News & Updates

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Toyota Center is the first and only NBA arena to present the greatest concession-stand innovation since the spork and hairnets.

It's called the "Grub Tub," a soft plastic bowl that locks snuggly in place over a soda cup. It's got a small hole in the middle so you can stick a straw through the bowl, into the drink, giving fans equal, easy access to popcorn and soda.

The big advantage: Fans can hold their chicken-finger basket and soda in one hand. No more trying to "excuse me, excuse me" past other people in your row while trying not to spill a hot dog and fries in one hand and a 32-ounce Dr Pepper in the other. Sheer genius.

The other night, I took some friends to Toyota Center for my annual eating tour of new menu items. We all were stunned and amazed by the Grub Hub and kicking ourselves for, "Why didn't I think of this?" It's got "Shark Tank" and "As Seen on TV" written all over it. The Grub Tub holds 44 ounces of food, so it's packing a lot of trunk space. They'll hold you, even through overtime.

Toyota Center has four meal deals available in Grub Tubs: Hot Dog with Popcorn & Soda ($18.25), Burger with Fries & Soda ($18.25), Chicken Tenders with Fries & Soda ($18.75) and Nachos & Soda ($15.25). The Grub Hub meals are available at Basket Grills, Bell Street Grill, Space City Dog and Bud and Burger stands throughout the arena.

Grub Tubs are considered "disposable," but you can take them home and use them over and over. They are not microwave or dishwasher safe, however. You have to wash them by hand. Please don't leave them in the sink overnight. I hate that.

I always take plastic soda cups home from sports events because they're huge.

Grub Tub meals come atop one of four different collectible plastic cups commemorating the Rockets' 50th season. The 32-ounce cups have photos of all-time Rockets greats, including Hakeem Olajuwon, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Calvin Murphy, Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry and more.

(True story: I once challenged Horry to a game of HORSE. But we had to play in my driveway, and he wasn't allowed to dunk. I beat him two straight games.)

Grub Tubs were invented by RP & Associates, a restaurant-supply company in Hermosa Beach, Calif. They're billed as "finally a solution for eating and drinking with one hand." Rockets director of purchasing John Sanborn saw them and made the deal to bring Grub Tubs to Toyota Center.

Rockets souvenir cups fit in car cup holders. I can't believe that fast-food drive-throughs aren't jumping on Grub Tubs. They're much easier - and safer - than digging around for comedian Jim Gaffigan's "bonus fry" that fell to the bottom of the paper bag.

Grub Tubs are adjustable and fit securely on various size cups and bottles - even beer bottles if you want to drink beer through a straw, you weirdo.

Toyota Center benefits because now one fan can order two meals and two drinks and carry them away without creating an Exxon Valdez spill. It's called "upselling." The lines move faster, too. Customers aren't trying to balance 16 items on their arms like a veteran waitress at a truck-stop diner. And that's not including the cigarette in her mouth.

Click here to read the full article at HoustonChronicle.com or click here for a screenshot

IAAPA 2016 was a huge success; our booth was packed all day with people trying to see the Grub Tub for themselves. Today the Grub Tub is used by brands like the Yankees, Houston Rockets, Magic Springs, Ripley's Aquarium, and many others.

Grub Tub was a hit at the IAAPA because it's great for all types of venues (Amusement Parks & Attractions) where guest are walking around or have to carry food to their seat. The Grub Tub allows your guests to easily carry a combo in one hand or place it in a cup holder; it works with both cups and bottles. Whether guests want to enjoy their food and beverage while walking around or need a conveniently way to carry it to their seat; the Grub Tub is the one handed solution that provides your guest with convenience while increasing combo and impulse sales.

Click here to learn more about the Grub Tub or contact us today for information or samples.

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Hermosa Beach, CA. November 15, 2016: RP & Associates, Inc. is on a mission to help you relish in the profits Copper Moscow Mule Mugs have to offer by reducing the cost of your Copper Mugs. Copper Moscow Mule Mugs are often too cost prohibitive for most restaurants, bars and spirit brands to use, but RP & Associates' unique manufacturing process reduces your cost to as low as $3 (depending on style & quantity).

RP & Associates can even design custom copper moscow mule mugs for your specific brand - they recently partnered with The Melting Pot to create a custom copper moscow mule mug with a handle based on their iconic Fondue/Melting Pot handle. Since introducing this concept, The Melting Pot has expanded it to more locations and started selling it to customers to increase in-home advertising and reduce their drinkware expense

RP & Associates, Inc. has six styles of Moscow Mule Mugs in-stock and ready to ship - they can even be branded with your logo. Select your favorite style amongst riveted copper, bolted copper, classic copper, artisan copper, and russian copper. All of the mugs are made from aluminum and stainless steel, which are copper plated to give you a true copper feel with added durability. RP & Associates can customize your mugs with your desired branding using engraving, imprint, etc. RP & Associates, Inc. is capable of bringing your imagination to life at a reasonable cost.

Voted as the cocktail of the year by Tales of the Cocktail, the Moscow Mule is enjoying a fine moment in eminence. Capitalize on your opportunity to reduce your costs without compromising your sales. RP & Associates sell branded or unbranded copper moscow mule mugs directly to all types of businesses, as well as resellers, and wholesalers.

RP & Associates, Inc. designs and manufactures unique products to increase sales for restaurant chains, beverage brands, hotels, resorts, and corporate America. RP & Associates, Inc. leads the industry with its creative beverage products and custom packaging, in addition to offering a wide selection of customized apparel, racks, drinkware, barware, and other promotional items.

If Grandpa's long-winded stories about back in his day and Aunt Lori's wine consumption doesn't get you pumped for the holidays, we understand and we are here to help.

Settle the debate about who Mom's favorite is by bringing these custom works of art to the dinner table. Get your family talking about something other than their glory days or the election, *eye roll,* this holiday season.

• Wine Bags - Give your bottle a little sass and dress it up with a custom wine bag. Not only does this put the perfect touch on your holiday dinner contribution, it also makes a great gift for any adult, especially Aunt Lori!
• Cocktail Shakers - Start the party off with cocktails from your custom shaker. Essential to any bar, custom cocktail shakers make great gifts for the aspiring mixologist, also known as, Dad.
• Custom Stockings - Make the fireplace a bit warmer this holiday season with personalized stockings. Ditch the old childhood stockings and get started on your custom creation before the holiday season is in full swing!
• Custom Ornaments - If your decade old stocking is too nostalgic to part with, charm the family with individually crafted ornaments. From sleek and elegant to fun and festive, you will be able to construct the perfect Christmas tree decoration.
• Place Mats - Tired of the puppy eyes from kids at the children's table as they stare you down at the adults table? Keep them entertained with fun and playful placemats. Customize yours today!
• Coffee Mugs - After taking down some turkey, mashers 'n' gravy, stuffing, dinner rolls and whatever else you pile on your plate, or plates (no judgment here), it's time for some coffee. Pour a post-dinner pick me up into one of our custom coffee mugs specially designed for you.
• Inflatable Turkey Leg - Poke fun at the vegetarian since there's always at least one. Inflate and hit the leg around like a beach ball to keep you from your third trip to the appetizer tray and fifth trip to the bar. 

Call RP and Associates today for more information on custom holiday products, or to get a quote on your custom creations.

Hollywood, California, 1941; Whiskey dominates the market while bottles of vodka remain on shelves only to collect dust. John Martin, a food and spirits distributor, and Jack Morgan President of Cock ‘n’ Bull, created their own line of ginger beer, but are struggling sizing up to its competitor, ginger ale. In an attempt to make their unpopular products popular, the two entrepreneurs combined the ginger beer and vodka, squeezed a coupl’a limes in there, and thus, the Moscow Mule was born. The cocktail was served in a copper mug imprinted with a kicking donkey and took the market by storm.

Fast-forward 75 years later, and here we are in 2016 where Moscow Mules are as omnipresent as pigeons in Central Park, New York. Almost every restaurant, bar, or event serves Moscow Mules, or some sort of variation of the cocktail. Tales of the Cocktail, the world’s premier cocktail festival, named 2016 The Year of the Mule. With such a high demand for the mule, there is plenty of room to increase high-margin sales as well as countless ways to market this cocktail.

A copper mug is essential to creating a true Moscow Mule. Serving a Moscow Mule in a regular glass is the equivalent to making an Old Fashioned with Vodka, 100 percent unacceptable. For those who beg to differ, it's time to drop a bit of knowledge. Using a copper mug is like allowing your wine to aerate. When the Vodka hits the walls of the copper mug, the copper oxidizes and boosts the flavor of the spirit. The cold copper increases the amount of bubbles from the carbonated ginger beer and keeps your cocktail cooler, longer. Lastly, the copper mug affects the lime juice by reducing the acidity and heightening the citrus notes allowing the crisp and spicy nature of the ginger beer to shine thru. Boom. Science.

If science is not convincing enough, perhaps increased sales will peak your interest. Consumer spending data analytics from GuestMetrics showed that Moscow Mule menu placements rose 60 percent in 2015. Moscow Mules also accounted for 7 percent of all cocktail orders last year alongside popular cocktails such as the Bloody Mary and the Mojitio. If you do not already have the Moscow Mule on your menu, we suggest you make some adjustments to your cocktail list. If you do offer mules, here are a few tips to increase your Moscow Mule sales:

• Keepsake Moscow Mule Mugs - customize and create a seasonal mug for your patrons to take home. Gain brand recognition and increase sales by upselling your custom creation. Click here to customize your mug with RP and Associates today.
• Seasonal Mule - If you don't want to splurge on custom mugs, a regular ol' copper mug will do, but consider a variation to the classic mule. Market your mule with the flavors of autumn and top shelf spirits to sell this cocktail at a higher price point. Order your mugs with RP and Associates by clicking here.
• Pretty in Pink - Presentation is everything. Just like food where we eat with our eyes first, we also drink with our eyes first. RP and Associates has a unique selection of COLORED Moscow Mule mugs allowing you to give the standard copper mug a pop of color. Mugs, glasses, stir rods, skewers and garnishes are all essential to creating an appealing cocktail. Check out our selection and start visualizing the perfectly presented cocktail.

Do not miss your opportunity to capitalize on sales this holiday season. Contact us to get started on your holiday project, or click here to get a quote.