Susan Nash (pictured), Communications Manager, at Kraft Foods UK, has joined the AVA Board as a commodities representative.

Following on its recent successes in securing vending business from rail operators, Selecta has secured a five-year contract to provide vending machines on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

Proving that failing to comply with packaging waste recycling regulations can be expensive, The Environment Agency has announced that Merisant UK has been fined £54,000 for failing to comply with its obligations between 2001-2006. In addition, the court awarded £5,154 to the Environment Agency in compensation for unpaid registration fees as well as costs of £3,094.21, bringing the total to £62,248.21.

Packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki has extended its award-winning range of BioWare bio-coated paper cups with the launch of a new, larger size. The new 14oz bio-coated paper hot cup, means customers can upsize their choice of beverage, while still being able to choose a sustainable option.

Seaga UK has implemented a ‘Going Green Initiative', removing CFC gasses and power-hungry fluorescent lighting from all machines in its Premium Collection range.

Chuffed!

Congratulations are due to Abbeychart, which raised £3,000 for Macmillan from its steam train events in the North York Moors and in Devon earlier in the year.

The Automatic Vending Association welcomed eight new members in October, seven joining as Probationary Full Members and one as an Affiliate Member.

Aimia Foods, the independent supplier of hot and cold beverages, has launched its first Rainforest Alliance certified coffee. The new addition to its portfolio ensures Aimia Foods can now supply the vending trade with a range of fair and ethically sourced products including Fairtrade, coffee from the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) and the Rainforest Alliance.

‘Every Can Counts' is a new attempt to encourage can recycling at work, launched by the beverage can manufacturing and recycling industry. It offers employers the opportunity to set up and promote drinks can recycling within their organisation by providing access to a collection service and offering innovative communications resources designed to encourage employees to get into the recycling habit. An additional element of the programme will promote drinks can recycling to university students.

Lavazza, Italy's favourite coffee, has launched its iconic photographic calendar and pan European advertising campaign.

AVS member Morvend Vending Services has announced the appointment of Fenella Morton (daughter of Eric) as Manager of its branch at Buntingford, Hertfordshire. Fenella previously gained a Joint Humanities degree at Nottingham Trent University followed by a successful Graduate Management Trainee Scheme for a national vehicle hire business.

Crane Merchandising Systems (CMS) held its second Scottish Training Roadshow at the Livingston Football Club at the end of October.

A new pro­ject, expec­ted to be the first use of quick response (QR) codes across a major consumer brand in the UK, is soon to appear on over 400 million Pepsi packs.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced that Cadbury has become its latest Tier Two Supporter.

On-line vending operator Bunzl Coffee Point has installed 40 new energy-efficient vending machines, including 13 drinks machines serving Kenco Rain Forest Alliance coffee, at Garlands Call Centres in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool Marina and South Shields.

United Biscuits (UBUK), a leading UK manufacturer of biscuits, snacks and cakes, has achieved a major reduction in the saturated fat content in three of its leading McVitie's biscuit brands. From this month, McVitie's Digestives, McVitie's HobNobs and McVitie's Rich Tea will contain 50 per cent less saturated fat.

My thanks to Carl Bjorkstrand for loaning me an August 1974 copy of VI which he had unearthed from the depths of N&W. It was back in the days in which the publication was owned and edited by the great Roy Pearl - and some five years before I looked at a vending machine with anything but suspicion!

While the UK's Automatic Vending Association may not have met its own objective of publishing this census, covering the year 2007, within six months of the data (i.e. by the end of June 2008) - it did succeed in publishing at the end of October, which is a significant improvement on last time which, itself, was a major advance on the year before.

Having an understanding of the amount of time and work that goes into compiling and producing this annual document, VI offers its sincere congratulations to David Hoskin and his team on presenting what is still the only credible set of statistics on the UK vending industry.

TABLETOP BEVERAGE MACHINE

Size: H x W x D: 870 mm x 450 mm x 475 mm

Versions: Freshbrew (coffee or tea), Bean to Cup, Bean to Freshbrew

Capacity: Approx. 250 drinks

FREE STANDING HOT BEVERAGE MACHINE

Size: H x W x D: 1830 mm x 650 mm x 742 mm

Versions: Instant, Single Freshbrew, Triple Freshbrew, Espresso + Freshbrew

Capacity: 600 cups

TABLETOP BEVERAGE MACHINE

Size: H x W x D: 760 mm x 540 mm x 585 mm

Versions: Freshbrew tea, Bean to Cup, Instant

Capacity: 300 cups

SPIRAL AND MULTIPURPOSE MACHINE

Size: H x W x D: 1830 mm x 890 mm x 793 mm

Versions: Snack only ; Snack, Can & Bottle ; Snack, Food, Can & Bottle ; Can & Bottle only

Capacity: Up to 466 products

SNACK MACHINE

Size: H x W x D: 1830 mm x 735 mm x 855 mm

Versions: Snack only; Snack, Can and Bottle; Can and Bottle

Capacity: From 180 to 344 items

SNACK MACHINE

Size: H x W x D: 1700 mm x 707 mm x 860 mm

Versions: Snack only; Snack, Can and Bottle

Capacity: 344 or 300 items

FOOD MACHINE

Size in mm: H1830; W803; D935

Capacity: Varies by products to be vended - up to 32 selections/550 items

Selections: 8 height adjustable trays with 7 channels per tray

FOOD MACHINE

Size in mm: H1830; W960; D850

Capacity: Varies by products to be vended, e.g. 64 plates plus 42 cold drinks

Selections: up to 60

TABLETOP MACHINE

Size in mm: 820 x 500 x 550mm

Versions: Available in Instant, Freshbrew and Bean-to-Cup versions

Capacity: Dependent upon configuration chosen

FREE-STANDING CAN & BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE

Size in mm: 1830 x 750 x 880mm

Versions: Robimat 75 and Robimat 99

Capacity: Dependent upon configuration chosen

The Vending Star Chamber - a Vending International initiative - is a group of ten individuals, nominated for their knowledge of and service to the UK vending industry and who, together, represent all sectors of the industry. From time to time, this auspicious group is invited to give readers of Vending International and beyond the benefit of its knowledge and opinion on matters of current importance to the vending industry, its suppliers and customers.

We will never forget 2008. Unprecedented developments in the world economy and the near ‘meltdown' of the global banking system are having and will have an increasing impact on all businesses.

Before I started to write this article, looking back on 2008 and forward to 2009, I leafed back though my calendar to remind myself of this year's highlights. What struck me was the number of exhibitions we either attended or supported. We have exhibited at more than eight shows this year, not including VendItalia or Vending Paris. These shows have ranged from those aimed at the Horace market, held in council offices, to the grander stage of the splendid Hotelympia; as well as those targeted at Facilities Managers, plus the two Nivex shows.

2008 will be remembered for two unrelated key trends, firstly the growth in awareness and concern to act over environmental and sustainability issues and, secondly, (and less positive) the economic downturn.

There is no doubt that 2008 will be one of those years that everybody remembers for a very long time.

During the last month, the focus of media reports on the financial markets crisis has very much turned to the plight of the SME sector. It has been claimed that the ‘rescue package' for banks has done little or nothing to facilitate the provision of funding to the smaller sized enterprise, which in many cases require immediate help to alleviate cash-flow pressure.

The past six months have seen some tumultuous times for us all, with forecasters talking of doom and gloom and imminent fears of world-wide recession. Clearly this will have an impact on all businesses, as well as individuals with the so-called credit crunch affecting the building, housing and retail markets in particular with significant downturns in sales revenues.

January 2008 promised a year of prosperity and continued good fortune. Although the signs of an over-borrowed economy were all there, we chose to ignore them. Our budgets were set for yet another year of continued growth and an optimism that we were all on top of our game. The government and the economists were confident that inflation was well and truly licked and that we could confidently be assured of a low rate.

It is stating the obvious to say that 2008 will be recorded as the year of ‘the crunch'. As such, it doesn't need additional comment, numerous commentators have well documented strategies for how we may emerge from the impending recession. Enough said. What's clear to anyone in business is that all parts of the economic cycle bring challenges and opportunities, all years bring their own upsides and downsides and in that respect I don't think 2008 or 2009 will be any different. Many vending companies will do well in the next 12 months, those that approach recession with a positive outlook will do best of all. Despite everything, there is a lot to be positive about!

The current year has been the kind that many people in the industry have never experienced before. Who would have believed that a bank could run out of money? Not me, for one, and I have seen all the major recessions since the 1950s, but this is new territory for me.

The European Vending Association pursues its initiative to help implement best practices for vending in schools. Being a founding member of the European Commission Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, the EVA has a role of co-ordination with the national associations and operators. "We take this issue seriously", says EVA Director Catherine Piana (pictured), "but vending is a flexible retail channel which also must meet demand."

The General Assembly of the French National Vending Association (NAVSA) has elected a new Executive Committee, for a two-year period. The committee also unanimously elected Jean-Marc Nigond as the new NAVSA President.

The Belgian telecommunications operator Proximus has joined the European Vending Association as a supportive member.

When Vending Paris opened its doors at the end of October, few knew quite what to expect, for the familiar old ‘DA Vending Expo' had changed its name and logo for its 10th anniversary.