holder was developed by packaging designer Alison Bateman, who reportedly found herself struggling to carry drinks during a day out with her sons while also holding other essential items such as her phone, handbag and car keys.That is said to have inspired her to create Handle-it –a carrier consisting of a fully pivotable handle attached to a tapered section that fits snugly around the circumference of a cup, making it possible to carry it with just one finger.
Handle-it is made from 100% recyclable wet-strength kraftboard and is available in a range of designs and sizes to suit every type of take-out beverage, including tea, coffee, juice, milkshake and even beer.
Described as ideal ‘for when customers have their hands full, or when they have ordered fewer drinks than the capacity offered by a tray’, It is also re-usable, and folds completely flat before use.
Kevin Curran, Managing Director of Tri-Star, said: “It’s been a while since I’ve got quite as excited about an innovation as I am about Handle-it. Its simplicity is astounding and yet it provides an incredibly effective solution to the age-old problem of never having enough hands free to carry everything you need to. You can easily carry four cups in one hand with Handle-it.
He continued: “For café operators and event organisers Handle-it is a good alternative to a tray for those times when a customer’s hands are really, really full, or when they haven’t ordered enough drinks to fill a tray to capacity. An empty space on a tray is a waste, and waste costs businesses money. Handle-it addresses this directly without inconveniencing the customer in any way.”
Handle-it inventor Alison Bateman said: “I’m delighted that Tri-Star has embraced Handle-it with such enthusiasm. Kevin and his team are renowned in the packaging industry for their ability to spot a winning innovation, so appointing them as preferred distribution partner in the UK was an easy decision to make.”
