route is set up.

1937

• New office equipment and plant equipment are purchased, along with a fourth truck.

1939

• First Paramount secretary is hired.
• Salad dressing is added to product list.

1941

• Amsco heat sealing machine is purchased for sealing coffee bags.
• The building next door is leased for $80 a month.

1942

• Rough times for Paramount due to the war. Coffee purchases are cut to 50% by order of the War Production board.
  Blending of substitutes is permitted, so “Victory Blend” is created. However, routes are cut to delivering only every two weeks, except in Lansing. Fort Wayne’s deliveries are stopped completely and part of the Grand Rapids’ route as well.
• Joe Block, the colleague from Chicago, is drafted into the war.

1943

• War rages on, but the coffee rationing ends on July 29.
• The decision is made to buy a building at a new location: our current one, 130 North Larch Street.

The section of the building shown in this photo has housed several different departments.

1944

• Relocation to the two-story Larch Street building occurs in January.

1945

• The war is over, and Joe Block returns in November.

1946

• On July 1st, the company becomes a corporation and begins using a fiscal year for accounting purposes.

1947

• Automatic bag opener is purchased.

1948

• Current Paramount retiree Bruce Block is born to Joe and Helen Block.
• A bathroom is added to the upstairs plant.

1949

• An elevator to the upstairs is installed.
• The Blue Cross Group insurance plan is adopted by the company.
• The coffee tasting room table and cuspidor [spittoon] are purchased, and still in use today.

The old table is still used today for taste-testing our roasts.

1950

• Building starts on Paramount’s coffee roasting plant, and Paramount begins the tradition in October of roasting its own coffee.

1951

• The roasting plant is complete.

1953

• Office is officially closed on Saturdays.

1954

• Delivery routes get numbered.

1955

• Air conditioning installed, and a postage meter and electric typewriter are purchased.

New Electric Typewriters

1957

• David’s son, Ron Radway, joins the sales team.

Dave and Ron Radway

• Inter State Food corporation is formed to separate allied products from coffee products.

1958

• Bunn-O-Matic warmers and brewers debut.

1959

• First “Distinguished Salesman Award” contest won by Ron Radway.
• New conveyors, a portable bag closer, and an automatic weigher are purchased.

The old plant.

1961

• L.B. Weingarten, Larry’s son, runs the Lansing route.
• Ron Radway is promoted to Assistant Sales Manager.

1964

• Larry Weingarten passes away.

1969

• Gold Cup Coffee in Detroit joins the corporate family and has its name changed to Paramount of Detroit. At this point, Paramount is distributing to every major market in Michigan along with some in neighboring states.

1970

• Joe Block passes away.

Joe Block

1973

• The last available adjacent piece of property at the time is purchased: a 33,000 square foot warehouse.

1977

• David Radway passes away, and Ron Radway becomes president

1978

• Paramount Coffee Service Company is formed, split off to cater to offices instead of restaurants.

1983

• First route in Flint is opened.

1984

• Plans to move from the Larch Street location (because of increasing space problems) are halted when a car dealership’s property becomes available next door and across the road, and is purchased by the company.

1986

• Paramount Gourmet Coffee is formed, splitting to cater to specialty coffees and retail aspects.
• Paramount’s retail store is opened for customers to purchase coffee at our facility.

1990

• The service department moves to the property across the road.

1991

• Ron Radway passes away.

1993

• The private label program begins.

1995

• The service department moves from across the road to make room for the Lugnuts’ Oldsmobile Park.

1996

• Paramount Coffee of Detroit is merged into Paramount Coffee Company/Paramount Coffee Service Company in May.

1999

• The Paramount Coffee retail store is closed in July.
• Paramount begins selling Fair Trade coffees.

2000

• The Radway family sells the company to its employees, which keeps Paramount from being bought up by a national company. The company has been employee-owned since.
• All the individual companies are merged legally into one in October.
• New Triangle Paramount logo is established.

2001

• Lila Radway passes away.

2004

• Sparrow Tree/Toys each department sponsors a patient and family

2005

• Online sales on paramountcoffee.com begin.

2006

• Paramount’s current logo is unveiled.
• New Gourmet packaging is rolled out, with five different colors denoting what’s inside (red = regular, green = decaf, purple = fair trade/organic, blue = flavored, orange = flavored decaf.)

The current Paramount Coffee varieties in their colorful bags.

• Paramount begins working Michigan State University’s agricultural program to distribute One Thousands Hills Fair Trade Rwanda Coffee.
  • $1 from each pound sold goes back to the Rwandan people who harvest the beans.
  • $30,000 has been raised for the Rwandans so far.
• Paramount employees begin participating in Special Olympics walk-a-thon.
• Paramount employees begin participating in Junior Achievement Bowling Day.

Coffee That Cares

2007

• Ele’s Place Coffee is created. For every bag sold, $1 goes to the organization that helps grieving children. Currently, Paramount has raised $10,000 for Ele’s Place.
• Paramount roasts and packages a breast cancer awareness coffee called Caffe Rosa from October 2007 – October 2008.
  • $1 from each bag goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
• The Business 2 Business (B2B) website is created to make ordering easier for business customers.
• Paramount opens an Amazon account.
• Paramount employees volunteer at Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan every second Monday of every month.

2008

• Paramount sets up an eBay account in March.
• The Business Connection website is set up, giving customers the latest information.

2009

• Joe Coffee and mi coffee (highlighting Michigan flavors) debut in summer.
• Single serving pods come out in summer.

Exciting New Products

• Ann Arbor supplier Arbor Mitchell is acquired in the third quarter.

2010

• 75 years!

Sincere thanks goes out to all of our loyal customers, past and present employees, and everyone else who has supported us throughout our journey in the world and business of coffee.
We wish everyone the best in 2010!

Giving Hope in Rwanda and Burundi Through the Love of Coffee

In May 2009, our own coffee artisan and native of Brazil, Angelo Oricchio, traveled to the great continent of Africa for two very special events.

Angelo’s first stop was Gishoma, Cyangugu, in Rwanda.  Through our partnership with Michigan State University and the PEARL (Partnership to Enhance Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkage) Project, proceeds from the sales of our One Thousand Hills Fair Trade Rwanda coffee were officially donated to the Cocagi Cooperative.  The cooperative, with approximately 1,300 farmers, is a small nucleus that encompasses the washing station for processing coffee, a small open market, church, and schools.

With the help of locals, a percentage of the proceeds were used to purchase 400 goats that were presented to the cooperative.  The goats will provide the cooperative members and their families with a virtually endless supply of milk, food, and fertilizer.

400 Goats were purchased for the people of the Cocagi Cooperative.

After the donation ceremony, a reception took place at Gashonga Washing Station that included speeches from Angelo; Dan Clay, the director of MSU’s Institute of International Agriculture; the president of the cooperative; and others.  The local people danced, sang, and recited poetry to honor their guests.  Angelo received a beautiful, hand-woven basket as a token of thanks to our company.

Angelo then traveled to Burundi with the other coffee roasters and coffee professionals from the USA, South Africa and Uganda.  They learned about the work the Office du Café du Burundi (OCIBU) is doing to establish cupping labs and to certify cuppers within Burundi.  The group also cupped several coffee samples from different areas of the country; and later, at OCIBU headquarters in Bujumbura, the group discussed various protocols involved in cupping, which comprises water conditions, preparation of samples, and cupping.

OCIBU and Angelo

Throughout the visit in Burundi, as in Rwanda, local people greeted and entertained the group with singing and dancing to show their appreciation.  There were also small celebrations at nearly every washing station.

Angelo’s trip included a full-day conference with government dignitaries, coffee exporters, and OCIBU members.  The main topic was the different points involved in producing Specialty Coffees, from production to shipping.  The conference was part of a very involved effort to educate and encourage the Specialty Coffee industry’s growth in the Burundi.

Drink Coffee. Do Good. (Sahid)

“My personal experience was very special.  The goat ceremony in Rwanda was a very proud moment.  To realize that we formed an alliance, through our company buying the cooperative’s green coffee and our customers buying our roasted coffee, that really helps these people is a great feeling.” -Angelo Oricchio

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Image Gallery

The locals sing and dance to welcome their guests.

A gift to our company.

Angelo shook hands with the 20 top producing farmers.

OCIBU and Angelo

Sampling coffee.

Rich, fertile soil.

Sorting green coffee beans.

Hand grinding coffee.

Roasting coffee.

400 Goats were purchased for the people of the Cocagi Cooperative.

Drink Coffee. Do Good. (Sahid)

Drumming anad dancing.

Anne Ottaway and Angelo

Dan Clay and Angelo

Angelo speaking at the reception.

More celebration!

Celebrate the Cherry!

The first National Cherry Festival was held in 1926, originating from a spring ceremony known as the “Blessing of the Blossoms.”  Now it has grown to over 500,000 attendees during the 8-day event, held every year in July at the “Cherry Capital of the World”-Traverse City, Michigan.  This year’s festival is July 4-11.

Visit the National Cherry Festival website for more info.

We are proud to offer National Cherry Festival Traverse City Cherry and Traverse City Chocolate Cherry flavored coffees.

These coffees were created with cherry lovers in mind!  So sit back, enjoy these specialty coffees, and celebrate the rich cherry flavor and aroma.  Proceeds from their sale support the long-term celebration of the cherry and one of the nation’s most celebrated festivals.  Available for a limited time, visit www.paramountcoffee.com/shop to order now!

Hot Coffee Makin’ You Sweat?

The days are getting warmer as we quickly near the summer months.  Many coffee-lovers will sweat through the early mornings (and all day) to indulge in their favorite brew.  But for those out there that can’t take the heat, here are a couple iced coffee recipes that may happily give you second thoughts about packing up that brewer for the summer.

Iced Flavored Coffee–Blueberry Muffin

1. Fill 16oz. glass with ice
2. Add 2oz. skim milk and ½oz. Torani Cane Sweetener (or sweeten to taste with sugar/sugar substitute)
3. Fill glass with brewed, chilled Blueberry Muffin flavored coffee

Iced Regular Coffee–Gourmet Delight Blend

1. Fill 16oz. glass with ice
2. Add 2oz. skim milk and ½oz. flavored syrup (or sweeten to taste with sugar/sugar substitute)
3. Fill glass with brewed, chilled Gourmet Delight coffee

These recipes are great to tweak to your taste.  Use your favorite kind of milk, cream, or soy milk.  Try another flavored coffee like Hazelnut Cream, Jamaican Me Crazy, or Traverse City Cherry.  Coffee is about sipping something satisfying and should always make you smile–so have fun with it!

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town 2009

The 15th annual Be a Tourist in Your Own Town is on May 30th this year, and once again, we are proudly participating in the festivities.  This event is a great way to celebrate Lansing’s 150th anniversary and visit the ever-important local businesses, and have some fun of course.

Though Paramount Coffee’s roasting facility is closed to the public, for this day only we will be opening the doors for free guided tours from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  We are on the “Red Route” on the BATYOT bus route, so be sure to get your passport and your stamp from CATA for your day of local tourism.  Follow the aroma of fresh roasted coffee and we will see you soon!

Visit www.lansing.org/batyot for more BATYOT information.

Lugnuts Fans, Come Park at Paramount Coffee for the Game!

If you’ve ever been to a Lugnuts baseball game in Downtown Lansing, chances are you may have parked in our company parking lot before.  In fact, you may have done so and not even realized it…that is, if you don’t know what the lingering aroma of fresh roasted coffee smells like on a warm summer evening.

During most night games, we offer cheap parking in our company lot right across the street from the stadium.  Five-bucks will get you in, and starting in June, we will be giving away FREE “frac pack” coffee in addition to coupons for 25% off at our online retail store.

Drink more coffee and GO NUTS!

Hello Coffee World!

Welcome to our official blog.  If you drink our coffee, serve our coffee, or are just an all around coffee-lover, then this is the place for you!  We will be posting news related to the business of coffee, tip & tricks, recipes, new products we’re offering and more.  So check often as we get this thing rolling.  In the meantime, you can find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.