Following the purchase of its UK distributor, Star Venders, in 2006, the UK operation has dramatically expanded its portfolio, moving away from tobacco vending machines into more value-added merchandisers and hot food vending systems. UK Managing Director, Vassilis Gotsis, explains: “We were only actively selling a fraction of the Jofemar portfolio, but our hand was forced early on by the rapid demise of the tobacco vending market.” Vassilis restructured the UK operation in 2008, to reflect a broader-based platform of products, with the Company’s Gourmet hot food vender and its Vision ‘soft drop’ merchandiser at the heart of the new initiative. The change yielded immediate benefits with turnover up by 42%.

GOURMET ‘FED WELL’ MACHINE

The Gourmet is a perfect example of a machine that has something different to offer the operator. An advanced hot food vending merchandiser, it has a built-in microwave oven, which makes it perfectly suited to self-service. Once a selection is made, the machine reheats the food in an integral high power microwave.  The maximum time any hot product will take to dispense is 60 seconds and it can vend all manner of hot food including ready meals, pizzas, hot sandwiches, baguettes, ciabattas and other ‘fresh from the oven’ foodstuff. 

“This is a system sale” says Vassilis, “comprising the Gourmet machine, a source of hot food ingredients and an operator to handle the filling and maintenance. We have linked up with ProPak, one of the largest manufacturers of ready meals in the UK under the ‘Fed Well’ brand name. The Fed Well system is now available for distributors to sell on to their clients”.

TORBAY GENERAL HOSPITAL

One operator to realise the potential for the system is Graddon Vending, the largest privately owned vending operator in the south west of England, based in Plymouth. MD, David Graddon, has installed a Fed Well Machine at Torbay General Hospital. Serving over 100 hot meals a week, it enables the hospital to fulfill its obligation to provide hot food for staff 24 hours a day, with meals varying in price from £2.50 to £3.00. The most popular dishes with hospital staff are English Breakfast, followed by Curry and Cottage pie. “Because the products are ambient with a long shelf life, we do not need to worry about stock rotation and we don’t require specialist delivery vehicles” says David.

VISION OF THE FUTURE

Jofemar was one of the first companies to realise the potential for so-called ‘soft drop’ merchandisers and the company first launched its Vision machine in 2005 The mark II Vision was introduced earlier this year with improved insulation, a re-engineered elevator arm and modern graphics. The improvements make it a stand-out leader in its class. Vassilis again: “In our opinion, the Vision comes into its own when used to vend higher value or delicate items. We see a big market for it in hotels linked to a cashless system, so guests can pay for goods using their room key.”

Jofemar may be contacted on 01543 251253, by email on vassilisg@jofemar.com or via the website, www.jofemar.com.

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