Movement to Ban or Tax Bottled Water Gains Momentum; IBWA Responds

Vendors Equipment Inc. adds brands to its Website
Vendors Equipment Inc. of Waterbury Conn. has added several brand names to its list of vending machine and vending machine parts inventory. The company now carries the following manufacturers:

• Perfect Break Systems: full-line vending machines
• Standard Change-Makers: bill changers for vending and amusements
• Baton Lock & Hardware Co.: locks and security systems
• Brand Imports: bulk vending, sticker and tattoo machines
• BRW Control Systems: vending machine security systems and alarms
• SimpliCool: refrigeration units
• Van Lock Co.: locks and security systems

The company Website, www.vendorsequipment.com, now offers over 1,200 vending industry related items available for purchase.

Companies interested in linking with the Website are invited to contact Vendors Equipment Inc. at 800-237-1758.

CRH Catering acquires Tailor Made Vending in Richmond, Va.
CRH Catering Co. Inc., based in Connellsville, Pa., recently acquired the assets of Tailor Made Vending Inc. in Richmond, Va. from owner Robert Pistella. Tailor Made Vending’s six vending routes have been folded into CRH Catering’s existing Richmond branch operation, which now totals 17 routes. Joe Cordaro, president of CRH Catering Co. Inc., said six of Tailor Made Vending’s employees have remained with the company.

CRH Catering Co. has branch operations in Altoona, Pa., Harrisburg, Pa., Allentown, Pa., Morgantown, W.Va., Cumberland, Md., Norfolk, Va. and Richmond, Va.

Watson’s Vending and Foodservice adds third distribution center
Watson’s Vending and Foodservice, based in Sheboygan, Wis. has opened a third distribution center in Wisconsin. Located in Manitowoc, the new center will enable Watson’s to meet the needs of its growing clientele in the cities of Manitowoc and Two Rivers, and Calumet County. The 4,000 square-foot building accommodates up to seven trucks for delivery routes and service.

Hershey Co. will sell its macadamia nut plant
The Hershey Co. is selling its Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut production facility to PLK Partners, a group of Hawaiian investors, according to CandyBusinessInsider. The candy maker will retain the Mauna Loa brand, which it acquired in 2004 from Shansby Group for $112.4 million and the acceptance of $17.6 million in debt.

PLK is expected to continue to produce the brand for Hershey Co., as well as expand production through contract manufacturing agreements. According to reports, the plant has 65 full-time and 130 seasonal employees and has been operating at less than 50 percent of its capacity.

The sale, terms of which were not disclosed, is expected be completed by year end.

Tully’s Coffee postpones public offering
Tully’s Coffee Corp. announced that it has postponed the underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock due to volatile stock market conditions. The company believes that completion of the offering under current market conditions would not be in the best interest of shareholders. The company will continue to monitor the financial markets.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. A copy of the registration statement for this offering may be obtained free of charge at www.sec.gov.

AVT tests show digital signage helps drive vending sales
Automated Vending Technologies, Inc. concluded an initial round of digital signage field tests in vending machines. The tests demonstrated improvement in sales in the 10 vending systems equipped with AVT’s custom personal computers loaded with proprietary digital signage software displaying flash advertisements, including advertisements for Otis Spunkmeyer, 5 Hour Energy and Tropicana.

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General Mills names fieldhouse to convenience channels
General Mills Inc. appointed Tim Fieldhouse to vice president, general manager, convenience channels. He is responsible for convenience stores, vending, and non-food retailers in addition to the company’s restaurant accounts business segment. Fieldhouse was previously vice president of strategic planning in the consumer foods sales division.