Bar and Restaurants Applaud TapMate™ for
Better Inventory Control of Draft Beer
Parker Technologies LLC Delivers a Simple, Self Powered Draft Beer Flow Device
Orange, California – April 30, 2008 – Southern California-based Parker Technologies announced today the general availability of TapMate, a simple but powerful draft beer measurement device, following overwhelming response during its successful one year pilot program. Pilot locations were pleased with TapMate’s results reporting that the device was simple to install and produced immediate results including better inventory control and more attentive bartenders.
“After extensive testing in numerous locations, we’re thrilled with the feedback coming from restaurant and bar owners,” said Sean Massey, partner and chief executive officer of Parker Technologies. “They’re shocked at how simple it is to install the product, they’ve watched it work, and the results are clear to everyone: the impact is immediate.”
Through his participation in the pilot program, Jason Jeralds, owner of Tustin Brewery in Tustin, California, can attest to the value of TapMate and the impact it will have on his restaurant’s bottom line.
“With keg beer, we had no simple way to monitor what was being poured versus what was being paid for,” said Jeralds. “Now when my bartenders want to buy a customer a beer, they’ll ask for approval first rather than having to explain an unacceptable variance later. At under $200 a unit, it’s a no-brainer for places that want to have an immediate impact on their staff and address their shrinkage problems.”
Applebee’s in Palmdale installed TapMate on all eight of their kegs. Linda Legier, general manager, posts reports showing daily and weekly shrinkage in the bar area so that staff knows every beer will be accounted for. She feels this method keeps the staff involved in the process. As a result, she reports that the impact was clear, with servers and bartenders being a lot more aware of what’s going on.
At another test location, franchise owner J.B. Jakubek at Wing Stop Inc. in Costa Mesa, California, agrees that TapMate is a valued addition to his business.
“It’s a great deterrent. Any employee can give away a free beer, and they simply won’t do it if they know you are watching them,” said Jakubek. “Being an owner/operator, I can’t be there all the time, so it’s a great way to keep my employees honest. It was so simple to install, isn’t visible to customers and has had no effect on the beer flow.”
Designed by scientists and engineers at California-based Parker Technologies, TapMate uses an advanced infrared light scheme to measure draft beer flow. Unlike other draft beer metering technologies which rely on moving parts that often fail over time and inevitably disrupt beer flow, TapMate uses light. With the exception of changing a triple A battery, TapMate is virtually maintenance free.
Ease-of-use and an in-house install were top priorities for the TapMate development team. As a result, the device is smaller than a tennis ball and can be installed seamlessly using a single wrench. TapMate attaches directly to any existing keg coupler and does not require any outside contractors or cutting of beer lines. Within minutes of arrival, TapMate provides restaurant or bar owners with complete control of every ounce of draft beer poured.
“Installing TapMate was a piece of cake. Any place that wants to have control over their draft beer inventory needs to take a serious look at this,” said Shawn Flathers, general manager of Joe Josts, a Long Beach tavern that has been pouring draft beer since 1924.
TapMate sells for $195 and can be purchased directly from Parker Technologies via their web site. For more information, visit www.AboutTapeMate.com or call 888-TAP-MATE.
ABOUT PARKER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Orange, California-based Parker Technologies is introducing the world to TapMate, a self-contained, tamper proof draft beer flow measuring device. Designed by scientists and engineers from the aerospace industry, TapMate can be self-installed in minutes to any beer keg providing the industry with an immediate tool to address issues of shrinkage. Parker Technologies was founded in 2006.
TapMate™ Draft Beer Flow Device Offers Simple Solution
to Reducing Draft Beer Shrinkage
Parker Technologies Introduces TapMate, a Self-Powered, Self-Contained, Tamperproof Draft Beer Flow Measurement Device
Las Vegas, NV – March 5, 2007 – Orange, California-based Parker Technologies
announced today the debut of TapMate, a revolutionary new draft beer flow device that offers the ideal solution to a problem that has plagued the restaurant industry for decades: draft beer shrinkage.
For years, bar and restaurant owners have been challenged with lost income due to spillage, over-pouring and giveaways. Inability to measure draft beer flow and control costs are critical problems, but solutions cost thousands of dollars to install and maintain.
Parker Technologies’ president, mechanical engineer and former bartender, Sean Massey, developed TapMate with a team of scientists and engineers when he realized similar products existed, but not one provided a simple, accurate and tamper-proof solution that could be installed in minutes.
“Other measurement devices require outside contractors for installation or they come with complicated instruction manuals,” Massey said. “TapMate is user-friendly and can be installed quickly with the aid of a single wrench.”
The TapMate team worked intimately with local restaurant personnel ranging from brew masters of local breweries to upper management of large restaurant chains during the design process. According to Massey, "Owners expressed concern about increased foam caused by beer flow devices, high installation costs, system design complexity, thick instruction manuals, and reliance on technical support. The TapMate design effectively counters every concern that was expressed to us, which is why we went the extra mile and spent three years refining the design. We invented a unique product that applies an advanced infrared detection scheme (patent pending) to measure every ounce of draft beer that leaves the keg.”
TapMate is powered by a user replaceable AAA battery and attaches directly to any existing keg tap. Once installed by loosening, connecting, and tightening one nut, the tamperproof TapMate records every ounce of beer and displays the reading on a resetable or non-resetable LCD totalizer. The totalizer can also be programmed to count backwards to zero denoting an empty keg.
One of the most innovative products the alcohol beverage industry has seen in recent years, the easy-to-install TapMate beer flow meter is smaller than a tennis ball and completely self-contained. For sales information, call Parker Technologies toll free at 877-TAP-MATE or visit www.parker-technologies.com.
ABOUT PARKER TECHNOLOGIES
Orange, California-based Parker Technologies was founded in 2006 by partners Sean Massey, a former bartender turned mechanical engineer and entrepreneur Robert Baeyens, together with the expertise of engineering experts Donald Henderson and Robert Moss. Parker Technologies is introducing the world to TapMate, the world’s first completely self-contained, simple-to-use draft beer flow measuring device.