Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf goes wireless

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a leading specialty coffee and tea retailer, is leveraging wireless technology to retain existing customers and encourage new ones to come into their stores.

The company will test wireless charging with Power Matters Alliance at select Los Angeles locations and plans to deploy wireless charging with PMA in dozens of California stores this quarter, with the aim of expanding nationally and internationally shortly thereafter.

"Wireless power is becoming mainstream and we want our consumers to be able to recharge their digital self no less than their physical self in our stores," said Mel Elias, CEO and president, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. "Even those who cannot read tea leaves can see the PMA's momentum; and we are pleased to be able to play our role in support of the wireless power industry for the benefit of consumers worldwide."

"I'm very excited that the PMA is aligning with the Coffee Bean to test wireless charging in stores within their core market," said Ron Resnick, president of the PMA. "The Coffee Bean epitomizes what the PMA is about: not simply setting a global standard, but creating a real-world ecosystem of smart, and environmentally responsible wireless power, for the benefit of consumer everywhere."

PMA was founded by Procter & Gamble and Powermat Technologies in 2012. Google's Vint Cerf is its honorary chairman, and its board includes AT&T, Duracell, Starbucks and the U.S. Government's Energy Star and Federal Communications Commission. Compatible 'wireless charging spots' have been installed at leading airports, stadiums, restaurants, gyms and hair salons.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a privately held specialty coffee and tea retailer with more than 850 stores in 24 countries.