For some it is hard to believe that the Automatic Vending Association (AVA) was 75 years old in May 2004. The AVA began life as the Coin Operated Machine Association on 31 May 1929, established to combat the prohibitive licensing of machines on shop forecourts and the use of fraudulent coins or tokens. Appropriately, the Association Secretary who was asked to liaise with the Royal Mint on this coinage issue just happened to be called Mr Cash.

Vending did not start in 1929 although by then it had become more like the vending that we are familiar with today. The first recorded example of a vending machine dates back to 215 BC where
Hero of Alexandria designed a holy water vending machine. A small coin inserted into the machine dropped onto a lever that fell under its weight raising a capped cylinder at the other end of the lever. This movement allowed water to pass out of the machine until the coin dropped from the lever and the weight of the cylinder returned to its place. It is not known if Hero actually built this machine but we know it works. Just a year ago Suffolk mixed media artist Tim Sidell was commissioned by a local vending operator to build a ‘replica’. As Tim’s work featured religious themes and had previously used vending technology, it was the perfect match. The fabulous vessel now takes pride of place in the company’s new reception where it collects charity donations.

Less glamorously, the 17th century saw Honour Boxes in the pubs. While the staff busied themselves serving food and drink, patrons would buy their tobacco from the box. Inserting a halfpenny would open the lid and they would be on their honour to close it after they had taken their pinch. The penalty for not closing was a hefty 6d. Cigarette machines clearly do the same job today but rely less on the customer’s honesty.

The principle of supporting a busy catering service is evident from this Honour Box example and it is this function that has primarily driven vending to be the thriving industry that it is today. With today’s hectic pace of life we require food and drink almost everywhere and at any time. Catering has experienced considerable growth over the last decade providing for this growing need. As a result vending has followed. The AVA Census 2002 shows continued growth with some half a million refreshment vending machines now in operation in the UK. It is estimated that £1.5 billion passes through the slot each year and that’s not including subsidies or free vends in the workplace.

The AVA Census has gained great respect over its life and is used by Mintel, Keynote, Datamonitor and Euromonitor for their industry reports and by many companies in – or researching – the vending industry as part of their strategic planning. The rise in tabletop machines, the proliferation of can vendors and the opportunity for snack vending have all been visible in the Census figures.

Catering resources are increasingly stretched, with more 24-hour working, legislation such as the minimum wage, working time directive and fairness at work and the well-documented skills shortage all contributing to pressure on the industry. It is at this point that vending comes into its own: in schools where 600–700 pupils have to be fed in 40 minutes, in call centres where round-the-clock provision is required, in blue-chip companies where a canteen in each building is no longer viable.

The replacement of canteens with vending suites is a massive trend. With canteen costs becoming prohibitive, companies are investing in beautifully shop-fitted units with modern machines dispensing, for example, bean-to-cup coffee and high street-style baguettes or paninis. The choice of products and the setting is important for giving a quality experience to staff. Not only does this satisfy the need for refreshment but also discourages staff from leaving the premises to be held up by queues in the local cafés and shops. The investment in these suites and breakout rooms is important. There is no place for the single poorly-maintained machine located on the back staircase next to the toilets. Quality vending facilities encourage use and satisfy the user.

Since 1929 AVA has been concerned with quality, with one of its stated objectives being to improve continually the quality of vending. With this in mind AVA members are audited annually through the AVA Quality System, similar to ISO but specifically designed for vending companies. Member companies are expelled for non-compliance. This means that the AVA logo, which can only be displayed by full AVA member companies who have passed the audit, is a badge of quality and a guarantee for customers. In fact many buying organisations and companies are specifying AVA membership in their tender documents for this very reason.

Although AVA members are primarily involved in refreshment vending it is worth noting that vending machines can sell a huge range of products. Considerations are generally: how will the product be packaged, what storage does it require and how fragile is it? There is also the question of how to pay.

No longer are you required to have the right change to pay for your purchase except for small machines with limited internal space e.g. parking meters. Coin mechanisms with change-givers are extremely sophisticated microprocessors that examine the coins for size, weight and electronic footprint. No doubt Mr Cash would be highly excited to see how far this technology has come. Until recently the coin mechanism was the electronic heart of the machine but new protocols have brought the machines themselves to life and the coin mechanism is relegated to an accessory. Now fitted with telephone technology – mobile or landline – a vending machine can report its status, stock levels or faults to a friendly telephone, computer or website. It can accept cash and debit or credit card payments.

You can vend from a machine with your mobile telephone but while this is technically possible, the telephone companies are still busy ‘agreeing’ how to provide the service across all networks. In the meantime this delay means that credit cards are moving into the leading position for the future as the big banks see an opportunity and are getting their micropayments sorted. On the horizon is machine-to-machine payment as systems such as Bluetooth become more and more integrated into current technology. Without looking too much further, web-enabled machines are also being explored for their potential. A computer that serves you a cappuccino at a pre-programmed time while you watch a DVD may sound like a toy for the future but it is here already.

Confused by the endless possibilities? These days there are few completely new vending sites but there is a never-ending parade of specifiers and purchasers of vending and vending services. Vending is an infrequent purchase for most and although simple in principle, as we have seen, can become a complex process with a diverse number of issues to be considered depending on site and situation. AVA has addressed this matter with a publication called Explaining Vending – free on application from AVA and accessible on the website (see below). It demystifies the process of purchasing vending and it is well worth casting your eye over this brochure even if you are not a beginner.

The future for vending

We operate in a society with increasing expectations, changing desires, fast-moving technology and demanding legislation but we still need to eat and drink and the chances are that vending will always be there to help, 24 hours a day. But the future for vending is probably still written in the past. That simple principle of convenience and flexibility that has held strong over the lifetime of vending will surely continue. The challenge to be faced is how effective will it remain in such a fast-changing world? But for an industry with innovation and imagination, vending has never looked or tasted better.

Further information
Please visit: www.ava-vending.org