Pronounced ‘hoff-e-mar’, the Jofemar name is largely unknown in the UK. In Spain, however, it is quite a different matter. Based in the north west of the country at Peralta, it is one of Spain’s largest manufacturers of vending machines and payment systems. Established in 1971, this privately owned business has grown from modest beginnings to today’s multinational business with five offices in Spain, three abroad and product sales in 51 countries around the globe. The ultra modern, technologically advanced factory in Peralta covers a massive 37,500 m2 and the group turns over €50 million annually.

Health is a central question for today’s food industries and it is now widely accepted that a healthy and varied diet must be a balanced one - without of course excluding the concept of pleasure. We need to ask what the declining consumption of cocoa and sugar means for our sector, particularly in the light of the removal of drinks vending machines from schools.

An article by Nick Wyke, published in 2007 by the Times Online underlined just how important the out of home food market is: “With about 60 per cent of our waking hours spent in work, and about 75 per cent of working-age people in the UK in employment, one adult meal in three is eaten at work.”

Leading coffee brand Douwe Egberts has announced that it will be increasing its support for vending operators following the end of its distribution partnership with Aimia Foods. From October, Douwe Egberts, which launched a new range of freeze dried instant coffee products for the vending industry in August, will become the first point of contact for businesses looking to implement any of its premium coffee products.