Nine Canadian vending companies based in six different provinces recently announced the Canadian National Vending Alliance (CNVA) to promote vending best practices, leverage group buying power, and provide customers across Canada with a reliable, consistent vending experience.
“I came up with the CNVA concept in 2007 with the primary goal of being able to service accounts from every part of Canada from coast to coast,” said Steve Tremblay of Ottawa’s Ventrex Vending in a prepared statement. “Hence our slogan: ‘National Vending… Local Service.’”
“One of the biggest advantages is our ability to offer a national presence by having strategic partners in major markets across the country,” said Jay Hamilton of City Coin in Calgary. The CNVA consists of nine of the largest regional vending companies headquartered in six different provinces. The association has also developed a network of subcontractors to assist in extending services to all areas of the country. The end goal is allowing national, regional, and local businesses to engage vending services for all of their locations across Canada.
One of the CNVA’s missions is to promote professional standards for vending companies. All CNVA partners and subcontractors are required to operate by the Canadian Automatic Merchandising Association (CAMA) code of conduct and they are required to be members of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They must also be properly covered by the Worker’s Compensation Board and carry sufficient liability insurance.
The CNVA also promotes environmental standards, including working towards carbon-neutral certification by employing the latest technology, including LED lights and remote monitoring. According to Jim Kalyn of Regina’s Superior Vending, “Remote monitoring has offered not only a sense of defined accountability to the customer, as the sales figures are electronically monitored and can't be tampered with, but it has also allowed us to help the environment. Trucks are now loaded with only what they need for the day, go only to the locations that need the service, and come back empty. This results in smaller vehicles carrying a lighter load over fewer miles.”
The association has also been successful in introducing a variety of healthier choices to customers. “By banding together, we are now able to access a wider range of healthier products from across Canada, rather than accepting only what is normally locally available,” said Kalyn.
Scott Turner of Toronto's Imperial Vending said, “We are learning the guidelines and regulations in each province, and are working together to create a Canadian healthier-choice program for our customers, complete with a branded vendor.”
“I believe the greatest advantage to working together with other CNVA member is to have an organized position and voice for the vending industry in Canada,” said Glen Jackson of Ryan Vending in British Columbia. “As regional vending services leaders, we will assist the industry to move forward, supplying high quality services to national and regional clients.”
“It made sense to put a group of like-minded individuals together, focused on representing our industry with the highest levels of professionalism and integrity,” agreed Hamilton. “Each CNVA partner is committed to investing in both people and technology, driving our industry forward in Canada by providing our clients with the best possible service.”
Customers and suppliers can contact CNVA partners through their website at www.cnva-acdd.com. Steve Tremblay serves as the CNVA’s director of sales, responsible for responding to location queries from potential customers. Michael Bacon of Fredericton’s Global Vending is the CNVA director of purchasing and is the primary contact for interested suppliers.
