Automatic Merchandiser

The Way I See It

Repositioning: The Challenge of the Day

[Mike Dabadie]'s presentation augmented last year's keynote expo address by industry consultant Brad Bachtelle. Bachtelle urged vending operators to stop seeing themselves primarily as service providers and recognize they are consumer product retailers.

Vending Market Watch

Crane Co. Acquires Dixie-Narco Inc.

Brad Ellis, president of Crane Merchandising Systems, said in a prepared statement: "Dixie-Narco is a prestige brand, has great people, and is a leader in innovation, quality and product support. Similarities with Crane Merchandising Systems make Dixie-Narco a complementary fit with our business. This acquisition expands our vending capabilities from our snack, food and coffee focus, and reinforces our position as an industry leader.

Cms Moves Api Work to St. Louis, Mo., Adds 100, and Opens New St. Paul, Minn. Office

The move to St. Louis has necessitated the hiring of about 100 new employees in that facility to produce the APi lines, [Tom Glomski] said. The new manufacturing capability will allow APi to present products in all vend product segments, which marks a new direction for the APi brand. "We will have products for every category," Glomski said. "Now our distributors will be able to offer a product in every category. We are committed to both the direct and indirect channels at CMS."

Vtl Group Will Acquire Vending Routes From nor Cal Beverage in N. Sacramento, Calif.

VTL Group Ltd. has agreed to acquire the vending assets of Nor-Cal Beverage, Inc., in North Sacramento, Calif. Nor Cal Beverage remains a beverage bottler and distributor.

Mei Names Wittern As Conlux Distributor; Mei Ends Dixie-Narco Pact

MEI appointed Vendnet, Inc , a Wittern company, as its North America master distributor for Conlux products for the vending industry...

Owensboro Canteen, Owensboro, Ky., Buys Williams Food Service's Elizabethtown Division

The asset purchase includes the Elizabethtown branch and about 20 vending routes. This marks the third acquisition this year for Owensboro Canteen, according to Jerry H. Haase, owner of the company. Earlier this year, he acquired some routes from Williams Food Service in Litchfield, Ky., and also acquired Tom's Vending Inc. in Hopkinsville, Ky. from owner John Crenshaw....

Fresh Brew Group, Houston, Texas, Buys Routes From Southern Refreshment Services

Dari Ansari, owner of Fresh Brew Group USA, said the acquisition includes six vending routes and nine vending employees. Fresh Brew Group USA now has a total of 30 routes.

People in the News

Automated Merchandising Systems Inc. (AMS) has named [COLIN GARNER] as president of AMS Europe. Garner comes to AMS from Automatic Products international, ltd. (APi), where he was senior vice president of sales and marketing in charge of global operations. APi was recently acquired by Crane Co.

Osborne Coinage Buys Van Brook Tokens

Established in 1835, Osborne Coinage is America's oldest private mint. It produces and ships over 200 million coins and tokens worldwide.

Jelly Belly Candy Co. Will Buy Ben Myerson Candy Co.

Jelly Belly Candy Co. expects to move Myerson's candy manufacturing and shipping operations to the company's plants in California and Illinois. The proposed sale of the confectionery business coincides with the announcement of Robert Myerson's retirement after 65 years in the candy business.

Carter and Luke Form West Coast Vending Brokerage, Focus 365

Veteran vend product brokers Janette Carter and Robert Luke have established a West Coast brokerage, Focus 365, based in Anaheim Hills, Calif.

Pierre Foods to Acquire Zartic Inc.

Pierre Foods, Inc. has entered into an agreement to purchase substantially all of the assets of Zartic, Inc. and its affiliated distribution company, Zar Iran,...

Casey Breen of G &Amp; J Marketing Buys Central Virginia Vending in Fredericksburg, Va.

Casey Breen recently left his position as Maryland account rep for Palm Harbor, Fla.-based G & J Marketing and purchased...

Microtronic Ag Names Columbian Coffee and Lincoln County Vending As Regional Distributors

Microtronic AG, a Switzerland-based manufacturer of a cashless vending, electronic key and data management system, recently named distributors...

Vtl Group Claims It Will Provide Free Software to Vending Operators

VTL Group, based in Auckland, New Zealand and active in the U.S., will offer its vending management software free to U.S. vending operators.

Eskimo Pie Will Sell Off Certain Dsd Assets to Southwest Traders

CoolBrands International Inc.'s subsidiary, Eskimo Pie Frozen Distribution, Inc., has entered into definitive...

Le-Nature's Declares Bankruptcy

Le-Nature's Inc., which makes bottled waters, teas, juices and nutritional drinks, has been forced into bankruptcy by a group of creditors who seek more than $1.4 million, according...

News At Press Time

Just Born Inc. Tabs Hershey's Bassininski, Promotes Pye

Kathy Bassininski has joined Just Born, Inc. as brand director for the company's Peeps, Mike and Ike, hot Tamales and Peanut Chews businesses.

H. Norman Saurage, Jr. Of Community Coffee Co., Baton Rouge, La., Passes Away

H. Norman Saurage Jr., the son of the founder of Community Coffee Co. of Baton Rouge,...

Pepsico Will Acquire the Naked Juice Co.

With sales of more than $150 million, Naked Juice Co. has a loyal consumer base, which it reaches primarily through grassroots marketing and sales efforts.

3m Subsidiary Acquires Global Beverage Group

GBG software helps route drivers improve merchandising, delivery and reconciliation of routes. These software solutions provide capabilities for specific markets, including soft drinks, baked goods and snack foods.

Usa Technologies Adds Financing Subsidiary

USA Technologies announced the launch of USAT Capital Corp, LLC a financing subsidiary allowing customers to acquire the company's...

Jcm American Receives International Training Certification

JCM American Corp. has joined the ranks of innovative companies such as GE and IBM and universities such as MIT and Duke and has accomplished...

Aramark Buys Quebec's Les Connaisseurs

"We are excited about this opportunity to serve customers in office break rooms and refreshment areas in and around Ottawa," said Rod Armstrong, vice president of business development, Aramark Refreshment Services, in...

That's What I Think

A Vending Wish List for a New Year

I wish that all vending machines had data transmission technology installed and that free WI-FI networks crisscrossed the country so that all vending operators could remotely and wirelessly monitor their machines for machine failures and product shortages. And that all operators could track customer preferences for optimum product sales. (see first wish, again.)

Readers' Choice Awards

Manufacturer of the Year: Nick Porcelli Kraft Vending &Amp; Ocs

[Nick Porcelli] doesn't just sell; he uncovers his customers' needs and finds solutions. "I have a genuine concern for their business and how I can help them," Porcelli said. One type of support he offers is point-of-sale material, including sell-sheets, invoice stuffers, machine clings, branded premiums, etc. "I have designed customized promotions to increase sales and develop new business within the operator's existing customer base and potential new accounts.

Broker of the Year: Ken Cain Avb Sales &Amp; Marketing Llc, Cincinnati, Ohio

MAIN PRODUCT LINES: 5-Hour Energy; Arcor; Au'some Candy; CCDC; Cuno Inc.; Del Monte; Domino Foods; Parley & Satner's, Haas Baking; Heritage Wafers; Hormel Foods; International Paper; Kronos Foods; Marketfare Foods; Merisant Inc.; Nestle Hand Held Foods; Newco Enterprises; O'Brien & Co.; Old Colony Baking; Ontech; Poore Brothers; Portion Pack Inc.; Rockline Inc.; Russell Stover's Candy; S&S Candies Inc.; Southern Heritage Companies; Spartan Foods; Starkist Sea Foods; Stefano...

Distributor of the Year: Jim Groeschl Groeschl Distributing Inc., Jackson, Wis.

The Royal RVV500 machine [Jim Groeschl] carries uses an elevator to deliver beverages without shaking them up. And the price point flexibility and merchandising capacity of these machines is much better than the standard vender. "I'm fortunate I have some lines that really have a lot to offer," said Groeschl. He prides himself on the quality of the machines he represents.

Ocs Operator of the Year: Steve and Mike Ransom Old Time Coffee Co., San Jose, Calif.

If you're in coffee service today and not making a good living and having a great time, don't expect much sympathy from Steve and Mike Ransom. The brothers, who operate Old Time Coffee Co. in San Jose, Calif., think times have never been better, given the customer's appreciation for good coffee and the ample variety of good coffee available to serve them.

Vending Operator of the Year: Richard Harvey a&Amp;R Services Llc, Monument, Colo.

[Richard Harvey] doesn't think it is necessary to "pre kit" his snack and soda machines in this manner. He believes this would be advantageous only if his stops were more physically dispersed. "That's a major change in the way we do things," he said, regarding pre-kitting. "I have so little waste with our system now that I don't really need to (pre-kit)."