Lavazza Away from Home is continuing to offer a first class coffee experience to small and medium sized work environments across the UK and Ireland. Headed up by Silvio Zaccareo, Lavazza’s OCS and Vending Sales and Marketing Manager, the company believes its offering is making a huge difference to the way companies offer coffee to their staff.

We’re partway through that time of year when we’re inundated with exhibitions - those directly involved with our core market and also those peripheral to the vending industry but again of tremendous importance in the interests of not missing out on new opportunities!

Olympia, London

KioskCom Europe 2007 draws upon an 11 year history in the U.S. Philip Hunter, Event Director of KioskCom Europe, comments on why the self-service industry continues to grow, “Self-service in Europe is growing at a phenomenal rate and there are few sectors that have not considered self-service technology of some sort.

Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles – Hall 4

DA Vending Expo is changing its name to Vending PARIS and will take place in Hall 4 of Paris Expo at Porte de Versailles from 29 October to 1 November 2008.

The EVA AGM will be held in Brussels on 29 November, under the general heading of: Teamwork. An exciting programme awaits participants, including a debate on the future of the EVA and the election of the new EVA Executive Committee and President. Participants will then be invited to unwind at a sporty and congenial evening organised by the EVA.

Food & Drink World is the collective name for five shows - Food & Drink Expo, Foodex Meatex, Convenience Retailing Show, IFFE and the Baking Industry Exhibition, making it the ultimate industry gathering.

AVEX 2009 is going to be different - new venue, new days, new hours, new start.

Plans for the exhibition are focused on providing added value both to exhibitors and customers and to making participating and attending the exhibition a stimulating and enjoyable event.

Leading food service companies, manufacturers and restaurants attended the Fairtrade Foundation’s annual autumn conference to mark the start of the build up to Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 (25 February – 9 March), where the theme Change Today. Choose Fairtrade was announced.

Müller® Dairy UK has become the first dairy company in the UK to join the Carbon Trust initiative which measures the carbon footprint of a product or service and identifies areas where carbon emissions can be reduced.

Leading UK vending services provider Selecta has been awarded a three-year contract worth more than £66,500 to provide vending services to Canterbury College in Kent.

Cashless payment specialists, VMC have been awarded HID Advanced Connect partner status.

The trophy was presented by Debra Spitler, HID Global’s executive vice president at a dinner held at the Hilton Hotel, Stansted.

Northbridge Vending Co Ltd of Burnley, Lancashire have joined the membership of Associated Vending Services Ltd (AVS) with effect from 1st October 2007.

Visitor to a recent AVS Board Meeting held in September was baby Jacob Chapman, two month old son of AVS General Manager Karen Chapman and her husband, David. Jacob was born on 28th July and launched into the world at a bouncing 7lbs 15oz.

Nearly three times as many additive and preservative free products have been launched in the UK so far in 2007 compared with any other European country.
UK’s Innocent Drinks says it is to become the first beverage firm to use 100% recycled bottles, leading to a 55% reduction in its carbon footprint.

Westomatic, have again been awarded ‘Equipment Supplier Of The Year’ by the 24 member companies of AVS, a major national network of vending operators.

The AVS awards recognise excellence in machine manufacturing, ingredient and commodity supply.

With the reduction in the number of children now eating school meals announced on 3 October by Ofsted, not for profit regional food group, Heart of England fine foods (HEFF) is driving a pioneering solution which meets the needs of pupils, parents and teachers for improved healthier eating.

Ladbrokes, the high street bookmaker with over 2,000 betting shops has chosen Drinkmaster, the specialist supplier of refreshments in the betting industry to provide hot drinks in all its betting shops.

Following trials in Scotland and the South East both companies are looking forward to getting the real business underway.

NRI is pleased to announce the appointment of Solutions & Options as the new distributor for Greece and Interbrands Limited as the new distributor for Malta. Both Solutions & Options and Interbrands will distribute all NRI products in all markets.

A hot balmy late summer sun welcomed visitors to Eu’Vend, Germany’s premier vending event. The fact that the exhibition was in hall 8 of the mega large Koelnmesse made visitors wish they had taken a taxi ride rather than strolled over from central Cologne. However the cleanliness and open cool environment made the event most pleasurable to walk around, the aisles were spacious with clear company markings and a pleasing mix of open and sided stands with the usual large representations from major suppliers.

Arriving at this year’s show, l was met by lots of young athletic people in sports wear walking about offering free bottled and, after the long hot journey into Birmingham NEC, this was a welcome sight!

The show was buzzing! It’s one of a few that l have visited this year to have busy aisles continuously. The huge interest in the leisure market spoke for itself! Stands varied from those selling sports equipment to exercise and training equipment, memberships and even pole dancing classes!

Hygiene legislation for swimming pools in France gave Aquatik a challenge that resulted in a long-term commitment to the vending of swimming articles. Speaking with Frederic Charles, VI reports how this company took up the challenge, not only having a successful business but a following of happy swimmers!

Who are Brighter Signs?

Brighter Signs have built a reputation for pioneering innovative signage for niche applications over recent years. With a strong team they have built their reputation based on delivering high quality products on time and through a strategy based around innovation bringing to the market some of the most advanced technology capable of revolutionising the traditional static vending graphic.

There’s nothing better than comfort food and a indulgent drink on a cold winter day, Vending operators will now be looking to stock their machines and the consumer is looking forward to indulging in a hot sweet luxury drink to raise their spirits and boost their sugar levels at that 4pm low.

Vending manufacturers are constantly being made aware of the options available to them in order to handle the payment taking side of their equipment. At trade shows they can see and test the newest and latest technology from manufacturers specialising in coin sorters, bank note validators and cashless readers.

MEI launched the Euro Version of the VN 2000 banknote reader, accepting 5 and 10 Euro banknotes. With over 2 million banknote acceptors sold worldwide and 20 years of advancing technology, the VN 2000 banknote validator provides industry's lowest jam rate, resulting in happier consumers, fewer service calls and more profitable locations.

VendMate specialises in the sales & distribution of Telemetry & Cashless Payment technologies.

Vending Machine operators are challenged by new market developments and are constantly looking for new ideas that will accelerate ROI and increase income per machine.

The GBA ST1 from AstroSystems Ltd is a secure, reliable and cost effective note stacker unit. Following a successful introduction at AVEX 2007, it is proving to be a popular choice for vending machine manufacturers and operators throughout Europe and Africa.

Coges is proud to present their new 5-tube PROFIT coin mechanism. With a newly conceived separator/validator group, the PROFIT changegiver coin mechanism has a recognition rate of up to 2 or 3 coins per second (depending on coin type).

A unique collaboration between cashless payment specialists VMC, EPOS integrated systems specialists MCR Systems and Starlogic, has led to the UK’s leading sporting university, winning a major industry award.

Water has always been the life blood of our vending beverage systems: filtration and water quality have over the years been a priority and the competition within our industry to produce better quality drinking water is healthy with many manufactures coming up with new technology and ideas to produce the better cup. Synergy between vending operators and water providers is recognized more as we see each business working hand in hand, as a supplier or end user. VI gives you a overview of the Associations which now govern, monitor and set guidelines to ensure standards are met.

Eden Springs UK Ltd offers water solutions to businesses right across the country, priding itself on its National distribution.

Eden Springs has a wide client base that encompasses a complete range of market/ industry sectors. The company specialises in the supply and service of bottled water and plumbed-in coolers.

AA First are one of the major UK Water Cooler Suppliers with a wide range of POU and Bottled Cooler starting from the very price competitive Hydropoint 25, to the mid range AA1000/1100 Coolers and the top of the range AA3300 and AA4400 plus the new Evolution 35.

Barcelona based manufactured Canaletas, is internationally known for its line of stainless steel, elegant and high quality Drinking Fountains, POU and Bottled Water Coolers.

ACIS 800 Series ‘direct chill’ water coolers available from Apuro

Apuro’s ACIS range of mains water POU and bottled water coolers including the 800 Series of Direct Chill units, which offers a continuous supply of chilled, filtered mains water.

Foster Refrigerator’s Drinking Water Cooler range, provides cost-effective and safe drinking water with a low carbon footprint.

There are two models in the latest range: the Counter Top Water Cooler, ideal for worktops and offices, and the cost-effective DWC 23 DC ‘Direct Chill’ Water Cooler - both in addition to Foster’s popular range of three Drinking Water Coolers.

The Ebac new Fmax offers users a even faster sanitation because of its 3rd generation patented cassette water trail which can also be changed in seconds, eliminating time consuming sanitation and guarantees 100% hygiene.

OASIS is worldwide manufacturer of Bottled Water Coolers, Point of Use and Pressure Coolers. We also provide filtration equipment, non-refrigerated drinking fountains and dehumidifiers.