Danish coffee shop chain Joe and the Juice won the award for 'world’s best airport coffee shop' at the Food and Beverage awards (FAB 2013) that was held in Dubai this week.
The chain is known its attractive male staff who prepare sandwiches, coffee and fresh juice as they groove along to a thumping soundtrack of hip electronic dance music.
The formula seems to be working and after opening their first branch in 2001, the chain can now claim 32 stores in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the UK and Germany.
Nørrebro doesn’t like juice
Some residents of Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district have been less happy with its expansion into their edgy inner-city neighbourhood and since opening on Nørrebrogade in 2011, the branch has suffered intense vandalism and graffiti.
No-one has taken responsibility, but the two widely held theories point in the direction of politically-motivated vandals or gang members seeking protection money.
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The award undoubtedly overshadows the trouble in Nørrebro and is likely to be a stepping stone for the company to fulfil the owner’s ambition of opening 5,000 branches world-wide – so attractive male juicers, get your CVs ready!
More Danish awards
Joe and the Juice were not the only Danish winners at the award show, which is hosted by the travel and retail publication Moodie Report and which honours food and beverage offerings at rail stations and airports.
Le Sommelier in Copenhagen Airport won Best Airport Chef-Led Dining, while Nordic Dining won Best Food & Beverage Marketing & Promotions Campaign.
Copenhagen Airport was also awarded runner-up in the category Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year, after the winner Dubai.
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FAB 2013 WINNERS
Best Airport Coffee Shop
Winner: Copenhagen Airport – Joe & The Juice
Best Airport ‘Food To Go’
Winner: San Francisco International Airport – Tastes on the Fly, Napa Farms Market
Best Airport Bar
Winner: Gatwick Airport North Terminal – JD Wetherspoon, The Red Lion
Best Airport Wine Bar
Winner: Denver International Airport – HMSHost, CRU
Best Airport Casual Dining Restaurant
Winner: London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 – The Restaurant Group, Giraffe
Best Airport Chef-Led Dining
Winner: Copenhagen Airport – SSP, Le Sommelier
Best Airport Food Court
Winner: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, F Concourse – HMSHost
Best Fast Food/Quick Service Restaurant
Winner: New York JFK Airport – SSP America, Shake Shack
Best Food & Beverage Marketing & Promotions Campaign
Winner: Copenhagen Airport – Nordic Dining
Best Digital or Social Media Initiative
Winner: Autogrill – Vyaggio
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative
Winner: Autogrill – A Future
Best Railway Station Food & Beverage Offer – Best Individual Station F&B
Winner: Milano Centrale Station – Autogrill, Bistrot Milano Centrale
Best Railway Station Food & Beverage Offer – Best Overall Station F&B
Winner: Waterloo Station, London – Network Rail
Best Food & Beverage-Related Innovation
Winner: Denver International Airport – Premium Value Concessions Program
Best Airport Food & Beverage Reflecting Sense of Place
Winner: San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 2 – Tastes on the Fly, Napa Farms Market
Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year
Winner: Dubai International
Commendation: Copenhagen Airport