3 Drinkware Trends for Summer

| 05/20/2019

Just in time for summer, these glasses will sizzle at any outdoor event.  The unbreakable mugs, jars and stemless glasses are durable enough for reuse.  Help your customers be on trend for weddings, July 4th festivities, corporate picnics or any outdoor event.

The popular Moscow Mule was born circa 1941 and is traditionally served in a copper mug.  The 16-ounce mug gives the traditional look at a cost-effective price point.  Create a summer version of the cocktail using seasonal fruits like blueberries or watermelon.  A purist?  No problem.  The traditional ginger and lime is just as refreshing on a hot summer day.  Easily made into non-alcoholic versions, Moscow Mules served in these reusable and shatter-proof mugs are sure to please all guests.

First invented by the European glassmaker family, Riedel, stemless glasses are all the rage on the wine scene.  But don’t limit these durable glasses to just vino!  Perfect for any drink—with or without bubbles—these glasses provide the look of glass without the risk of breakage.  The 16-ounce glass’ sleek design adds a contemporary touch to casual or elegant events.

The versatile Mason jar is not just for canning anymore.  Just visit Pinterest for proof on the endless drink ideas in this timeless vessel.  Choose the large Mason jar lid with a hole and add your favorite paper straw for spill-proof sipping.  Opt for the full lid to hold contents inside and the options for use become endless.  Outdoor salads, desserts, sides and more can be stored, served or taken on the go!

No option is off the table with these trending drinkware options.  Contact us today for more information.

 

Introducing Cut-n-Serve™: An All-Purpose Tool for Foodservice and Catering Needs

| 02/20/2019

Table Mate distributes an array of serving utensils for the catering and foodservice industry. Cut-n-Serve is a great all-purpose tool that Table Mate will feature at our Booth (#1217) during the Catersource 2019 Conference and Tradeshow this month.

Table Mate is the exclusive distributor of the American-manufactured Cut-n-Serve. The 7 1/2 inch utensil has a squared spatula with serrated edges making this a perfect tool for serving up an array of tasty dishes and treats. The Cut-n-Serve is ideal for pizza processors, caterers, restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores for serving all kinds of food.

Cut-n-Serve can be a useful giveaway to remind customers of your brand. Consider engraving the handle with a company name and logo to customize them just for your business. The Cut-n-Serve can also be printed with the company brand along with table covers, skirts and other utensils in Table Mate’s custom-print product line.

The Cut-n-Serve is available in black, white and clear and comes packed 144 pieces to a case. For specifics on engraving and printing specifications, refer to our catalog or call us today: 1-800-837-1532

Table Mate not only proudly manufactures in the United States, we source and distribute other product lines for businesses’ catering and foodservice needs. By specializing in consolidation, we save customers time in choosing vendors and money by shipping with our low prepaid limits. Visit us at Booth #1217 at the Catersource 2019 Conference and Tradeshow February 24-27 in New Orleans.

Table Mate is Returning to Catersource in New Orleans, LA this February!

| 01/25/2019

Please join us at Catersource – Booth 1217. Use our promo code INVITE18TBLMTE for a free tradeshow pass or $50 off any Conference package! USE PROMO CODE NOW!

The Catersource Conference & Tradeshow unites the world’s most passionate professionals around a singular focus: to celebrate and enhance the value of their catered events.  Thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors will convene in NOLA for connections, community-building and progressive ideas within the catering industry.  USE PROMO CODE NOW!

Table Mate has shifted back to its roots in foodservice and catering supplies.  In the company’s beginning, Table Mate was the largest foil pan distributor in the Chicago area. We still have foil, but have expanded our line exponentially over the years. We are proud to be manufacturing our own serving utensils and catering supplies – right here in the United States. As the catering industry has evolved, so have our products.  Our strength is working with restaurants in the fast casual segment of the industry. We have a unique flexibility to supply the larger foodservice distribution centers via LTL carrier or to drop ship smaller orders to store locations in remote locations or that need proprietary items quickly.

Whether you are an established 500 unit restaurant chain or a single restaurant just considering adding a catering program, Table Mate has experience and the vision to help you increase profits.

Leadership American Made

| 10/23/2018

Working and spending time with family have been synonymous for Tom Berg since the 1970s.

Long before he became president of Table Mate, Berg cleaned the supply room, pulled orders for his Uncle Donny, packed eight-in-one airline commissaries … anything to help his family’s business and earn some money of his own for video games and later a motorcycle.

Along with his brother Joe, Vice President, and cousin Paul MacLennan, Vice President, Tom has taken the leadership mantle from his parents as Table Mate continues to thrive manufacturing products in America more than 40 years after Lloyd and Rose Marie Berg went to work on an idea.

Table Mate’s line of tablecovers in color and print combination remain the core of the company’s business.  The multiple display options, private labeling capabilities and on-time shipping and warehousing options appeal to a number of markets.   As the landscape has evolved to larger retail chains and buying groups, Table Mate has adapted to meet the needs of various industries from grocery and pharmacy chains to big box retailers and the food service industry.

“It’s not easy to keep a business like ours going for 40-plus years,” Tom Berg said. “Some companies have been bought and sold many times over. We’re still the same – family owned with a commitment to American made.”

In a time of uncertainty and change with overseas trade, Table Mate has evolved to provide retailers, online sellers and distributors American-made options.  Table Mate has helped food service leaders like Chipotle to source products manufactured in the USA. Table Mate’s capabilities for private labeling, blind shipping and reduced procurement lead times put the company at an advantage in today’s climate.  And with the facility’s superior scores on 3rd-party audits, customers can rely on safe, quality products.

Empowering individuals to own their jobs and treating them like family has worked for Table Mate.  Ideas to grow Table Mate’s custom-printing capabilities started with the company’s Vice President of National Sales, Ron Feldman.  Table Mate can help companies create promotional and marketing products on tablecovers, banquet rolls, table skirting, disposable bibs and disposable serving utensils. Custom-made sizes, folding, packaging and private labeling can take it to the next level.

Tom Berg (center) with sons Jim (L) and Christopher (R) skiing in Colorado

“Everyone needs to do their part, their job on the team. If everyone is doing their job it will be successful. It’s not just on my shoulders, the success is on everyone’s shoulders.”  It comes down to good people.

Be it employees, customers or vendors, initial encounters tend to lead to long-term relationships.

Tom’s approach to leadership took shape as a student at the University of Michigan, where he was tasked with the thankless job of house manager of his fraternity.

“Hardest job in the house,” he said. “Getting guys to clean the bathroom. Clean the kitchen. To actually use mops and brooms. It was impossible. I had to be creative in how to motivate.”

Tom received a degree in economics from University of Michigan with a concentration in computers and accounting, started a family of his own and was among the early wave of college graduates to work in Information Technology.  An outdoor enthusiast, Tom spends time away from Table Mate hiking, camping, skiing and rock climbing. Connect with him on LinkedIn or via email at tberg@tablemateusa.com.

Table Mate Promotes Health and Wellness

| 07/10/2018

Creating an environment which promotes the health and well-being of our employees is important to Table Mate Products. We strive to develop and support healthier lifestyles through our corporate Health and Wellness program.

Employees have a choice of various individual and team activities to participate in and earn Wellness Reward Points for each activity they complete.  The points are redeemable for various rewards such as Table Mate/RADCO apparel, paid-time off, gift cards and even an overnight getaway.

We are proud of the 14 employees who participated in the 2018 Spring Jump Start Weight Loss initiative.  Collectively, they lost over 56 pounds during the six-week event. A robust body of research points to the benefits of weight loss.  Even a 5-10% loss of one’s body weight can improve obesity-related diseases like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.

Another highly-anticipated activity is the annual Bellin Run.  The 10K (6.2 mile) race is held in Green Bay, Wisc. near the race’s founding organization, Bellin Memorial Hospital.  First held in 1977, the run was intended to be a one-time event to promote heart and cardiovascular health. More than 40 years later, it continues to draw runners and walkers of all participation levels and has become one of the top 10 largest timed 10K races in the nation.  

Table Mate/RADCO has participated in the Bellin Run’s Bellin Corporate Challenge the past six years. The Bellin Corporate Challenge program “allows local corporations to compete in a participative and competitive basis while promoting fitness and corporate camaraderie.”

Other activities employees can participate in include an annual physical health assessment, activity challenge, company 5K walk and healthy cookout, obstacle course challenge, step challenge and wellness/preventative check-ups.  This year, RADCO, the manufacturing division of Table Mate, will host the first Company Sunday Fun Day. The event will include a six-mile whitewater rafting trip followed by a company lunch.

Companies small and large offer workplace health and wellness programs that vary in supports and services.  Health.gov sited research that shows “promoting healthy habits to employees…is an effective way to benefit both employer and employee.”  Benefits include lower health costs incurred by employees, increased employee productivity, healthier employees and long-lasting healthy behavior changes.  

At Table Mate/RADCO, our Health and Wellness program helps us achieve a greater physical, social, emotional and environmental connection between employees and the community.

Radco Made In America

| 06/15/2018

Made in America? Check.

Made safely? Check.

Made just for you? Check.

When it comes to the custom manufacturing and printing of party supplies and foodservice disposables, Table Mate checks all the boxes.

An industry leader for more than 50 years, Table Mate’s manufacturing division, RADCO, is a 92,000-square-foot facility in Shawano, Wisc., where all of the company’s manufactured items are produced.

The company’s humble Wisconsin roots can be traced, appropriately enough, to a cheese factory in Richmond.    

In 1978, RADCO (short for Richmond Associated Distributing, Co.), began manufacturing banquet rolls and 84-inch rounds and skirts in a facility that was previously a cheese factory.  

As growth continued in the early 80s, RADCO moved into a larger facility on Northridge Drive in Shawano.

Increased growth prompted our current facility to be built in 1994 at 1355 Industrial Drive in the Shawano Industrial Park, housing our tablecover folding lines, banquet roll rewinding lines, skirting lines, bag machine lines, packaging and converting equipment.

Ninety-nine percent of materials for production are sourced in the USA, and all materials and machinery are continuously reviewed and tested to keep our customers on the cutting edge of industry developments.

Table Mate/RADCO offers flexibility to customers from blind and drop ship options to customizing orders with packaging, size and private labels.

RADCO’s facility is audited by reputable third-party companies and consistently earns superior ratings in the areas of quality and safety systems, building security, pest control and preventative maintenance.

For the second year in a row, RADCO has received the Acuity Insurance Outstanding Safety Award given to businesses that are exemplary in their partnership with Acuity to help ensure a safe workplace.

Pictured: Ryan Iseler, Acuity Loss Control Representative with Ben Thomas, Maintenance Manager

Acuity Insurance, based in Sheboygan, Wisc., calls RADCO part of a “very select group, with less than four percent of our manufacturing accounts receiving an award.”

Indeed, RADCO strives to make consistent, measurable progress in implementing the highest overall safety for our employees.  

RADCO’s facility manager, Jeni Luebeck, summarized the company’s philosophy on safety: “We believe that all injuries and occupational illnesses, as well as safety and environmental incidents, are preventable. We feel the engagement and input of all our employees is the key to awareness and maintaining the safest environment.  We are subject to bi-annual safety and compliance audits and are very proud of our employees and our overall achievements.”

RADCO conducts comprehensive health and safety training for all employees at the time of hire and periodically thereafter.  The Health & Safety committee consists of a rotating group of employees that meet on a quarterly basis.   

Navigating the Off-Premise Catering Landscape with Table Mate as Your Guide

| 05/09/2018

Table Mate will be back at this year’s National Restaurant Association show held May 19-22 in Chicago. The annual event for professionals in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industries is an opportunity to learn, connect and find inspiration from innovative industry leaders.  Table Mate will join more than 2,000 exhibitors to share new strategies, products and ideas to move business forward.  

The Association’s 2018 show will feature the first-ever conference focused on restaurant revenue growth.  Keynote speakers and featured sessions will help attendees imagine their business through a new lens.  Attendees will explore actionable strategies to engage new guests, increase spending and drive frequency.

One featured session will explore the key elements of building an off-premise operation.  While complex, the off-premise landscape can be highly profitable if executed properly. Business catering has grown more than 30 percent the past three years. Corporations spent $22 billion on catering last year.  

Table Mate has more than 40 years of experience in catering products and concepts.  We’ve helped businesses create and implement fast-casual catering strategies that drive top-line sales and bottom-line profits.  From complete setup of chafing warming racks and serving utensils to catering boxes for storage and delivery, Table Mate can help you navigate the off-premises landscape with ease.

We tailor packages to meet the needs of our customers.  Can’t find the perfect serving utensil? Let us source the perfect product to meet your needs.  Our custom-print options make it easy to leave a lasting impression on customers.   Mr. Beef and Pizza, a long-time Table Mate customer, uses these utensils to build the company brand.

“We have been using Table Mate products for over 20 years!  Having custom imprinted catering utensils really brings brand awareness to customers who may not otherwise know the delicious food they are eating is from Mr. Beef & Pizza.  The quality utensils help to further establish that we run a quality business and care about how our food is served.”—Kurt Zundel, President, Mr. Beef & Pizza

Visit us at booth 8438 and learn what we can do to help you implement or expand off-premises catering and increase brand awareness to stay ahead of the curve.  With Table Mate Products, no option is off the table!

  

 

Table Mate is Returning to the National Restaurant Association Show

| 05/01/2018
Table Mate Products is happy to announce we will be BACK at the 2018 National Restaurant Association Show!
Interested in starting a fast, casual catering program to elevate your business but don’t know where to start?  Visit us at booth 8438 to learn how Table Mate Products can customize a plan that works for you.   
When: May 19th-22nd
Where: Booth 8438, Lake Side Center Hall, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Our 40-plus years of experience with catering products and concepts can help your business discover the possibilities.  With Table Mate Products, no option is off the table!

Table Mate Announces Rebrand and New Website Launch

| 04/11/2018

At Table Mate Products, Inc., we are always looking for ways to improve our processes and technology to better serve our customers. With these goals in mind, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new company website (www.tablemateusa.com) and brand identity.

When building the new site, we focused on creating a user-friendly experience with intuitive navigation and improved functionality. We opted for a clean, modern design and leveraged the latest responsive technologies to optimize the website’s performance on any device.

The rebrand and updated content offer a clear message of who Table Mate is, what our company stands for and the value we provide in the manufacturing, sourcing and distribution of party supplies and foodservice disposables. Visitors will also be able to keep up to date with the latest Table Mate and industry news through the site’s new blog.

Our priorities for the new website include:

  • Customer-Focused Design
    • Our website’s primary purpose is to serve visitors by making it simple and intuitive to engage with its content. Company information, products/services and contact information are laid out with a focus on being clear and easy to find.
  • A Responsive Interface
    • The new Table Mate site optimizes its layout based on the screen size of the device on which it is being viewed. Responsive design makes web content easy to read with minimal resizing, panning and scrolling. 
  • A Company Blog for Sharing News
    • To keep our customers in the know, we’ve integrated an onsite blog. We will continue adding company, industry and product-related news to ensure you have the information you need to best evaluate our offerings. 
  • An Online Catalog
    • Looking to browse through Table Mate’s full product line? From custom-printed tableware to upscale catering supplies, you’ll find everything Table Mate sells in our convenient online catalog. The new site makes it easy to page through, bookmark, download or print selected catalog pages. 

About Table Mate:

For more than 50 years, Table Mate has been an industry leader in the manufacturing of party supplies and foodservice disposables. The company services and supplies party retailers, supermarkets, restaurants, caterers, event planners, foodservice retailers and distributers across North America.

Radco, Table Mate’s manufacturing division, proudly produces all of the company’s tablecovers, banquet rolls, and table skirting in Shawano, WI. Ninety-nine percent of materials for production are sourced in the USA, and all materials and machinery are continuously reviewed and tested to keep our customers at the cutting edge of any new industry developments.

Table Mate not only proudly manufactures in the United States, we source and distribute other product lines for businesses’ party or disposable foodservice needs. By specializing in consolidation, we save customers time in choosing vendors and money by shipping with our low prepaid limits.

Any questions? Please reach out, and let us know how the new Table Mate website can make YOUR job easier! Fill out our contact form on our website or call us at 1-800-837-1532.