October 2011 News

Aramark to acquire Filterfresh for $145 million

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR), announced a definitive stock purchase agreement pursuant to which Aramark Refreshment Services, LLC, a provider of office coffee and refreshment services, will acquire all outstanding shares of Van Houtte USA Holdings, Inc., also known as the Van Houtte U.S. Coffee Service business or Filterfresh business from GMCR, for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $145 million. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based on Filterfresh’s working capital and indebtedness as of immediately prior to the transaction’s closing.

On Dec. 17, 2010, GMCR acquired Van Houtte through the purchase of all of the outstanding capital stock of LJVH Holdings, Inc. At the time of the acquisition, GMCR announced it would pursue a sale of a portion of the former Van Houtte business, namely Van Houtte’s U.S. coffee service business, also known as Filterfresh. GMCR has accounted for all the assets and liabilities relating to the Filterfresh business as held-for-sale in its most recent financial statements.

Brinton becomes owner of Avanti, former partners form Breakroom Provisions

?    Jim Brinton has purchased a majority ownership position in Avanti Markets from former partners Kevin Bailey and Aaron Speagle, who have launched a new self-checkout market product under the name, Breakroom Provisions Co. Brinton is now CEO of Avanti Markets, working from Seattle, Wash. Bailey said he and Speagle saw a need for a new self- checkout system geared toward foodservice management companies and larger vending operators. He said the company is based in Conover, N.C. and has begun shipping units to customers. 

Dr Pepper Snapple seeks bigger stake in energy drink

›    Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. will try to buy up to 40 percent of Hydrive Energy LLC, based in Rye, N.Y., giving it a larger stake in the fast-growing energy drink category, according to The Dallas Morning News in Dallas, Texas.

U.S. Foodservice buys Brea, Calif. distributor

›    U.S. Foodservice, announced it has acquired the local restaurant distribution business of White Apron, a supplier and processor of premium fresh meats based in Brea, Calif. The business will be integrated into the U.S. Foodservice-Los Angeles division, in La Mirada, Calif.

Vistar Corp. buys Vend Service Inc.

›    Vistar Corp., a division of Performance Food Group, has acquired Vend Service Inc., a Rome, Ga.-based vend product distributor with a distribution facility in Ocala, Fla., for an undisclosed sum, according to Mike Sidwell, president of Vend Service. The company was founded in 1965 by Sidwell’s father, Carl Sidwell.

Sidwell said he and his brother Mark, vice president, will continue to work for Vistar in some capacity, while their sister, Diane, secretary/treasurer, will leave the company. Sidwell said the Rome, Ga. facility will be merged with Vistar’s Suwanee, Ga. facility while the Ocala, Fla. facility will merge with Vistar’s Kissimmee, Fla. facility.

Vend Service was part of the Vend Channel, a coalition of five independent regional vend product distributors that collectively cover the U.S. and provide a variety of online services to operator customers.

Sidwell noted Vend Service employs about 100 people.

Apriva LLC moves to new facility

›    Apriva LLC, provider of end-to-end wireless transactions and secure information solutions, moved its corporate headquarters to a larger facility in Scottsdale, Ariz. The new address features over 50,000 square feet of space to accommodate the approximately 160 employees that work out of Apriva’s headquarters, representing an increase of some 20,000 square feet over its previous location.

Canteen buys Coffee Break Service, North Shore Industrial Vending

›    Canteen Vending Services Inc. acquired Coffee Break Service Inc. in Baltimore, Md. and North Shore Industrial Vending in Lincolnwood, Ill. Coffee Break Service operated one and a half routes and had five employees. Coffee Break Service was founded in 1962 by Fred Sapperstein and was incorporated in 1989 by Fred Sapperstein and the late Winnie Sapperstein and their son, Steve Sapperstein. North Shore Inudstrial Vending was founded 30 years ago by Jerry Spathis, president, and operated eight routes which will fold into Canteen’s existing business.

Jammin Java partners with BC Coffee

›    Jammin Java Corp. has partnered with BC Coffee & Supplies, Inc. for distribution of its coffee lines in Florida. BC Coffee’s distribution hub will also be providing coffee to Jammin Java’s customers in the Caribbean. BC Coffee has been in business for over 30 years and is the largest office coffee service (OCS)/breakroom distributor in the Southeastern U.S. and currently distributes coffee and associated products to over 300 OCS/vending companies throughout Florida.

Vending repair program moves to new Philadelphia school

›  The vending repair technician training program at Edison Fareira High School in Philadelphia, Pa. has moved to the Randolph Skills Center in Philadelphia. The Randolph Skills Center is located on Henry Avenue about four miles from Edison Fareira High School, according to Bud Burke, who is an advisory board member for the program. Burke said the board was not satisfied with the manner in which the program was being managed at Edison Fareira High School.

At the Randolph Skills Center, Burke said the program will have the necessary support from the school’s administration.

Inc. names Cantaloupe among 500 fastest growing firms

› For the third year running, Inc. Magazine has named Cantaloupe Systems, Inc., one of the “500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America” in its annual listing in its September issue. Cantaloupe Systems was the only vending technology provider on the Top-500 list.