Drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may lower women's risk of developing endometrial cancer, American researchers found.
Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed the effect of coffee intake on 67,470 women and found that 672 developed endometrial cancers, which affect the lining of the uterus, over a 26-year period.
Those who drank more than four cups of coffee a day were 25 percent less likely to develop the cancer, while those who had two or three cups had a reduced risk of seven percent, according to the study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
The same link was found in women who drank decaffeinated coffee, with those drinking two cups per day at a 22 percent reduced risk for the cancer.
"Coffee has already been shown to be protective against diabetes due to its effect on insulin," senior researcher Edward Giovannucci said. "So we hypothesized that we'd see a reduction in some cancers, as well."
Giovannucci also warned about the dangers of drinking coffee and smoking.
"Coffee has long been linked with smoking, and if you drink coffee and smoke, the positive effects of coffee are going to be more than outweighed by the negative effects of smoking," he added. "However, laboratory testing has found that coffee has much more antioxidants than most vegetables and fruits."
Article from: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpps/health/study-coffee-may-lower-cancer-risk-in-women-dpgonc-20111123-kh_16090690
Dan
Hart, owner and operator of Atlanta-based Southern Refreshments, has seen the
future of vending. And it’s hiding inside his equipment, warehouse and trucks.
The industry is caught in a time warp, lagging about two decades behind where
it could be, he says. The wave of the future is technology, and Hart’s company
is poised at the leading edge.
A
Glimpse into the Future
Let’s
imagine a day in the very near future of this FLO operator, a company
established in 1979 by two guys making deliveries out of the back of a station
wagon:
·
As
the day begins, real-time data from each piece of equipment in metro Atlanta
feeds into a warehouse stocking system.
·
LED
displays indicate exactly how many units of each SKU to select from flow racks
to fill each order.
·
Items
are packed in individual plastic bins destined to fill a particular customer’s
machine.
·
The
system records how fast the order is prepared and prints a label, which
attaches to the container before it’s loaded on the truck.
And
there’s more:
·
Money
is handled in a similar fashion. The system knows precisely how many and which
denomination of coins and bills are in each machine and what is needed to
restock each of Southern Refreshments’ 5,000 venders.
·
Credit
card readers installed on key machines provide further enhancements.
·
GPS
units mounted on the truck fleet enable managers to track drivers’ progress on
their routes.
·
As
employees arrive at customer locations, they use hand-held bar code devices to
track interactions with each machine and money bag.
·
The
system meticulously records all transactions and exchanges.
·
Back
at the office, computer readouts indicate minute details, such as the moment a
vender is opened for service.
·
Service
needs are monitored as well, informing the team if a unit is malfunctioning.
·
Vender
temperature is controlled remotely, programmed to produce maximum energy
efficiency.
This
tale is far from a work of fiction because Southern Refreshments possesses most
of these capabilities today. The final piece of the puzzle, the warehouse
inventory pick system, will be installed in 2011.
Systems
Increase Revenue per Machine
“At
the end of 2009, I decided to push the edge on technology,” says Hart. “It’s
always provided our company a competitive edge, and because margins are slim in
this industry, we need to use every available efficiency. The systems we’re
installing positively impact my bottom line, increasing sales and profits. And
I now better understand what my business is doing.”
The
controls Southern Refreshments has in place provide performance indicators by
product, vender, location, customer and employee. “We know what’s going on in
an account 60 miles away. It allows us to better merchandize equipment, keep
products in stock and increase revenue per machine,” Hart explains. Labor
efficiency is another advantage. In addition, customer service improves, and
equipment is better maintained. The system also enhances financial
accountability and minimizes risk.
Beyond
Technology: The Rest of the Story
While
technology is an enormous component of the picture, there is more to this
success story.
Cold
drinks comprise about 40% of the operator’s volume. “The Coca-Cola Company is
our major supplier and part of our lifeblood,” says Hart. “Everything that Coke
does affects us. New products can increase turns in a machine, and compelling
advertising and graphics help us sell more. It’s a win-win situation.”
In
addition to Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke® is a top performing product. Coke Zero™ has
been a huge seller for the operator as well. He points to energy drinks,
POWERADE® and vitaminwater® as consistent moving products, and powerhouses
include green teas and NESTEA®
Red Tea Pomegranate
Passion Fruit.
Equipment
innovation delivers another distinct benefit. The new Coca-Cola Interactive
Vender, featuring touch screen operation, is an enormous attraction at one of
Hart’s key accounts, Georgia State University. “We placed two machines at the
college at the beginning of the semester and three months later, kids still
gather to look at it. When I visit, there’s always a flock of students standing
around, touching it and buying products. The animation has generated a lot of
brand awareness.”
Graphics
and promotions provide additional ways to increase sales. His company ran a
promotion on the same campus with a pizza restaurant, using snipes to
communicate the offer. With the purchase of a Coke Zero, the recipient would
receive a coupon for $1.00 off a pizza purchase and some lucky recipients
received a free pizza. “It was tremendously successful,” says the operator,
“and helped drive volume through the machines.”
Southern
Refreshments has experienced the same economy induced financial pinch as the
rest of the industry, but wise planning created a silver lining. “This
recession,” says Hart, “drove us to better manage our business and become even
smarter.” The need to focus on technology is one of his most valuable lessons.
“The entire industry is changing,” he says. “Those that evolve with it will
survive; those that don’t will have a tough time making money.” Thanks to
Hart’s foresight, Southern Refreshments is positioned for enduring success.
Dan Hart, owner and operator of Atlanta-based Southern Refreshments, has seen the future of vending. And it’s hiding inside his equipment, warehouse and trucks. The industry is caught in a time warp, lagging about two decades behind where it could be, he says. The wave of the future is technology, and Hart’s company is poised at the leading edge.
A Glimpse into the Future
Let’s imagine a day in the very near future of this FLO operator, a company established in 1979 by two guys making deliveries out of the back of a station wagon:
And there’s more:
This tale is far from a work of fiction because Southern Refreshments possesses most of these capabilities today. The final piece of the puzzle, the warehouse inventory pick system, will be installed in 2011.
To read more follow this link: http://www.cokesolutions.com/Featured%20Articles/SouthernRefreshmentsGoesHighTech.aspx