The UK soft drinks market grew overall by 1.7 per cent in 2009, according to figures in the British Soft Drinks Association’s 2010 UK Soft Drinks Report. The two previous years had seen slight falls, so this was a ‘welcome return to growth’ said the Association.

Total soft drinks consumption was 14,140 million litres, or 229.1 litres per person, with a retail value of £13.224 billion.

We talk a lot about sustainability nowadays, but what does it actually mean and has it really established itself in practice? Vending International investigates...

The Dictionary of Sustainable Management insists that there are many ways to measure or define sustainability, with organisations using a set of criteria to assess sustainable products, services and other activities by taking into account their social, financial and environmental impact.

Despite recommendations that we drink at least eight glasses of water a day, some nutritionists claim that a staggering 80% of us are walking around dehydrated. Water accounts for 60% of the weight of an average person and after oxygen, is the most essential element in our physiology.

The European Vending Association will hold its bi-annual conference, EurOps, on 14 and 15 April in Lisbon, Portugal.

To open the EVA’s 2011 edition of its flagship conference, participants will be invited, on 14 April, to an ice-breaking cocktail, at the Hotel Palacio in Estoril, where the conference will be held. A one-day conference, themed: “Getting More From Less, Opportunities To Raise The Profitability of Vending Operating” is being organised, the following day, on the 15 April.

Online registration is now open for AVEX 2011, the premier vending and water exhibition, June 15 & 16 at the NEC Birmingham.

Attracting exhibitors and visitors from around the world, AVEX is absolute must for anyone involved in providing a vending and water service.

Erwin Wetzel joined the European Vending Association (EVA) mid-February. Both an Austrian and French national, he speaks German and French at native speaker level and is also fluent in English, with conversational level Spanish. He studied law at the University of Nancy and holds two Master Degrees, one in Political Science from the University of Innsbruck, and a Masters of Arts in European Political and Administrative Studies from the prestigious College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

The AVA has been informed by Justine Greening, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, that the implementation of the new 5p and 10p coins will be delayed until 1st January 2012.

This successful lobbying of the Government is fantastic news for the vending and coin machine industries because it allows them more time to update coin mechanisms, providing a saving of £16.8m to the vending industry – a real help in the current economic climate.

Are you making use of your AVA member benefits? Being a member of the AVA gives you the right to participate in regional meetings – an informal opportunity to network with fellow members and discuss the issues affecting the vending industry over dinner! AVA regional meetings are your opportunity to get involved with issues relating to your Association.

UK water cooler company, Isis Total Office Hydration, is relocating its head office, to a new high tech purpose built warehouse in Poole, Dorset.

The impressive new site will provide a fitting home for the enlarged organisation, which has seen an impressive year on year growth in demand for its mains fed water & bottled water systems, In Cup drinks, bottling and public sector hydration contracts - offering an endless supply of high quality, Pure Dorset Water.

Walkers is supporting Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day and driving some serious crisp sales with its ‘Clash of the Comics’ campaign. This engaging new flavour promotion is seeing four of Britain’s best loved comedians: Stephen Fry, Jimmy Carr, Al Murray and Frank Skinner going head to head in a hilarious battle to make their own limited edition Walkers flavour the bestseller, while aiming to raise over £1 million for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.

Nestlé Toque d’Or®, the UK’s premier student catering competition – announces the FIVE talented and successful colleges to have WON a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete at the 2011 Grand Final; University College Birmingham, Blackpool & The Fylde College, Belfast Metropolitan College, Grimsby Institute of Further Education, and Colchester Institute.

NESCAFÉ® Gold Blend’s ‘Workplace of the Month’ competition encourages workplaces to ‘Get Together and WIN’ in 2011.

Building on the success of 2010’s ‘Employee of the Month’ competition, employees are urged to make their case as to why their workplace deserves the chance to win BIG. Monthly winners can enjoy a whole host of rewards such as: 20 sets of group tickets for 10 people to the UK’s top attractions, or a VIP experience at the O2 Arena for the winner and up to 17 of their colleagues.

Nestlé Professional® Confectionery’s iconic brand KIT KAT® is expanding into the hugely successful sharing bag category, with the launch of new KIT KAT POP CHOC®.

The SNICKERS® brand has built on its successful Mr T. campaign with the launch of the brand new limited edition SNICKERS® MAXIMUS.

A variant of the bestselling SNICKERS® bar, SNICKERS® MAXIMUS comes without the nougat, leaving even more room for the maximum serving of nuts and caramel.

MALTESERS® has partnered with Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day in a bid to raise £1 million for charity. MALTESERS® are challenging members of the public to share videos and pictures of themselves suspending or raising their MALTESERS® on www.maltesers.co.uk for the once in a lifetime chance to see their entry appear in TV ads for the campaign.

Nestlé Professional® Confectionery is refreshing its highly successful chocolate sharing bag range. Two more popular Nestlé® brands, Rolo and Milkybar, will be launched in a bite-sized sharing format alongside the intro­duction of new resealable packaging, which will feature ‘love to share’ branding across the full range.

United Biscuits (UBUK) has launched a new Hula Hoops integrated campaign featuring brand new TV advertising and on pack promotion to support its partnership with one of the nation’s favourite TV shows, Britain’s Got Talent.

Running across the entire Hula Hoops range, the promotion offers consumers a free talent lesson with every purchase by simply entering the last four digits of the code featured on the pack at www.hulahoops.com.

In the US, PepsiCo is to launch Diet Pepsi in new slimline cans to boost appeal with the brand’s core female market.

In North America, companies including Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Nestlé Waters North America sign up to the Clear on Calories initiative to display calorie information on the front of beverages.

Kraft Foods posts a 30% increase in Q4 2010 net revenues to US$13.8bn, with operating income up 2.2% to US$1.2bn, boosted by the acquisition of Cadbury.

Aimia Foods has been awarded A* certification by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Aimia Foods is one of only 53 companies globally, and the only beverage business in the UK, to hold A* certification, making this an outstanding achievement for the company.

Cavendish Maine recently celebrated 20 years of successful recruitment at their Leigh Court offices. Opened in February 1991 as a Sales specialist Cavendish Maine have enjoyed continuous development adding, Finance, Insurance, Accountancy, Human Resources and Energy to their offer, building a broad range of clients from SMEs to global brands in the process.