Now available from Barry Callebaut Vending UK, their new Classic Granulated Skimmed Milk is made using 100% pure milk, is virtually fat free and has all the criteria of the perfect milk base for Cappuccinos and Lattes.

According to the latest Confectionery Market Report Plus from Key Note, from 2005-2009 total UK confectionery sales increased in value by an estimated 10%, to £4.83bn. Chocolate remains the larger of the two main sectors and also showed the highest growth over the period.

This time last year, the Payments Council predicted that bank notes and coins would be used for fewer than half of all transactions within five years. The Way We Pay 2010 report revealed that the use of cash had plummeted in the past 10 years, with chip and pin and contactless cards the preferred payment option.

The relationship between the water cooler and vending industries now seem to be closer than they have ever been before and on inspection there are many reasons why this is so.

Since the economic down turn most industries have had to more urgently inwardly reflect and outwardly develop to survive in a market where customers are gripping their wallets tightly and where convincing them to open them up is increasingly difficult.

Established in 1999, Westways Vending, situated in the heart of Sussex, has recently invested in the latest mobile communication technology, e3 Live from Vendman. Having been a longstanding member of the AVA, Westways has always looked to provide a service of the highest grade, from vending operations to the maintenance of their entire machine base.

A range of brand new biscuit products will be hitting vending, as Kraft Foods celebrates snacking occasions with a major marketing campaign, ‘Anytime is Snack Time’.

Biscuit category snacking occasions are on the increase, with single serve snacking formats growing at 12 per cent* year on year, and with 44 per cent** of consumers interested in buying biscuits from a vending machine.

Record bookings taken for March

Excitement is building for AVEX 2011; visitor registration is now open and the AVEX team has had a flurry of new exhibitor bookings over the last few weeks. Alongside the regular exhibitors this year we will see some big names exhibiting for the first time. First time exhibitors include companies from Hungary, Italy, Korea, US and Spain as well as closer to home.

With corporate and social responsibility (CSR) high on the agenda of many businesses, Lavazza is working hard to ensure that it can deliver against the expectations of ethically minded companies by providing a premium coffee product. Lavazza high quality solution ¡Tierra! provides the Lavazza taste that people love, while meeting Rainforest Alliance standards.

Coffee enjoyment in its most beautiful form for you and your customers. Whether in the bar, conference area, restaurant or coffee shop: coffee users and lovers are spoilt for choice by the IMPRESSA range of fully automatic coffee machines.

Caffè Culture 2011 (18 & 19 May, Olympia, London) brings together a unique blend of exhibitors, leading industry professionals, practical workshops, seminars and clinics to give café bar owners and managers all the inspiration and business support needed for the year ahead.

Astrosys International Ltd specialises in the design, manufacture and distribution of currency handling products, under the following brands: Microcoin electronic multi-coin acceptor, and Global Bill Acceptors bank-note validator.

The EVA signs a partnership agreement with the biggest UK vending exhibition with a view to promote each other’s events

AVEX is the premier showcase for vending and water, attracting exhibitors and visitors from around the world. The EVA has a long tradition in attending this well reputed trade fair with its own stand, which has become a focal meeting point for the association’s members, and also for potential members. This year, the event will take place on 15 and 16 June, at the NEC in Birmingham.

The website’s being revamped to offer an easy-to-use service which conveniently houses all the information you could possibly need, and will be promoted as the first port-of-call for anyone looking for the latest news, information and issues relating to the vending industry.

Drink equipment service giant GVS Assist and leading espresso and premium coffee equipment maintenance specialist ‐ Coffeetech, are joining forces in a move described by Coffeetech’s Managing Director, Duncan Gaffney, as “highly strategic”.

Lucozade Energy is teaming up with the world’s fastest growing music service, Spotify, for a world-first on pack promotion. The “Unlimited music with Spotify” promotion will give consumers the chance to win one of thousands of Spotify Premium accounts offering them unlimited music anytime, anywhere.

Taking place at London’s Olympia on 3-4 April, Natural & Organic Products Europe has built a reputation for being the best place in the UK to source the widest choice of Fairtrade products from producers all around the world.

Bio Green Dairy, a boutique producer of a wide range of yogurt drinks for the past 25 years, has launched a brand new product – Good Heavens! premium adult drinking yogurt.

In an initial range of 5 non-Organic and 4 Organic flavours, the drinks contain nothing artificial, are packed with real fruit and contain over 25% of an adult’s calcium RDA.

A Rochester-based vending machine business is set to further its commitment to providing school children with healthy snacks after securing a £50,000 factoring facility from Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance.

Established in 1995, Eagle Vending supplies, distributes and stocks vending machines. The firm is the UK’s sole distributor of fair trade vending machines and serves schools, universities and businesses in the South East with healthy food and drink.

‘Taste of Toque’, the mini spin-off culinary challenge from the highly regarded premier college catering competition - Nestlé® Toque d’Or - was launched at the Hotel and Catering Show, for one day only (15th March) when college students came together in teams of two to battle it out to impress the seasoned judges, with Worcester College stealing the show and winning ‘Taste of Toque’.

Together with existing Satro products MOKA NOISETTE and MOKA VANILLA, Satro's new flavour variation, MOKA IRISH CREAM, is suitable for the use in vending machines. This fast soluble product has a smooth coffee flavour, refined with Irish Cream, which gives a unique touch to the final drink.

Levi Roots is unveiling his own exotic blend of Caribbean flavours for the soft drinks market.

The Levi Roots range of fruit juice and fizzy drinks features a selection of delicious fruit flavour blends that have been given that extra Levi ‘twist’ to create unique products that set it apart from the rest of the market.

Refreshment Systems has announced that Macmillan Cancer has been chosen as the company’s charity partner for 2011. It’s the first time the vending and coffee company has elected to focus its charitable endeavours on a single good cause.

Cover Group comprises of 18 independent vending operators covering the whole of the UK. Hot and cold drinks vending is an integral part of the Cover Group operation and Nupik-Flo UK was invited to tender for the supply of the plastic vending cups. After a rigorous selection process, they were successful in securing the contract to supply vending cups and consumables up until 2012.

Automatic Vendors Ltd, the USI (Wittern Group) vending machine distributor has launched advanced ergonomic options across its USI vending machine ranges.

This Spring sees all vendors available with optional silver door and new metallic grey moulded interface panels bringing softer, elegant styling to any location. Latest 2011 LED lighting also enhances product presentation and reduces servicing.

In the UK, Coca-Cola Enterprises partners with ECO Plastics to establish a £15m PET bottle recycling facility in Lincolnshire, boosting annual production of recycled plastic in the UK from 35,000 to 75,000 tonnes.

US organic beverage manufacturer Honest Tea announces plans to launch a new drink brewed from cocoa beans called CocoaNova.

Coffee chain Starbucks announces the global roll out of a new line of handcrafted beverage and food products as well as a new in-store look to emphasise the company's new logo.

California Raisins have launched a new consumer advertising campaign throughout the UK to help consumers understand that despite recent retail price increases, California Raisins still represent incredible value when compared with some other dried and fresh fruit.

Fashion Vending presents their unique set of vending machines that allow your patrons to purchase fixative and style their hair conveniently. These bilingual, stainless steel vending machines accept coins and bills, are equipped with counters and can fit into most suitable locations ready for operation.