Supplier Spotlight: Why We Serve Maine Root Soft Drinks
Here at Chad’s BBQ, we only offer the best of the best to our customers. You won’t find anything ordinary on our menu. Instead, you can expect extraordinary! From our freshly smoked meats to our soft drinks – we’ve got you covered.
When some people look at our menu, they ask us, “Do you carry Pepsi or Coke?” Our answer is always the same – no, and that’s because we currently offer a much more sustainable option. All our fountain sodas are supplied by Maine Root™.
Why We Chose Maine Root Soft Drinks
Initially, we chose to work with Maine Root because they offer a healthier alternative to heavily processed, sugary fountain drinks. Instead of opting for popular sodas that contain overly processed, bleached sugars, or high-fructose corn syrup, we wanted to work with a company that could offer our customers an alternative.
When we found out that Maine Root was made with 100% organic sugar cane, it piqued our interest. However, when we learned that they also ethically source the sugar cane from small farms, we were sold. Not only did that mean we could provide our patrons with a healthier alternative to traditional soft drinks, but we were also supporting a brand that was going out of its way to work with farmers and communities that need some extra TLC.
What’s the Difference Between Sugar Cane and Traditional Sugar?
When looking for a healthier option to traditional sugar, we decided that sugar cane was the way to go – but why?
One of the primary reasons is that the sugar used in many soft drinks today is highly processed, which requires the use of various chemicals, such as calcium hydroxide, sulfur dioxide, and phosphoric acid. These chemicals help to remove impurities, although it also removes all the natural molasses.
Sugar cane, on the other hand, doesn’t go through such as stripping process. The sugar cane plant is crushed, the juice is heated and filtered, and then undergoes a series of crystallization steps to turn it into the sugar we are most familiar with.
What Does Fair Trade Mean?
This is a partnership between companies and producers in developing countries that pays the producers a fair price for their goods. These prices are often a little higher than standard prices. However, these goods are often of higher quality. They also promote environmentally sustainable practices and the ethical treatment of all those involved in their farming and production of the goods in question.
The higher prices also help these underdeveloped countries to reduce poverty levels and help build up their communities.
Enjoy One with Your Next Dish at Chad’s
While we love that Maine Root offers various sustainable, ethically-sourced soft drinks, our customers love these beverages for entirely different reasons. Maine Root soft drinks are:
- Free of allergens such as corn, crustacean shellfish, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, and wheat
- Gluten-Free
- Non-GMO
- Vegan
At Chad’s BBQ, we offer several Maine Root soft drinks to our customers so they can enjoy a variety of flavors alongside their favorite dishes. Of course, if soft drinks aren’t your thing, we also offer water, freshly made iced tea, and lemonade! Have any questions regarding our Maine Root soft drinks or any other item on our menu? Feel free to reach out to us!
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