Each topic is offered to members of the Chamber who are invited to comment in writing - this is to avoid the costs and time commitment involved in attending ‘round-table' meetings. The written responses are collated without alteration to create a significant feature within the magazine. The intention is to carry such a feature at three-monthly intervals.

Any members, suppliers or customers of the vending industry, or indeed members of the Vending Star Chamber itself, are welcome to submit interesting and topical subjects for comment.

Members of the Vending Star Chamber

• Barry Bennett, current Chairman of the Automatic Vending Association
• Carl Bjorkstrand, Managing Director of N&W Global Vending
• Richard Gibson, European Marketing Director, MEI Group
• Susan Nash, Trade Marketing Manager with Kraft Europe and founder board member of Paper Cup Recovery and Recycling Group
• Andy Porter, Managing Director of Crane Merchandising Systems
• Kevin Reed, National Sales Manager, Siemens Financial Services
• Charles Trace, Chief Operating Officer with Bunzl Coffee Point Group, and past Chairman of AVA
• Brian Tustain, Director of Associated Vending Services and AVA representative on the European Vending Association
• Gary Unsworth, Managing Director of Aimia Foods, and past Chairman of AVA
• Roger Williams, Managing Director of Coin A Drink, previous board member of AVA, founder board member of EVA and board member of Save A Cup Recycling Company.

Riding the economic storm

The subject for expert consideration in the second Vending Star Chamber feature is the current economic situation/credit crunch, and what should/can the various sectors of the vending industry be doing to safeguard themselves and protect the interests of specifiers, suppliers and customers.