FOOD & BEVERAGE CADDY

I enjoy food festivals. I have been attending them for years, but I had the same issue year after year - a beer in one hand and food sample in the other. I had no free hand to eat my food. Table space is usually limited so there was no place to set my beer. I developed this Food and Beverage Caddy to easily navigate through a fair, festival, party, or sporting event being able to carry food and beverages in one hand; leaving the other hand free to eat, drink, open doors, check ticket stubs, or excuse yourself through a crowd. The unique stacked design features multiple levels of trays and travels with the ease of carrying a mug (something everyone is conditioned to do). The trays are interchangeable and come in several varieties; each featuring different ways to carry an array of food serving cups, trays, beverages (cup, can, or bottle), and various types of food. The best part is, it folds and self-stows for compact storage.

At a chili cookoff (2020 WMSE Rockabilly Chili Cookoff and Fundraiser) taking place in March, I had created several prototypes. I gave them out to people to use throughout the event in exchange for honest feedback. I wanted to gauge their reaction, the crowd's reaction, and get a feel for overall performance and effectiveness. Below are quotes heard throughout the day and the testimonials from the people who used them at the event.

The original prototypes were made from 3/16" and 1/8" acrylic and were glued together. This was not an economical way of building these. The functionality was there, but it did not offer any flexibility for other uses. After refining the design further, I introduced the hinge along the spine and removable / interchangeable trays which also self-stow on the frame making it more adaptable and compact. This Food and Beverage Caddy frame and all trays can now be injection molded and packaged with various options for the trays and accessories.

I envisioned this injection molded out of high density polyethylene (HDPE) for it's food-grade characteristics, it's dishwasher safe tolerance, and its ability to be recycled. It cal also be made out of recycled HDPE.

This is a product that reduces waste from the food service industry, uses recycled material in its production, and can be recycled upon its end of useful life.

Download Sales Sheet (PDF)

"The Food and Beverage Caddy (with cup holder!) was a real head turner as we walked through the crowd. A common reaction was, from a distance, to see someone point and smile and whisper to their neighbor - you couldn't hear them, but their lips were moving as they pointed, so you knew what that topic was!

The Food and Beverage Caddy's dry erase feature was a handy perk, as were the smaller holes that you could fit your tickets into for quick access. If this were for sale at a booth at most any food fest with lots of samples."

- Dave (West Allis)

"This product is so clever. You can totally tell from the functionality of this product that a lot of thought went into it’s creation. No longer will the act of buying a round for your buddies be such a tedious task. This invention generated such a buzz at the MSOE chili cook off, everybody would come up asking where I purchased this and if they are on the market for the general public. Perfect for fairs/festivals, sporting events, church picnics etc."

- Pete (Milwaukee)

"Game changer!!! Walking around WMSE’s Rockabilly Chili Cookoff could not have been easier and more fun without this Food and Beverage Caddy! Not only did it hold my favorite beer and chili samples, but I was able to keep track of what samples I had by writing on the holder with the attached dry erase marker."

- Scottie (Milwaukee)

"The Food and Beverage Caddy is a one-handed tool designed to hold all the necessary components for a chili competition (tasting cups, spoons, and a cup of beer). The chili holder can be broken down into flat pieces and connected to other holders to easy transport and storage. This is nice since the product is not used year-round. I believe easy storage is a plus for a niche item like this. The handle is well designed so that it does not bother your hand after multiple hours of use holding three chili samples and a full cup of beer. The product is a head turner. While people usually carry cupcake tins, these carriers allow for a more balance and dynamic way to carry your chili and beverage. The people I’ve seen at competitions are passionate about the product they are sampling. I would love to see the design on the market as well as possible modular upgrades or different models."

- Zach (Minneapolis)

"With its ability to hold three chili samples,a beer and your spoon,this invention was a huge hit at WMSE’s Rockabilly Chili Cook Off. As I walked through the crowd people were stopping me every few steps commenting on how awesome the design was, asking where I got it, and wondering if they sold them at the cook off. People were extremely impressed by the one handed ease of use, and the fact that it folds for easy storage."

- Jen and Skip (Port Washington)

Anonymous quotes:

"Is that for sale upstairs?"

"Oh my gosh, that is so clever!"

"Did you bring that here? Do you have any more?"

"Where did you get that? "Did you buy that here?"

"That’s @#%& cool! Where did you get that?"

"... AND it holds you’re BEER!?"

"When I agreed to use one of these to help you out, you didn't warn me that I would get absolutely mobbed with

people asking where I got it."