Napa Technology Announces Universal Design Module For WineStation Unit; Enhanced Product Provides 'Try Before You Buy' Access To All

    SAUSALITO, CA, February 17, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Napa Technology, designer and manufacturer of the WineStation, an intelligent wine dispensing and preservation solution, today announced the launch of its new product, The Accuserve Smartcard Universal Design Module.

"We strive to provide our customers and partners with the solutions that will enhance their business and achieve their goals," states Morris Taradalsky, Vice President of Engineering and Support. "This design advancement creates lap-level access to all the features of the WineStation, including easy to read LCD screens and the AccuServe Smartcard reader."

The AccuServe Smartcard Universal Design Module is adaptable to any WineStation model currently on the market and most recently installed at the Marriott Hanover in Whippany, New Jersey, The Hotel Minneapolis in Minneapolis, and Harris Teeter Grocery Stores in Reston, Virginia.

By installing the WineStation, Harris Teeter is at the leading edge of one of the key grocery store trends. Increasingly, grocery and other retail environments are providing consumers with a 'try before buy' wine experience.

The recent installs of the cutting edge and customized WineStation preservation and pouring system will allow customers to sample some of the world's finest wines by the glass but also permit Harris Teeter to stay a step ahead in customer service by tailoring the varietals, price points and labels to the anticipated needs of their customers.

"We see the WineStation as an opportunity to enhance the guest experience, said Jennifer Thompson, Director of Communications for Harris Teeter. "We feature over 2,200 varieties of wine and will now be able to offer our guests the ability to sample 12 different types of wine and choose the item that best suits their needs."

Napa Technology clients across the country are experiencing a 30 percent increase in wine bottle sales by offering customers a small sample pour of a wine. Most packaged food products and luxury goods, have been sampling consumers for decades, but the preservation and digital reporting technology is now allowing the wine industry to use this tactic as well.

Increasingly, grocery and other retail environments are adapting a try-before-buy wine experience for their consumers. Cutting edge technology and wine preservation allow grocers to provide wine bar and fine dining restaurant-quality wine tasting experiences to their aisles.

The AccuServe Smartcard Universal Design Module measures 21" w x 3.24" d x 5.76"h and weighs approximately five pounds. This product enhancement is adaptable to any WineStation model currently on the market. The AccuSever Smartcard Universal Design Module assures that this amenity is applicable to all wine lovers able or disabled.

The WineStation is the world's first automated temperature-controlled, wine dispensing and preservation system. The WineStation provides business operators with a serving solution that guarantees customers the freshest wines every time without the fear of product spoilage or over-pouring, and 60 day product preservation.

Utilizing the vast intelligence of the Accuserve Smartcard technology, the WineStation provides product sales trends in addition to a full suite of staff, management and consumer insights. The system, designed to provide enterprise software solutions for companies large and small, also supports a wealth of product, staff and customer reporting that all can be controlled from a single, remote source.

Standard features for each WineStation include:
- Patented Clean-Pour technology assuring fresh taste, bouquet and aroma for 60 days.
- AccuServe Management Suite software allowing the operator to track customer sampling preferences and identify appropriate merchandising and pricing strategies to increase revenues.
- Programmable and easy-to-read LCD screens displaying the wine being served and price for a tasting, half-glass and full-glass servings.
- State-of-the-art Thermo Electric cooling, providing dual zone temperature.
- Nitrogen or argon gas preservation system.
- 24 various colors and finishes.

Thousands of locations now utilize WineStation by Napa Technology in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The WineStation has been placed nationwide in premier retail and hospitality establishments and is rapidly expanding into the grocery, airport and arena channels.

About Napa Technology
Napa Technology, LLC is a designer and manufacturer of Intelligent Dispensing Solutions for wine that ensures optimum freshness with each pour. The company's breakthrough product, WineStation, is designed to drive revenues and maximize the profitability of each bottle. WineStation has been adopted by hospitality, entertainment and foodservice industries as a new way to serve, preserve and capitalize on the value of available customer preference data.

For additional information on WineStation and Napa Technology visit www.napatechnology.com.

About Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter, Inc. with headquarters in Matthews, NC, is a subsidiary of Ruddick Corporation (NYSE:RDK). Harris Teeter is the 25th largest supermarket in the U.S. with 2010 sales of $4.1 billion. The grocery store chain employs over 22,000 associates and has 201 stores in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, and the District of Columbia.

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