“Garden-County Vending Limited has always had an affinity with the Heart of Kent Hospice when years ago one of our young Service Engineers was diagnosed with liver cancer and spent his last days in the Hospice.

“More recently a good friend of ours Jayne Fisher died of cancer and spent time at the Hospice. It was felt we should do something in her memory and to say thanks to the Hospice, so we organised an event at the Maidstone River Festival. We asked people to make a donation to the Heart of Kent Hospice and then help themselves to a free soft drink or bottle of water.

The management team at Stoke-on-Trent based Crown Cup has been expanded with the arrival of Shaun Marriott – middle of Paul and Kathy’s sons.

Shaun brings with him a variety of prior experience and has thrown himself into a full Director Development Programme. He is particularly focused on sales activity and has already won several contracts in the face of local opposition.

Jofemar is celebrating the sale of the 500,000th unit of its best-selling J-2000, the world’s first change - giver for vending machines to include 5 return tubes.

The first prototypes of this model were created in 1997, when most of the coin mechanisms did not offer enough change flexibility for countries where coin payment was more usual than payment by bank - notes. The launch of the J2000, capable of handling the refund of up to five different coin values rapidly became the new benchmark in coin mechanisms.

The Vending industry is currently looking at how to manage the new coins that will be released in spring 2011. Due to intense R&D efforts NRI have already found a solution. Since August 1st every new NRI currenza c2 has been programmed ready for the new 5p and 10p coins, whilst field units can be updated via the HENRI service tool.

The AVA and its members have supported Macmillan Cancer Support since 1998 and having recently met Rachel Gascoigne from Macmillan, Jonathan Hilder is keen to maintain the enthusiasm for raising funds for this good cause.

In the past AVA Members have climbed mountains, walked many miles, trekked glaciers, played football, danced their socks off, drunk a lot of coffee and played hundreds of rounds of golf, to help raise an incredible £325,000 to help people living with cancer.

The European Vending Association is preparing its Annual General Assembly 2010.

Further to the success of last year’s workshop on the Image of Vending, the EVA has decided to recreate a “doubleevent”, adding a conference to the AGM, entitled; “The ins and outs of European lobbying: speaking up for vending in Brussels today”. Additionally, for the first time, they are organising a cocktail at the European Parliament, where you will be able to meet some of the MEPs of your country.

Every few years an innovation in Vending comes along that has the potential to revolutionise the way operators run their business. The latest of such innovations is the CashFlow® 8000 from MEI.

Building on the success of the CF7000, which is now installed in over 1,000,000 vending machines around the world, the CF8000 redefines the function of the payment system from being a device to manage change to playing a pivotal role at the centre of Vending operation management.

United Coffee and Pallas Foods have announced an exciting partnership that will see the foodservice distributor become the only one in Ireland to offer a premium total coffee solution, from award-winning equipment and coffee right through to after-care and training.

United Coffee is a specialist roaster and market leader in award-winning coffee solutions, supplying a full-range of leading edge bean-to-cup and traditional espresso equipment alongside ethically sourced premium coffee.

An innovative DVD rental kiosk operator has launched its movie vending business into the West Midlands and is offering retailers the opportunity to share in its success.

Featuring the latest computerised touch-screen system, this innovative concept for the DVD rental market is being piloted in the West Midlands, with the first movie machines making their debut at Wolverhampton Railway Station and Merryhill Shopping Centre.

One of the largest privately-owned vending operators in the South West is celebrating 70 years of successful trading since its foundation in 1940. V. H. Graddon & Sons Vending started as a small family business and now trades across the South West and South Wales through depots in Plymouth, Bristol and Cwmbran.

Vending Paris is the well-established French Vending Show that will take place from 27 to 29 October at Porte de Versailles in Paris. For the first time and in order to attract international visitors from the vending industry, Vending Paris will be launching an International Business Day on 29 October. A “business export programme”, with access to the VIP lounge, plus many other privileges will be available to visitors.

Krogab UK, a leading European beverage company, has a new addition to their Full Fruit juice brand with Classic Gold Orange Juice – the easy and economical way to serve high quality orange juice.

Used by quality establishments including many of the leading UK and European hotel chains, Full Fruit Classic Gold Orange Juice is fast becoming the juice system of choice for 4 and 5 star hotels, as well as leading operators across the foodservice industry. With over 150 Krogab customers already converted, Full Fruit Classic Gold Orange Juice is the hassle free and cost effective option that delivers the fresh juice taste consumers have come to expect.

A report by bakers Warburtons published in July last year revealed that each day, time-pressed adults in Britain will spend an average of £2.50 on lunch, which adds up to more than £550 every year - or £22,000 over a lifetime.

Also last year, convenience store group Spar reported that the traditional British lunch hour had shrunk to ‘an all time low’. “It now lasts just 35 minutes and 39 seconds,” said the Group, adding: “Some seven million workers skip their lunch break altogether and 70% of us don’t even leave our desks. Over half (56%) now take 30 minutes or less, and one in 10 take less than 20 minutes.”

Feasters, one of the leading microwaveable snack brands on the market, has launched a revolutionary new product range for vending machines in the UK.

The Feasters ‘Micropack’ is placed directly into the microwave, removing the need for plates or cutlery.

What makes the product unique is the patented ‘Microvent Technology’ which works with the innovative ‘crisper sleeve’, also known as a susceptor to wrap around the product during heating and create a microwave baking effect - browning the bun and leaving it feeling and tasting crispier and ‘oven baked’.

27-29 October 2010 - Paris Expo • Porte de Versailles • Pavillon 4

Vending PARIS 2010 will take on a whole new dimension, with events and themes in tune with the latest market trends. Quality and sustainable development will be the key issues tackled in talks and a new event, the Vending Canteen – a fully automated restaurant.

“Vending PARIS is the exhibition where all market players will be able to show how dynamic and inventive they are,” says Corinne Menegaux, Director of the Hotel & Catering Division and Director of the Vending PARIS exhibition.

Improved technology means that ingredients are now mixed in a variety of ways. Depending upon the machine, vending operators can choose from instant ingredients, bulk coffee, hot chocolate and milk powder for instant drinks; singles ingredients in brewer capsules, or the In-cup variety.

With so much choice available, the decision is made easier by the availability of hybrid vending machines which combine an automated filter-cup coffee feature with in-cup technology for other drinks.