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The latest buzz in the world of vending and OCS
July 2005 Archive
July 29, 2005
FOODSERVICE: Sanitized Paper Towels Instead of Rented or Regular Paper Towels.
Industrial News Room - New York, NY, USA
SaniWorks™ Foodservice Towels and Textiles are suited for restaurants, healthcare facilities, hospitality businesses, and schools. . . . and vending commissaries. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Paper "wipes" have been in household and commercial use for years. Very recently, wipes of all types have been introduced: handy wipes for travel, floor wipes (both dry and wet), even those for wiping supermarket cart handles and more.
But, to our knowledge, these commercial wipes are the first that are truly sanitary, according to the manufacturer. Commissaries must be clean and sanitary. Here's an improvement that may be worthwhile.
FOODSERVICE: Performance Food Group Announces Webcast of Its Second Quarter
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco, CA, USA
The live broadcast of Performance Food Group's quarterly conference call will be available online at www.pfgc.com on August 2, 2005....MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: This live broadcast may not be available to everyone, but it's worth trying. Many vending operators may be serviced by this spread-out distributor of foodservice items, thus we are including this article in Vend Buzz.
VENDING: Gary Bell Named Vice President Of Ruiz Foods' Foodservice Sales and Marketing
AMonline.com - Fort Atkinson, WI, USA
Ruiz Foods is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary G. Bell to the position of Vice President Sales and Marketing. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Ruiz Foods products are purchased by many vendors, whether or not they have a commissary. Some of you may know Mr. Bell personally. We congrate you, Gary!
July 28, 2005
VENDING: PepsiCo Not Preparing Bid for Danone, Market Regulator Says
peoplepc.com news - USA
PARIS - PepsiCo Inc. has informed French authorities that it is not preparing a bid for Groupe Danone. ...MORE
VENDING: 'Balanced For Life/America Scores' Stages 2nd Round Of School Soccer-Poetry Fêtes
Vending Times, NYC, NY, USA
NAMA's "Balance for Life" initiative for vending's addressing the student obesity problem and cooperating with school officials, parents and legislative groups is moving rapidly across the country. ...MORE
COFFEE SERVICE: US Census Bureau Daily Feature: Coffee Rationing
U.S. Newswire (press release) - Washington, DC, USA
Imagine if you stopped by your favorite coffee shop on the way to work for your usual cup in the morning and found that coffee was rationed? Reflections of WW!! ...MORE
GENERAL: Coffee Producers Seek Price Stability
New Zealand Herald - New Zealand
Delegates from coffee-producing nations will open the second World Coffee Conference today and will look for ways to stabilise prices. ...MORE
July 27, 2005
VENDING: Follow-up Audit Says Blind Commission Still Needs Restructuring
Dateline Alabama - Birmingham, AL, USA
... The program provides blind people with jobs at vending facilities on public property that range from cafeterias to vending machines. ...MORE
VENDING: Beaver Falls Might Restrict Sidewalk Vending Machines
Beaver County Times - Beaver County, PA, USA
Beaver Falls Council is working to pass an ordinance that restricts wares, vending machines and other items cluttering sidewalks and obstructing roadways. ... MORE
July 26, 2005
VENDING: Dark Chocolat May Help Improve Health
MSN - USA
Study shows that daily intake of dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood pressure. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: So, M&M Mars, where is the dark chocolate bar formerly named Forever Yours and was reintroduced a few years ago as Dark Milky Way? Vend Buzz loved it, but seldom can find it.
VENDING: Hard Work, Patience, Know How and Investment Can Make Vending Profitable
Black Enterprise - New York, NY, USA
Most people don't think about the amount of work, investment amd know-how that it takes to provide that convenience when they buy something from a vending machine. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: This article is for those people who are thinking about going into the vending business as a side-line to supplement their regular job. Here is an example of an entrapreneur who is making his start-up vending business pay off. But it wasn't easy and still isn't! It can be done. Readers who are vending veterans will confirm this.
COFFEE SERVICE: Caribou Coffee Files to go Public
Duluth News Tribune, MN - USA
One of the longest-awaited stock offerings in the Twin Cities business community finally looks set to go public. ... MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Three years ago, Vend Buzz first learned of Caribou Coffee and its efforts to establish coffeehouses in the South and East. Recognizing that it would be a difficult undertaking with Starbucks so far in the lead, encouragement was given to the already established organization throughout Minnesota. Today, it has over 200 coffeehouses across the States and is now thinking of going international.
We congratulate Caribou for its progress is so short a time period.
July 25, 2005
FOODSERVICE: McDonald's Adds New Premium Chicken Sandwichs, Salads
Hispanic PR Wire - Miami, FL, USA
The consumption of chicken in the United States is expected to reach 87 pounds per person in 2005, 42 percent of which is sold through foodservice outlets. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Foodservice vendors, this is worth reading re: possibly adjusting your menu. If McDonald's is banking on selling more chicken, particularly premium chicken sandwiches, we can do it better at a better price. Investigate those in local markets.
VENDING: Kraft Foods Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2005 Results
Business Wire - San Francisco, CA, USA
The corporation is making good progress in its Sustainable Growth Plan. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: This is the complete report, very long. A 3% quarterly increase is a healthy gain as the economy continutes to improve.
COFFEE SERVICE: Coffee Falls in Tokyo on Brazil's Weather
Bloomberg - USA
Arabica coffee futures in Tokyo fell as much as 4 percent, the biggest fluctuation of any commodity on this day, as mild weather in Brazil permits good harvest. ...MORE
July 22, 2005
FOODSERVICE: School Districts Across Nation Respond to Call for Healthier Food
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
ConAgra Foods Inc. responds to the same call by introducing a new line of The Max whole-grain pizzas that deliver the nutrition parents and schools want, without sacrificing the taste kids love. ...MORE
GENERAL: Brazil's Coffee Exports Rise Over 70%
AE Brazil - Brazil
Brazil's green coffee export revenue in the first half rose 70.14% compared with the same period last year. ...MORE
VENDING: POP N GO Ships to Automatic Vending of Arkansas
Market Wire (press release) - USA
Automatic Vending of Arkansas has placed three Pop N Go popcorn machines at a large manufacturing plant in Arkansas. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Knowing this Bellingrath operation many years ago, it's a sure bet that three won't be nearly enough for their market. Popcorn venders have their niche in our industry; too many of us have not yet explored their potential.
July 21, 2005
GENERAL: Your Coffee Flavor and Aroma Depend on "Cupping"
Barre Montpelier Times Argus - Barre,VT,USA
If the professional coffee tasters don't approve of a coffee after many tests of it taste and aroma, it doesn't measure up and is rejected by the particular roaster. ..MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Most OCS and vending people know of this "cupping" process, but it is interesting to note that it is being revealed to the public through a newspaper story. The more they know about quality coffee, the more our operations will benefit.
GENERAL: Sales Warm Up with Ice Cold Coffee
Cincinnati Enquirer - Cincinnati,OH,USA
Coffeeshop owners are noticing less of a drop-off in summer sales, mainly because of the demand for cold coffee in hot weather. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: The cold drink machine can handle the new bottled or canned coffee products. How can OCS operators meet the demand? Those ofices with icemakeres can be treated with a flyer telling how to make a perfect pot of iced coffee. Yes, it's different from just making a pot of regular coffee, but well worth the effoet in the summertime.
GENERAL: "Hot Coffee" Controversy Gets Hillary Clinton Hot on the Subject
XboxAddict.com, Canada
US senator Hillary Clinton has announced that she's to hold a press conference about the growing controversy over the Hot Coffee mod for Grand Theft Auto game. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Okay, so it's not real coffee. But it is hot enough to upset a lot of people. We thought it would be of interest.
GENERAL: Carson-Newman College Course about Tranfer of Business to Children
Knoxville News-Sentinal - USA
The new college course is specifically for better equipping students to work in or create a family-owned company. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: There are many family-owned and operated vending and OCS businesses in America. We are not aware of any other college course that addresses directly the transfer a business from the family head to the children. If there are, please let Vend Buzz know and we will publish the list.
July 20, 2005
VENDING: Research Firm Provides Numbers for Snacks Sold
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
The retail sector has created a fertile market for foodservice and restaurant players. It tracks the sales of snacks sold through vending machines nationally, as well. ...MORE
VENDING: Ibaraki Firm Offers "Natto" in Vending Machine
Mainichi Daily News - Japan
HITACHINAKA, Ibaraki -- A company producing natto, or fermented soybeans, is offering its products in a vending machine in a bid to boost sales. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Vendors are willing to vend anything that people will buy, so what's so newsy about natto?
VENDING: Honolulu Vendor Convicted Second Time in Tax Case
KHON2 - Honolulu,HI,USA
The court yesterday found vending machine millionaire Michael Boulware guilty of several counts of tax evasion and filing false income tax returns. ...MORE
July 19, 2005
VENDING: Philip Morris Favored by Jury in Vendor Suit
Forbes - USA
In a case brought by vending machine operators against Philop Morris, a federal jury ruled in favor of Philip Morris, saying that the company acted legaly in the way it ended a cigarette promotion in 1998. ...MORE
VENDING: Coca Cola Encourages Sixth Graders To Be Physically Active
AMonline.com - Fort Atkinson,WI,USA
Coke's "Live It" program for promoting exercise for 6th graders is critized by the US Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI ) instead of lauding Coke for its concern for the lack of student exercising. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: You must read the full story to get the impact of Mr. Maras' excellent "Editor's Insight" response. Vend Buzz strongly concurs with his remarks.
VENDING: Security Dogs Sensed Bomb Threat in Two Airport Vending Machines
Washington Post - Washington,DC,USA
The threat caused the evacuation of the Minn./St. Paul Airport and a 4-hour shutdown. ...MORE
July 18, 2005
VENDING: Drug Vending Machines Warning
Age (subscription) - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Pharmacists and drug companies have warned against allowing American-style drug vending machines to be introduced into Australia. ...MORE
VENDING: US Navy Orders Energy Saving Devices on Vending Machines
AMonline.com - Fort Atkinson, WI, USA
The range of energy management products purchased is expected to reduce energy consumption in vending and snack machines on the base by about half. ...MORE
VENDING: JCM American Teams With Betson In Distributing Vending Products
AMonline.com - Fort Atkinson, WI, USA
Beston will sell, distribute and service JCM products, touching all markets the companies do business in, including the amusement, gaming, lottery and vending industries. ...MORE
July 15, 2005
COFFEE SERVICE: Coffeehouse Experience Acquired by Location Coffee Clubs
By Michaele Weissman
Special to The Washington Post - USA
Not satisfied with regular office coffee service products, some companies are forming "coffee clubs," upgrading to gourmet grinds and special equipment on their own. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: This article is a Special Alert as both a warning to all and an opportunity for astute OCS operators. It's the best one on pure coffee service that we have posted (it was discovered and submitted by The Vend Buzz Team's Webmaster).
The warning: If we don't do it for them, they'll do it themselves!
The opportunity: Create the coffeehouse experience with single-cuppers and gourmet coffees.
VENDING: The Other "Street" in Philadelphia Provokes Controversy over Vending Contract
Centre Daily Times - Centre County, PA, USA
Mayor Street's brother is brought into the spotlight over his vending contract with the city. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: The Live 8 performance in Philadelphia is over, but because we reported on it recently, we thought that you would be interested in its political follow-up.
VENDING: US: Alabama Bans Carbonated Soft Drinks in School Vending Machines
just-drinks.com - UK
The Alabama's State Board of Education has banned carbonated soft drinks from vending machines in public elementary schools and limited them in middle and high schools. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: States addressing the student obesity problem is not new to any of us in the U.S., but we are a bit surprised that the British newletter reports it to its regular readers.
July 14, 2005
FOODSERVICE: Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Increases Third Fiscal Quarter Earnings Guidance
Yahoo News (press release) - USA
Pilgrim's Pride products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entree customers. ...MORE
VENDING: Health-care Groups in California Support Healthy-snack Programs
San Francisco Business Times - San Francisco, CA, USA
The leaders of the groups have agreed to support an innovative effort to make healthy snacks and beverages available in on-site school vending machines. ...MORE
VENDING: State School Board Restricts Soft Drink Sales in Schools
WSFA - Montgomery, AL, USA
It bans carbonated drinks from vending machines in elementary schools and limits them in middle and high schools. ...MORE
July 13, 2005
VENDING: Louisiana Schools to Offer Low-calorie Products through Vending Machines
2theadvocate.com - Baton Rouge, LA, USA
A new state law, which will be in effect when schools start next month, requires healthier vending machine snacks and beverages. ...MORE
VENDING: Vending Machines for Medication
Sydney Morning Herald (subscription) - New South Wales, Australia
Some pharmacists are interested in vending prescriptions. ...MORE
VENDING: Cell Phone Text-messaging Expanding its US Footprint
Chicago Tribune - Chicago, IL, USA
It won't be long, for example, until you're able to walk up to a vending machine and buy a can of pop with a cell phone text message. ... MORE
July 12, 2005
GENERAL: ICO Alerts G8 Summit to Farmers' Plight in Undeveloped Countries
Stuff.co.nz - Wellington,New Zealand
LONDON: The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) called for leaders of the rich world to address the trade barriers and market imbalances that affect the economy of undeveloped nations. ...MORE
GENERAL: The Coffee Man Groweth
Washington Post - USA
A descendant of a baseball notable went to Africa and eventually harvested a rich coffee crop. ...MORE
COFFEE SERVICE: OCS Market Improved by Higher Coffee Prices
AMonline - Elliott Maras - USA
Coffee price increases give OCS operators the opportunity to improve dollar volume of sales. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Some of The Automatic Merchandiser 2005 State of the Coffee Service Industry Report's highlights are shown along with an excellent analysis by Mr. Maras. Ollie Thomas, Thomas House Coffee Service of Silver Spring, MD offers a great suggestion to brewer manufacturers.
VENDING: Food For Thought Contest Asks Students to Offer Their Nutritional Experiences
Market Wire (press release) - USA
The most insightful, moving and impactful stories will win cash prizes and be featured in the upcoming documentary, Vending Machine. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: We wonder if the winners will be where NAMA's Balance For Life program is being applied. Or maybe those students are so intent on the program and its physical activities that they haven't noticed the announcement of this contest. In any event, the BFL program can make a winning difference and a healthier, thinner group of students.
VENDING: Soft Drinks Become Victims of Incomplete Knowledge
Boston Globe - Boston, MA, USA
This article by Chris Crowley, executive vice president for Polar Beverages in Worcester, MA is well written and should be heeded by all that think that the vending machine is the student obesity culprit. ...MORE
July 11, 2005
VENDING: Obesity Now Listed as Disease by the Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Jackson Clarion Ledger - Jackson, MS, USA
The University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville has added more healthy choices to its vending machines and marked these in green; medium-healthy in yellow and the least healthy in red. ... MORE
VENDING: Tijuana Orders Makeover for Vendors' Appearance
peoplepc.com -- News - USA
This Mexican border city is planning a fashion makeover for its throngs of street vendors by giving them an ultimatum: Wear brightly colored, traditional garb or leave. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Although this news article is about people vendors, not machine venders, we thought it interesting. Yet it does support NAMA's long-time slogan of keeping venders clean, stocked and working. This, of course, means a distinctive, attractive machine.
July 8, 2005
VENDING: East Knox, Ohio Schools Opt To Outsource Foodservice To Sodexho
AMonline.com - Fort Atkinson,WI,USA
The East Knox, Ohio schools have decided to outsource their foodservice to Sodexho Services, reported the Mount Vernon News, Ohio. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: Mr. Maras' Insight message at the conclusion of the article is excellent advice. Let's hope that school officials everywhere take note.
July 7, 2005
GENERAL: High Coffee Prices Perk Up Indonesian Coffee Sales
Yahoo News - USA
SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Tighter supply in other coffee-producing countries and a weak domestic currency have given the Indonesian coffee market a much-needed boost. ...MORE
GENERAL: There is a Difference in Pot for Coffee and a Pot of Coffee
News4Jax.com - Jacksonville,FL,USA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- What constitutes a reasonable tip for a cup of coffee at a coffeehouse is the issue.... MORE
July 6, 2005
VENDING: Self-Service Kiosk Vending Machine for Gameboy Pokemon
Self-Service Kiosk Info - Louisville, CO, USA
In Japan you can now take your re-writable GBA movie card to a vending machine kiosk to get new episodes of Pokemon. ...MORE
VENDING: Advent International Buys Italian Vending Machine Firm Gruppo Argenta
AltAssets - USA
Advent International has bought Italian vending machine firm Gruppo Argenta from two local private equity firms. ...MORE
VENDING: Philadelphia's Black Businesses Cry Foul Over Live 8's High Fees to Participate as a Vendor
Black America Web - Dallas, Tx, USA
The chairman of the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware told BlackAmericaWeb.com Wednesday that the city is being hypocritical as it charges exorbitant vending fees for a license to sell their products during the event. ...MORE
- VEND BUZZ COMMENT: We reported on this affair recently because "vendors" included revenue from vending machines, which are a portion of the event's contribution to the city. A major portion, however, is from businesses or individuals who desire to sell their products without the use of vending machines.
This event has moved beyond the local/regional scene to become national news.
July 5, 2005
VENDING: New Zealand's Vending Technologies Finds More than Physical Challenge in US Operations
AMonline.com - Fort Atkinson, WI, USA
Auckland, New Zealand-based Vending Technologies, which has acquired interests in the US vending industry, is experiencing financial problems with its unusual vending concepts. ...MORE
VENDING: Hosting Live 8's Performance in Philadelphia will Bring in $500,000 to the City
KYW - Philadelphia, PA, USA
Critics of the cost to the city are answered by the mayor's forcast that the bottom line, including vending machine revenue, will more than pay for the extra cost for police, firemen and safety precautions. ..MORE
July 1, 2005
FOODSERVICE: Nationwide Child Nutrition Education Program Sponsored by Pilgrim's Pride
Yahoo News (press release) - USA
The company, dedicated to providing healthier products to student consumers, displays its commitment by supplying a school nutrition education program. ...MORE
FOODSERVICE: Dean Foods Company Spins Off Treehouse Foods
Yahoo News (press release) - USA
TreeHouse executive says, "We see extraordinary opportunity for growth in both the grocery private label and foodservice markets we serve nationally." ...MORE
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