Government Business

As a trade body the AVA represents the £1.65bn refreshment vending industry. AVA members comprises of operators (those who site, fill and service machines), machine producers, distributors and suppliers of cups and products which are sold through vending machines (such as coffee, tea, chocolate, confectionery, snacks, soft drinks, etc).

Understanding the customer
New CEO Jonathan Hilder brings to the AVA over 20 years commercial experience, of which a significant proportion has been involved directly in the finance, leasing and vending markets where he managed sales teams that were responsible for funding in excess of £200m of machines into the vending sector over a number of years. More recently as consultant to a number of vending companies, Jonathan has specialised in working with small to medium sized businesses and large food brands, advising and mentoring on business development and the introduction of new technology into the vending market. As a result, he has a sound industry expertise, great knowledge and a good understanding of the consumer.

“It is not often that an opportunity presents itself that feels 100 per cent right, but the role of AVA CEO is one of those,” Jonathan says. “In 1987 my introduction to the vending industry started a real personal passion for the industry and the way it is perceived. AVA membership provides the clients of vending companies with a real confidence that they are dealing with professional companies who have high standards, which are regularly checked and who ensure that a quality product is delivered for vending consumers. So always ask the question; are you a member of the AVA?”

This high profile appointment will ensure that the AVA is set for the future; a pro-active trade body continually working to raise standards and lobby to ensure that legislation does not impose limited choice or financial penalties on the consumer and the vending provider.

Raising standards 
The AVA is committed to continually raising the quality of vending and the AVA logo is synonymous with the mark of quality. To display the AVA logo, all members are required to achieve the AVA accreditation for quality. Based on ISO 9001:2008, the quality system is specific to the vending industry. It provides a bespoke measurable standard, set and regulated by the industry and it allows members to demonstrate that they provide services to the highest standards.

Continual monitoring ensures that standards are maintained and identifies opportunities for improvement. This takes the form of in-house and external assessment via fully qualified AVA quality coordinators.

Along with the quality standard, AVA members work to a strict code of conduct that sets out clearly what customers can expect from a member and it provides reassurance that they will receive a professional quality service. Each AVA member is required to adopt a strict code of ethics and conduct their business in accordance with the set standards for things such as hygiene, machine manufacture and operating procedures. By choosing an AVA member, consumers can expect to receive value for money, high quality service and products from their vending operator.

Environment
AVA members understand the role they play in affecting the environment and support the 3 R principle – re use, recycle and regenerate. The vending industry has been positively addressing environmental issues for the last decade. Operator companies, machine and commodity suppliers work together within the AVA to address issues that really impact on the planet such as energy and packaging reduction.

One such initiative is delivered via a dedicated recycling company, Save a Cup. The role of this company, which is owned and run by the vending industry with the AVA as its largest shareholder, has traditionally been to reclaim and find durable new uses for used plastic vending cups. Millions of drinks from vending machines are enjoyed by consumers each year. About 80 per cent of those drinks are enjoyed in the workplace thus it is no surprise that Save a Cup focus their strategy of re use on products which can be used at work. The use of a Save a Cup pen or pencil acts as a great reminder to ensure that the used cup is put into the cup collector ready for its second life.

Save a Cup is now building on their experience in plastics to start new ventures. With the increase in the use of paper cups within vending machines, the company is working with the vending industry and starting to provide a collection and recycling programme for paper cups as well. Pilot projects are also in hand to collect and recycle coffee sachets and cans.

The vending industry has also established another recycling company, Category 10 Collective (c10c) which provides a great way of fulfilling the producers’ legal requirement under WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) to collect and recycle end of life vending machines. The company is so named because vending machines comprise the tenth category of products covered by the WEEE Directive.

Latest research
The AVA has a team of industry experts and specialists who are on hand to give advice and deal with important issues. From time to time the AVA undertakes research to ensure that its standards embrace the latest developments and advances. Hygiene is a key principle that the AVA champions and it has been involved in two separate three year studies at UWIC (University of Wales, Institute Cardiff), looking at the best way to clean both the cold and hot components of vending machines. The validated cleaning procedures produced and used as part of the AVA Quality System are based on that work.

These studies were conducted as part of Department of Trade and Industry supported Knowledge Transfers Partnerships but the main investment has come from the vending industry.

Lobbying
With over 60 current European directives, either in discussion or nearing completion, likely to impact on the vending industry across Europe the AVA has a key role to play in ensuring that they do not restrict consumer choice or impose unfair financial burdens on the vending industry.

By having a dedicated representative on the Board of the European Vending Association and close links directly with UK government, the AVA is well placed to state the vending case and be the collective voice of the industry.

Obesity amongst the population and the importance of a balanced diet is high on the agenda and the AVA has recently formed the Vending Choice Coalition (VCC). Members of the VCC include trade associations, brand owners and foodservice organisations all of whom are active in the vending market. The goal of the VCC is to ensure that consumers have freedom of choice to purchase a wide range of food and beverages through the vending channel in order to achieve a balanced diet.

Initially the VCC was focused on Wales where the Health Minister Edwina Hart has implemented restrictive nutritional standards in hospital vending machines that significantly reduced the range of products on sale to staff, visitors and patients. The VCC has been working to find ways to ensure that vending remains a viable sales channel, offering a wide range of food and beverages to consumers, whilst supporting the Welsh Government’s efforts to drive healthy lifestyle messages and behaviours.

More recently the British Heart Foundation has targeted the vending machine in its campaign to encourage healthy eating, despite there being no evidence to support that it is the cause of current levels of overweight and obesity. In a letter to the BHF the AVA pointed out that the nation has been eating snacks and confectionery for many years without issue. It is well proven that a lifestyle that combines regular physical activity with consumption of a wide range of food choices is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

Cost effective
Vending machines provide quality choice and convenience in a very cost effective way. Items on sale reflect consumer demand and feature a range of products, including fresh fruit, low fat and low sugar products as well as a range of drinks to rival the high street coffee shops.

The debates will continue and the appointment of Jonathan Hilder as the new CEO is a demonstration of the AVA’s commitment to ensure that the vending industry continues to be allowed to provide solutions that fulfil the needs and demands of consumers today and that it is well placed for the future.

To ensure you are getting the best from your vending service, look for the AVA mark of quality and make sure that your vending supplier is a member of the AVA.

For more information
Web: www.ava-vending.co.uk