Leading brands, Café Bar and Autobar (both part of the Autobar Group) have grown significantly over the past 5 years in the UK. 

The NIVO buying group has selected The Fuelcard People as its strategic fuel cards partner, to help its 240+ members to reduce and control vehicle running costs. NIVO chose The Fuelcard People following trials across the country during March 2009. These trials analysed service levels and savings and were carried out for NIVO by existing members. Graham Kingaby, NIVO managing director said: "NIVO exists to achieve value for members and this deal will offer them major savings from lower fuel costs and reduced administration. Fuel cards should offer more than just discount fuel and our recent trials have confirmed that The Fuelcard People offers our members the best combination of service, savings and security."

McVitie's Minis, the mini versions of the nation's favourite McVitie's biscuits, arrived on UK TV screens for the first time on 1 May. The TV advertising forms part of a broader £1.6 million marketing campaign to raise awareness of the brand and create sales and profit opportunities for retailers.

Watchdogs have banned an advertisement for pomegranate drink POM Wonderful that promised buyers that the drink would help them ‘cheat death', because it won't really make them immortal. The poster showed a bottle of the juice with a severed noose around its neck and the strapline: "Cheat death - the antioxidant power of pomegranate juice."

Multi Vend Solutions, the Halifax based vending machine refurbishment company are pleased to announce their transfer from probationary membership of the AVA to full membership, following successful accreditation to the AVA Quality Standard.

Unilever announce the launch of a global salt reduction strategy for its foods portfolio, covering more than 22,000 products.

GlaxoSmithKline's Ribena factory at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean in Gloucester in the UK, has been given the go-ahead to build a £70m bottling plant.

After many months spent contesting the Ofcom/FSA rulings regarding advertising certain foods to children, California Raisins have announced that raisins now pass the Nutrient Profile set out by the Food Standards Agency.

The e-Payments & Payment Card Solutions Conference 2009 concentrates on all aspects of Electronic & Commercial Card Payment Solutions and Services with a series of leading edge presentations, case studies, exhibitors and solution providers individual break-out sessions and workshops.

Matrix Catering's extensive range of vending machines has given the company a well-deserved reputation for excellence and innovation. From the manufacture and supply of its own machines, to the confidential creation of bespoke models, the Matrix name has become synonymous with the '"Tabletop soluble machine" we all know and love. David has presided over the steady growth of the company from its first days of trading from a small unit in Maldon, to the current purpose built and owned factory in Wickford. 

Fairtrade is an international movement set up to ensure that the producers of goods in poorer countries get a fair deal. Essentially, this means a fair price for goods, long-term contracts which provide real security and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills required to develop their business.

Having entered the fairtrade market approximately four years ago, Barry Callebaut is still appealing to an increasing number of managers with its Van Houten brand chocolate drink with the Fairtrade Max Havelaar mark. And the group plans to continue down this successful route.

When it comes to drinking coffee, it appears today's consumers are putting extra thought into their purchasing decision and looking to buy sustainable food and beverages wherever possible. 

For those seeking the very latest developments in vending, packaging experts Huhtamaki have just launched one of the most innovative products around - their new bio-coated vending cups.

Rombouts Coffee GB Ltd., the company famous for its one-cup filters, has a selection of coffees ideal for use by vending operators - so now there really is no excuse for customers to go without a great tasting cup of real coffee!

The link between modern life and poor diet can not be emphasised enough. With the demise of the lunch hour, time poor consumers in need of a quick fix will crave high fat, sugary food with little concern for its content. The vending industry plays a key role in supporting consumer lifestyles and can help inform purchasing behaviour by providing healthier alternatives.

Refreshment vending is big business with more than £1.5bn spent through the slot each year. In addition to the more than 500,000 vending machines in use in the UK there are a further one million installations providing chilled water - that is water coolers, point of use and bottled coolers.

Allpure Filters - sole approved European distributor for Omnipure water filter range.

Aqua Cure are a British manufacturer and supplier. We stock an extensive range of water treatment products including Hydro+^TM water filters which we make in house for superior quality and Aqua Dosa^TM, our award winning sanitiser. You can see us at Avex at stand number P38, where we will be exhibiting several new products.

AstroSystems Ltd., the European division of currency validation specialist Astrosys International Ltd, is targeting the forthcoming AVEX 2009 exhibition as another opportunity to further promote its GBA ST1 banknote validator. Specifically developed for the vending and kiosk industries, the product has become a market leader with both manufacturers and operators.

• Ever wanted to support the Road Safety campaign?
• Ever wanted to support the Energy Saving campaign?
• Ever wanted a truly recession proof business product?
• Ever wanted a product you will enjoy vending knowing that each person that bought it will say, what a first-class service from the people who invented this product?
• Ever wanted to be part of ever growing business which cares for their distributors and franchisee?

Bon Appetit's award winning hot food vending service provides hot, tasty food, 24/7 at a saving of 90% of the cost of a conventional canteen. Bon Appetit is the UK hot food vending specialist, and clients include Unilever, Honda, Virgin Atlantic, Glaxo, Drax Power Station, ITN, Clifford Chance, Merrill Lynch, Bath Sports & Leisure Centre & Premier Inn.

Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd - coming soon to a Vending machine near you. As part of a massive focus on the vending industry Britvic is bringing a team of experts with an exciting stand to AVEX 2009. There you can see examples of our machines, sample our exciting new products launched this year along with free prizes and gifts.

To celebrate the onset of summer, Tango is launching an exciting new packaging design that will enhance the unique personality of the brand and communicate the brand's value of outrageous fun. Entitled ‘Mash up' the design concept features seriously mashed up fruit in a graffiti style which will appeal to Tango's core audience of young males.

Bravilor Bonamat stand B70, will be displaying a wide selection of beverage making equipment including the new HWA40, HWA70, and the Advanta.

Calypso Soft Drinks have a wide selection of soft drinks which are ideally suited for vending, ranging from our highly successful Aquajuice 67 Juicy water range, Fairtrade Pure Juices and UMBRO Isotonic Sports Drinks.

Cummins-Allison has been the leading supplier of cash handling solutions to the Vending Industry for over 20 years.

The Kenco Coffee Company, together with its parent company Kraft Foods, has been working in the area of sustainability for over 15 years.

Lavazza, Italy's favourite coffee, is showcasing its range of office coffee systems and vending solutions at Stand A34.

MEI offer Innovative payment solutions designed to increase the profitability of Vending operators. MEI is the world's leading provider of payment solutions to the Vending, Gaming, Transport and Retail Markets. At AVEX 2009 MEI will be demonstrating their European Vending portfolio, focusing on the market leading coin manager range CashFlow® 7000 series and low cost coin changer EC 6000. Additionally MEI will be showcasing cashless and their banknote reader range consisting of CashFlow® 2000, CashFlow® 2000 Recycler and GEO Gravity.

rheavendors are unveiling their new range of dispensers featuring many of the tried and tested components found in existing models.

Since 1993 we have been the UK's Number 1 developer of integrated vending and financial systems. With a wealth of experience we understand in detail your system needs as a vending operator.

Always innovating, Vivreau, the originator of the Table Water Bottling System, has plenty of new models to wow you at AVEX.

At AVEX 2009, Trafficmaster, the leading supplier of intelligent driving systems, will be demonstrating how its fleet management solution, Fleet Director, can help fleet managers in the vending industry maximise operational efficiency and support Duty of Care responsibilities for their drivers.

How does the Group view the future of cashless transactions?

We believe that cashless payment will grow exponentially, for a number of reasons: Firstly, the banks want to phase out even more of their services and handling cash is proving to be an ever-increasing burden, in terms of security and logistics. They aren't seeing a return on their efforts here.

Sanden Vendo launch their new Global Glass Front Vendor at AVEX 2009.

With six or nine product facings per shelf the G-GFV will enhance the sale of products with a large glass showcase display to view & shop, illuminated with LED to enhance impulse sales.

A recent visit to the home of Harrogate Spa by Brian Tustain, Chief Executive of Associated Vending Services Ltd showed him much more than just the superb range of Harrogate Spa branded water which sells successfully through AVS members machines, but also the Thirsty Planet water which has caught the imagination and support of vending consumers throughout the length and breadth of the UK.

Find PoP at stand P43, where you can come and play with PoP, see a demonstration, buy some product for yourself, discover the ground breaking new download function or simply appreciate the instant purchasing convenience for the customer and fantastic return on space invested for the retailer. 

PHS Waterlogic, the UK's leading supplier of water dispensers and coolers, will be showcasing its range of water vending solutions, including a brand new machine that is set to revolutionise water dispensing, at the AVEX International Vending and Water Exhibition this June.

Why are the benefits of electronic access technology - convenience, control and security - still scarcely recognised in the vending and self-service industries, compared to its broader acceptance in general enclosure applications? Well, that dynamic could soon be changing, thanks to new modular implementations of electronically actuated latching and locking systems, as explained by Steve Spatig, Business Development Manager for Electronic Access Solutions at Southco.

The industry's first self cleaning post mix system, eliminating the need for cleaning visits, and an aseptic drink dispense system serving non preserved natural products made in situ from concentrate are the latest environmental improvements to the revolutionary PouchLink vending machine.