Angela and I would like to warmly welcome you this October to our third International Convention at 'The Happiest Place on Earth', Disneyland California.
There are many similarities between our journey and the Disneyland story. Like Gloria Jean's Coffees, Disneyland started as a dream. Walt Disney had a vision to build a place where children and parents could have fun together. He was a pioneer, who through his dedication and perseverance saw his hopes, dreams and ambitions fulfilled in 1955 with the opening of a spectacular entertainment kingdom, Disneyland. As our international family meets once again, we are unified with one vision, mission and shared values. Just as the legacy of Walt Disney's dream continues to live on today for us to enjoy, together we are creating our legacy of being the most loved and respected coffee company worldwide for many generations to come.
Since we last met in Dubai we have experienced one of the most significant years in our history. The world has felt the impact of the global economic downturn and we have continued to experience strong growth. One of the many highlights has been welcoming Gloria Jean's Coffees USA and It's a Grind into our fold. They are looking forward to hosting the global family in their hometown of California USA. We also launched the Gloria Jean's Coffees International Foundation 'With Heart'. This is the fruition of a dream which Angela and I have long held, and we thank you for embracing and supporting the foundation.
Following the launch of the International Foundation, the theme for this year's convention is 'With Heart'. With Heart is about the passion we have for delivering the highest quality handcrafted coffee beverages, it is what motivates us to provide a memorable service experience for our guests each and every time, and it is about the love we have to go beyond ourselves and make a positive difference in the lives of others.
The 'With Heart' International Convention will see our global family reunite for a time of fellowship and networking, business building workshops, spectacular night functions, an awards recognition night, lessons from exceptional speakers and of course plenty of time for you and your family to enjoy the magic of Disneyland and create memories to last a lifetime.
We appreciate you and look forward to sharing with you and your children in what will be a truly memorable and spectacular event.
Greetings Family,