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NewsAll Star Services, Inc. Announces Management ChangesJanuary 24, 2009 - All Star Services, Inc. announces the promotion of Duncan Smith to the newly created position of Vice President of Operations and Dan Kilbourne to the position of Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations. Duncan Smith joined All Star Services, Inc. full time in 2006 as the Operations Manager. He was responsible for the purchasing duties and day-to-day operations in Port Huron. Duncan is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Economics in 2004, and a MasterÕs degree in Accounting in 2006. Smith also passed his CPA exam in the fall of 2006. Duncan will be responsible for all operations at All StarÕs facilities in Port Huron and Saginaw, Michigan. Dan Kilbourne joined All Star Services, Inc. in May 2002 as an Account Executive. He handled new sales and key account management for All StarÕs four Southeastern Michigan locations. He is a 2008 graduate of Baker College with a degree in Human Resources Management. All Star Services, Inc. is a full service vending company serving customers in 18 counties in Southern Michigan with operations in Port Huron, Saginaw, Sterling Heights and Cass City. Two VMI Members Honored by NAMANovember 2008 - During the National Automatic Merchandisers Association (NAMA) Annual Meeting held October 15 to 17, two owners of VMI member companies were presented with prestigious industry awards at the Industry Awards Banquet. The banquet held in the Majestic Ballroom of the Renaissance Grand Hotel was attended by hundreds of vending industry leaders. The VMI member honorees are - Marcus Whitener, President, Refreshment Solutions, LLC, Norco, LA Geoff Paul, President, Excelso Coffee Co and Atlanta Vending, Atlanta, GA VMI is honored to have these two outstanding industry professionals as members of our organization. We thank them for their contribution to the industry and appreciate their valued participation in VMI. Treat America Food Service Acquires Calderon Brothers VendingNovember 2008 - Treat America Food Service, based in Merriam, Kansas, acquired the assets of Calderon Brothers Vending of Indianapolis, Indiana on November 17, 2008. Calderon Brothers Vending is the largest independent vending machine operator in Indiana operating more than 5,000 vending machines as well as five corporate cafeterias. Treat America will combine the operations of Calderon Brothers with their recently acquired Indiana business, Capital Vending and The Café Group. “We are very excited to continue our expansion into Indiana and to team up with Calderon Brothers,¿ said John Mitchell, Jr, President, Treat America Food Service. He continued to say, ¿Calderon Brothers Vending is a tremendous organization with great team members, solid clients, and high quality assets. We look forward to combining our two great companies to create what I believe will be the best food service company in the Midwest.” Coffee is more Healthful than HarmfulOctober 2008 - Coffee lovers rejoice! To the hundreds of millions of Americans who grab a cup of java every day, the latest research findings show that your morning cup of joe might have better health implications than originally thought! It turns out that coffee is a rich source of disease fighting antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our food and drinks that can prevent or slow oxidative damage to our body. Antioxidants may also enhance your immunity to disease and lower your risk of cancer and infection, so drink up. Drinking coffee may also reduce cavities, enhance athletic performance, improve moods, stop headaches, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, liver cancer, gall stones, cirrhosis of the liver, and Parkinson's disease. More than 19,000 studies have been conducted over the years that have looked at the health impact of drinking coffee. According to Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, the research shows that, "coffee is more healthful than harmful." Always play it safe and keep your daily intake moderate. If you experience rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations or other symptoms, talk to your physician about your caffeine intake. Wellness Warriors
October 2008 - Stansfield Vending is pushing their healthy weight around, and for good reason. A new and innovative Wellness Warriors program has been implemented in hopes that employees and customers will adopt a healthier lifestyle. Janet Stansfield Hess states, "Employers are providing incentives for healthy employees and we are complimenting those strategies with Wellness Warriors, The Right Choice For A Healthier You and the 500 Club health and nutrition programs - Our goal is to kick it up a notch." The goal of the Wellness Warriors program, that was developed March 2008, was to provide dual pricing. A sin tax was placed on unhealthy items and subsidized pricing on healthier items. The healthier items are those that meet The Right Choice For A Healthier You nutrition program guidelines in addition to the 500 Club. The Wellness Warriors program is a choice offered to clients that exists solely in snack machines. In addition, Stansfield Vending is providing a Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy (FVD) line in food machines that provides these products for a mere 50 cents. This follows the Wellness Warriors initiatives and provides one entire line of FVD items in 100% of all food machines in use at client locations. Food products include green beans, carrots and celery, corn, apples, oranges, plums, string cheese, and yogurt. "The program began in July 2008 and encourages healthy eating at a reasonable price even though food prices are escalating" states Janet. The time is now for health initiatives and company partnership to meet! Get involved with The Right Choice For A Healthier You nutrition program and look for additional opportunities with your clients. New and innovative ideas, like Wellness Warriors, are what will be recognized as the future of vending. Be PreparedOctober 2008 - "Be prepared" is not only a scouting slogan but clearly applies to the vending and food service industry when it comes to emergency preparedness! Emergencies can take many forms, hurricanes, floods, wild fires, food borne illnesses, terrorism, etc. We are all in a critical support industry when any of these disasters strike our communities and our members. The summer of 2008 presented many challenges. It began with tropical storm Fay that sought out as many Corporate Services facilities as it could. Heavy tropical rains made travel difficult throughout northern Florida for almost a week but other than a few roof leaks, no major damage. Then another tropical storm named Hanna brought rain and winds to the area serviced by Food Express in the Carolinas. The entire country held it's breath as Hurricane Gustav approached the New Orleans area served by Refreshment Services. A massive evacuation of virtually the entire population of the service area resulted in a week long interruption of service. Through great planning and above and beyond cooperation of the entire staff, Refreshment Services not only survived the storm but was in a position to be there to service emergency personnel and workers as they returned to their places of employment. Just as New Orleans was beginning to recover, Hurricane Ike moved into the Gulf. The storm slammed into the Galveston / Houston area creating unbelievable devastation and loss of life. A perfect storm scenario of weather patterns then took the remnants of Hurricane Ike and blasted parts of the Midwest with sustained tropical storm winds. Sanese Services in Columbus, Ohio lost power for a brief period, but many client locations were without electricity for days. Who would have thought that a tropical storm could hit Ohio? Not knowing what the future holds, we must prepare for any circumstance. "The most important thing to establish is how employees can communicate with the company during and after disasters because without employees you cannot execute any emergency plan" said Jimmy Deal, an executive with Refreshment Solutions. Within 72 hours of the landfall of Hurricane Gustav, 25% of the staff of Refreshment Solutions was available even though most did not have electricity or other services at their homes. Advance planning enabled a communication system that allowed Refreshment Solutions to be back on their feet well before the region even let evacuees back in. Companies must plan evacuation routes as well as potential re-entry and access routes to get employees back. Emergency fuel sourcing must be established in advance. Off-site back-up computer servers should be established to create safe copies of all corporate records. An off-site web site should be established for emergency communications. Alternate supply sources should be established in case your local suppliers are also affected by the disaster and are unable to provide your needs. Clients must be contacted to establish their needs prior and/or post any disaster. Affiliates should have a list of emergency responders that your company services so that you can provide the increased services needed during emergency recovery. The US Government has a site www.disaster-recovery-guide.com that can be very helpful in establishing a plan for your company. The time to plan is now! Like the scouts say "Be Prepared". Yum! Brands to Post Calorie InformationOctober 2008 - Yum! Brands, parent to Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and other restaurant brands, has announced that it will immediately begin to post the calorie content of selections on the menu boards at 4,000 restaurants nationwide. The system wide rollout is expected to be complete by 2011. Just another indication of the power of the revolution in the eating habits of Americans! VMI is currently ahead of the curve regarding nutrition with our The Right Choice¿for a Healthier You campaign! Make sure the program is properly merchandised at all of your client locations. Green TipOctober 2008 - A great way to reduce waste while at work is to drink your beverages out of re-usable mugs and insulated cups instead of using disposable alternatives like Styrofoam cups and bottled water. Styrofoam is made out of fossil fuels, and takes thousands of years to decompose. Americans alone throw away over 25 billion Styrofoam cups per year. 2.0 to 2.7 million tons of plastic are used per year to make bottles for bottled water. It takes about .6 gallons of oil to produce 2.2 pounds of plastic used for PET bottled water bottles. That equates to 21.4 million barrels of oil per year to make PET bottles. As part of the VMI, The Right Choice for Earth Program, insulated mugs with the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle logo are being developed for purchase. Think of all of the waste that can be prevented and money that can be saved if all employees drank out of re-usable mugs! To take this initiative even further, look into providing some type of re-usable alternative for your customers who use cup machines. A Letter from our DietitianOctober 2008 - VMI's The Right Choice For A Healthier You nutrition program supports three nutrition trends for successful weight management and the prevention of cronic health problems:
I monitor and supervise The Right Choice For A Healthier You program on a continuing basis to make sure we meet and exceed the nutrition goals of our clients and customers. Sincerely, Vend Marketing Institute, Cantaloupe Systems, and Sprout announce strategic partnership to bring technology and consumer value to unattended retail locations.St. Louis, MO - October 15th, 2008 - Today the Vending Marketing Institute (VMI), Cantaloupe Systems and Sprout announced a strategic partnership to embed technology, improve operational efficiency and develop interactive consumer programs for unattended retail locations. As part of this process, the VMI group will deploy telemetry and cashless services across its network of approximately 60,000 vending machines. Cantaloupe Systems will support these deployments with their award winning Seed® services platform, including the company's new Seed® Cashless service. In partnership with Sprout, the group has also agreed to co-operatively develop and deploy a series of new consumer features that will greatly enhance the value proposition for consumers and sites. In support of these efforts, the group will attempt to lead industry consensus on a series of open architecture technology standards that will reduce the associated risks and provide greater flexibility in the deployment of technology throughout the industry. "This is an extremely exciting opportunity." said Jeff Witaker, president of VMI. "These efforts will allow the VMI group to fully deliver on its mission of driving change in the vending industry. We believe we are now on a path to fundamentally change what consumers expect from the vending experience." As part of these efforts, all VMI operators will fully implement Cantaloupe¿s suite of vending applications, including remote monitoring, dynamic routing, cash accountability and machine alert services as well as several new applications currently under development. Mandeep Arora, CEO of Cantaloupe Systems remarked, "Cantaloupe is proud to partner with VMI and Sprout in driving change from within the industry. We¿ve worked diligently over the past five years to refine our applications to demonstrate a meaningful value proposition for full line operators. This partnership is a testament to the vision of VMI members, a recognition of the dedication of our team, and a sign our commitment to provide leadership within the industry." Take A Break Services divests their vending operationsAugust 2008 - Take A Break Services based in Escondido, CA divested their vending operations as of August 1, 2008. The corporation will continue to operate as an office coffee service company throughout southern California. With the change in the business structure, Ron Reinhardt, owner of Take A Break, resigned their membership in VMI at last weeks VMI owner's meeting held in Detroit, MI. Ron stated to the group, "one of the saddest things about this business change is the resignation from VMI and this forum of vending operators." All of the owners of VMI member companies wish Ron and his wife Barb the best and a healthy and rewarding retirement! Ron has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the vending and OCS industry and VMI as well as the rest of the industry, will miss his counsel, friendship and expertise. Aroma Dolce OCS Program LaunchJuly 2008 - Vend Marketing Institute conducted an educational seminar at Belterra Resort in early June, attended by representatives from most of our member companies, to assist with the nationwide roll-out of the exclusive Aroma Dolce Coffee brand. Geoff Paul, Dan Lane, Barton Shaw and Allen Shaw, representatives of our Aroma Dolce coffee roaster, presented various educational sessions. The attendees participated in round-table discussions focusing on OCS topics involving operations and sales. A highlight of the two say seminar was a presentation by a green coffee specialist and coffee importer, Bill Madary of International Coffee Corporation. Bill's presentation covered the cultivation, harvesting and processing of green coffee (unroasted coffee is referred to as green coffee in the trade). Bill also conducted a coffee cupping! Prior to selecting coffees for use in a blend, each specific coffee needs to be "cupped", or tasted and evaluated. During this cupping, coffees are tasted for both desirable qualities and defects. A premium blend such as our Aroma Dolce Coffee can only use a fraction of available coffees to arrive at the gourmet taste that our clients deserve and expect. Prior to shipping coffee to the roasting plant, importers, such as Bill, evaluate hundreds of samples, presenting only a few for consideration by our roasters. Once coffees have arrived at the Aroma Dolce coffee roasting plant, they are again "cupped" by our roasters. Only the finest green coffees are expertly blended to create the Aroma Dolce blends. Four VMI - OCS supplier partners participated in the meeting and introduced the attendees to specialized OCS equipment, supplies and related products. The seminar concluded with demonstrations of sales techniques to help the VMI OCS sales and marketing team present the "Barista Approved Aroma Dolce" coffee to potential clients nationwide.
VMI is making the Right Choice for EarthJuly 2008 is the kick off for an exciting initiative created for VMI called The Right Choice for Earth. This program focuses on raising awareness about making the right "green" choices for our environment, lifestyles, and businesses. The goal is to promote sustainable business practices by identifying and sharing innovative methods, offering policy recommendations, and encouraging customers and associates to incorporate resource conservation and green practices into our businesses, offices, homes, and communities, in order to create healthier lifestyles, and save money for everyone involved. This program will serve as a type of "jump start," in order to educate and motivate each company to begin the involved journey toward following a new "Environmentally Aware" way of life. Everyone involved in the program needs to understand that what is trying to be accomplished is not something that happens overnight, but with dedication a great difference can be made. The key to the success of this program is to set attainable and measurable goals. The plan consists of three separate missions that will be rolled out in phases, and will last three months each. Each phase outlines a plan of action for a specific environmental focus in which each VMI company and associates will participate. Results from the different phases will be collected and benchmarked to show the progress that each company is making. It is important that once a phase begins, it should not come to an end. It should remain a constant part of business protocol, as well each participant's lifestyle, going forward. The mission includes: Before rolling out Phase 1, each VMI company will establish an Environmental Impact Committee if they have not already done so. This group of people will consist of a good mix of associates representing different areas of each business, and will be imperative in making this effort a success. This group will be responsible for rolling out this program to all associates, as well effectively marketing it to consumers. The program also touches on a number of social responsibility aspects including green certification, donating to and supporting green causes, and the promotion of sustainable purchasing practices. The Right Choice for Earth is an exciting, educational opportunity that comes at a time of great importance. Environmental Awareness has become highly visible in today's world. How individual companies respond to these trends and times of change will influence their profitability and longevity. Market trends are forecasting that in the near future it will be economically inefficient not to be "green". Green Tip:Companies such as SM Engineering can be brought in to evaluate your utility bills and make sure you are being charged correctly. They come up with ways to reduce your bills and are compensated just by keeping 50% of the savings. Contact them in order to receive a free analysis of your utility bills. Utilizing one of these services not only helps the environment, but your pocketbook as well! Hats off to The Konop Companies for initiating and reaping the benefits of this program! Letter from the Executive DirectorDear VMI Associates, As everyone sees in the national and local media on a daily basis, we are faced with immense challenges regarding energy, our environment and basic food costs increases. To address these issues head-on, VMI asked a committee to create a campaign oriented towards promoting sustainable operating practices through conservation and reducing waste. I want to congratulate the committee on developing what is an industry leading program regarding stewardship by our member companies of our planet! Yes, we must all make The Right Choice for Earth! We must do so as we conduct our roles in business, and we must also do so in our lives away from work. The Right Choice for Earth begins with the simple request to turn off unnecessary light! This can be extended to turning off unnecessary heat and air conditioning. It's as simple as what our mothers used to tell us, turn off the lights when you leave a room and close the doors to keep the heat in the house! Common sense! Over the coming year many additional ideas will be promoted to reduce, reuse and recycle. Simple things, common sense, that must be woven into our daily being! Chris Stave Nutrition Trends That Will Influence The Vending/Foodservice IndustryApril 1, 2008 - What do our customers really want to eat? Are they choosing food from the vending machine or foodservice menu that they really enjoy the taste of, or is it pure convenience during a lunch or snack break. Most likely both. Where are we headed in the next few years as our consumers change their eating habits, either because they want to, or that they have to, based on health reasons or insurance plans. The Right Choice For A Healthier You Program (TRC) is designed to meet the nutrition criteria from leading medical groups in the industry with the intention of pulling together a comprehensive nutrition program that our customers can have confidence in. In joint partnership we are also following the nutrition trends being predicted from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) out of New York. A few trends to consider:
In working with food distributors like US Foods and their test kitchen chefs who are also affiliated with CIA, we are able to create new TRC recipes using new creative foods as well as foods that have been in the system for numerous years yet without the nutrition attention they deserve. We are developing and promoting the TRC program at an ideal time as consumers are adjusting to permanent nutrition choices they can rely on. The TRC program is progressive compared with today's nutrition trends, if not a step ahead! By building relationships with our suppliers, the health industry, and our consumers - we can make health happen!
A letter from our PresidentApril 1, 2008 - VMI would like to give Mr. John Mitchell from Treat America a special thank you for serving as our President over the last several years. John was instrumental in developing the structure needed to successfully run an organization like VMI. With that structure now in place John will step down as President so that he can devote more time and energy to the expansion of Treat America, but will continue to participate on the Executive Committee. I would like to personally thank John for lending his professional insight and knowledge to the organization which truly demonstrates his belief in VMI. As VMI continues to mature, we will encounter new obstacles and opportunities that collectively we will tackle. The entrepreneurial spirits of VMI combined with group solidarity are a proven recipe for success. I am honored to serve as the next President of VMI and will do my best to forge a path for the continued development of friendships, prosperity and integrity. Jeff Whitacre "Talk the talk...and walk the walk!"April 1, 2008 - Ralph Sanese, President of Sanese Services, is so supportive of the VMI The Right Choice initiative that he recently announced several company programs that truly embrace the concept of a healthier lifestyle. "You have to talk the talk and walk the walk if you expect your associates to embody the initiative that we are endorsing," said Ralph recently. To exhibit his support, he announced a "Biggest Loser at Sanese" contest as well as made the generous offer to provide free apples and oranges in company break rooms at select occasions. To further support the healthy initiative, Ralph redecorated his Columbus break room and installed new machine fronts all emblazoned with the Right Choice logos.
Stansfield Vending makes AcquisitionApril 1, 2008 - VMI Member Stansfield Vending, based in La Crosse, WI, recently acquired Witt Vending, a Wisconsin company serving hundreds of customers in the Winona and Eau Claire region of Wisconsin. Stansfield Vending will achieve efficiencies by combining the routes and services of the two companies. Congratulations to Joe and Pete Cordaro!April 1, 2008 - The March issue of Automatic Merchandiser features an extensive article about CRH - Catering, a VMI member company. The key theme of the article concerns the change that CRH - Catering has undergone as the company grew to be a major regional player, and the continuing flexibility that the owners must maintain to remain a viable industry leader. Freshly prepared food has played a major role in the growth and expansion of the company.
Carnation - Coffee-Mate Contest Winners!April 1, 2008 - After a year long national promotion of Carnation Coffee-Mate products, two VMI member company employees have been awarded prizes! Based on the success of the entire OCS route and supervision staff of VMI members in promoting the designated coffee-mate products, Carnation awarded two prizes to VMI. A drawing was held on February 19th, and the winners are - Ed Talley, an OCS sales representative for Sanese Services, and Rich Spicl, an OCS specialist for Treat America Food Service. Both employees and their guests will spend five days in Cancun, Mexico enjoying the sun, fun and surf! Congratulations to both! Western Omelet Pita The Right Choice!April 1, 2008 - Kangaroo Brands and VMI have teamed up to create a delicious and healthy breakfast selection! The Western Style Omelet Pita is now available! Served in a fresh baked pita is a two egg omelet containing sausage, cheese, bell peppers and onions! Carmen Gorniak, VMI Dietitian, assisted in the development of this absolutely delicious breakfast that can be enjoyed on the go, and meets The Right Choice Nutrition Guidelines!
VMI Welcomes Three New MembersJanuary 1, 2008 - Vend Marketing Institute is proud to welcome three new members to our organization. As of January 1, 2008, CRH - Catering Company, Connellsville, PA, Kwik Vending Service, Salt Lake City, UT, and Refreshment Solutions, Norco, LA have joined our twelve existing members expanding our service area to include the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Utah. The geographic expansion of VMI is significant, but we have not lost our focus on building an organization purely of the finest regional vending and food service companies. KWIK Vending Service was incorporated in the state of Utah in1953. KWIK is locally owned and has operated successfully for the past 55 years. KWIK has become the largest independent full service vending company in Utah operating 18 vending routes and one office coffee refreshment route. Kwik Vending Service attributes their success to excellent customer service provided by a dedicated and hard working staff. Because of this dedication to the customer and the experience offered, KWIK is the vending service company of choice by a majority of the largest companies in Utah. CRH - Catering was founded in 1968 by Guy J. Cordaro in Connellsville, PA having just one major account, Anchor Hocking Glass. The company enjoyed rapid expansion and today has eight operating divisions located in Connellsville, PA, Altoona, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Allentown, PA, Cumberland, MD, Morgantown, WV, Norfolk, VA and Richmond, VA. One of the strengths of the company is that each division is locally staffed and managed, yet has the ongoing support of a responsive headquarters staff, distribution organization and Central Food Commissary. Due to outstanding service and dedication to client satisfaction, many leading companies located in the CRH service area have joined Anchor Hocking Glass as clients of CRH - Catering. Refreshment Solutions was founded in 1989 by Marcus Whitener. Over the past 19 years the company has developed into the leading vending service provider throughout the greater New Orleans area with a recent expansion to Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lake Charles. The biggest challenge for Refreshment Solutions was Hurricane Katrina which devastated the entire region serviced by the company. Refreshment Solutions reopened within days of the hurricane and assisted in relief efforts throughout the region and emerged as a stronger, more focused organization leading to dynamic growth. Refreshment Solutions is focused on using the latest technology to improve client service providing instantaneous on the spot delivery for their customers refreshment needs. Poised to service the entire Louisiana market from the new headquarters facility in Norco, Refreshment Solutions strives to provide the highest quality service at affordable prices. Congratulations Marc WhitenerJanuary 1, 2008 - Marc Whitener, CEO of Refreshment Solutions, was named the Vending Operator of the Year by Automatic Merchandiser Readers' Choice Awards for 2007. Marc's commitment to technology and employee development led to this honor. Congratulations Mark BuddJanuary 1, 2008 - Mark Budd, director of the foodservice and vending division of Snyder's of Hanover was named Manufacturer of the Year. Snyder's is a valued supplier partner of VMI and we appreciate Mark's commitment to the industry. All Star Services Conducts Pepsi / Harley Give-AwayJanuary 1, 2008 - All Star Services recently conducted a client promotion program sponsored by Pepsi culminating in the give-away of a brand new Harley ¿ Davidson Motorcycle! Forty eight contestants won keys, and lucky Lori Anderson had the key that started the Harley! Congratulations to Lori and to the entire All Star team for conducting such a fun and exciting promotion! Pictured above, from left to right, Jeff Smith, President, All Star Services, Lori Anderson, Harley Winner, Jamie Jones, VP, All Star Services, Duncan Smith, Operations and Purchasing Manager, All Star Services.
The Right Choice Program ImplementationOctober 1, 2007 - The Right Choice...for a Healthier You (TRC) program is currently being implemented at client locations nationwide. The TRC program is a nutritional guideline program emphasizing sensible nutrition choices, nutrition education and a healthy active lifestyle. The program was developed under the guidance of Carmen Gorniak, RD, CD, the staff dietitian for VMI. Carmen is working closely with our suppliers to identify products that meet our guidelines as well as develop new products and recipes that achieve that needed balance of great taste and good nutrition. An implementation guide is available along with a program promotion piece. Healthier snacking and eating is gaining momentum nationally! We need to provide our clients with access to the healthier alternatives! Savor the FlavorOctober 1, 2007 - There is a coffee buzz in the air! The word is out, a new, tastier, more satisfying, smoother, richer, earth friendly, gourmet coffee is available! Baristas all over are asking for Aroma Dolce! Italian inspiration, South and Central American plantation excellence, good old American roasting craftsmanship all merge in this outstanding line of premium coffees. Vend Marketing Institute Establishes Nutrition Guidelines for VendingLouisville, KY - March 27, 2007 - Vend Marketing Institute, LLC (VMI), has developed a comprehensive nutrition guideline program for vending and is currently implementing the program at vending clients throughout the country. The program, named "The Right Choice…for a Healthier You!" ™, focuses on nutrition education, promoting an active lifestyle and the availability of nutritious choices when making vending selections. The nutrition guideline program encompasses beverages, snacks and food products vended at business and industry client locations serviced by VMI member companies. Dietitian Carmen Gorniak, RD, CD, developed the comprehensive guidelines based on recommendations, studies and guidelines published by organizations such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration, American Heart Association, Alliance for a Healthier Generation – Clinton Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences. The guideline program, along with nutrition education, is oriented towards better eating for the prevention of chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Point of purchase materials focus on the USDA program www.myPyramid.gov, as well as clearly identifying products that meet the established guidelines. The guidelines are displayed at all participating client locations. Initially up to 30% of the vended products at client locations will be from the selection of products that meet the guidelines. VMI conducted a detailed review of nearly 2,000 products commonly available in vending machines and created a directory of products that meet our guidelines. "We continue to work with our manufacturers on offering a larger selection of products that meet these guidelines. As client interest grows, so will the selection and variety of products available," says Carmen Gorniak. A major challenge is the selection of food and entrée items that achieve the goals of the guidelines. Much of what is available today in the way of "healthier" products was produced to address a specific diet. Typically, these products do not meet our all encompassing guidelines. This issue is being addressed by producing food items that meet our guidelines in our own network of commissaries based on recipes developed by our dietitian. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the vending industry to take a leadership position regarding nutrition," says Chris Stave, Executive Director of Vend Marketing Institute. "Vending has always been about quality, convenience and service and now we can enhance that by actively promoting nutrition education, an active lifestyle and clearly identified nutritious vending selections." "Diocesan St Vincent de Paul Society has record year - Over 40 years - Sanese Services, Inc has been the primary source"We like to share "good news" with our customers and let you know just one of the things that our company does to support the community. We have partnered with the Diocesan St. Vincent de Paul society for over 40 years. The diocesan SVDP was founded in 1948; our company in 1946. A major operation of the diocesan SVDP Society is St Lawrence Haven, which last year provided free lunches to more than 92,000 people. "For more than 40 years, Sanese Services, Inc. has been – and continues to be – a primary source of the Haven's donated food that includes prepackaged sandwiches and snacks." Download the article by clicking here (2.5mb PDF). Ten Consecutive Quarters Of ComplianceThe member companies of Vend Marketing Institute have just completed their tenth consecutive quarter of compliance with supplier commitment partnerships. Louisville, KY, February 12, 2007 -- A unique aspect of Vend Marketing Institute, LLC, (VMI) is the formation of commitment based supplier partnerships with a limited number of key product suppliers to the vending industry. VMI developed this concept during its founding and has expanded this program from three initial partnerships to the current eight programs. VMI members commit to specific performance levels as a group, and through that performance enjoy greater product value. "We do what we say we are going to do through direct communication between the owners of our member companies and executives of the leading suppliers to the industry, and then continuous internal tracking of results," says Chris Stave, Executive Director of VMI. Daryl Thomas, Pierre Foods Director of Packaged Food Sales, involved with VMI from the beginning, stated, "VMI does what it says it will do! Same machine product sales have increased substantially and we look forward to continued growth!" Establishing reasonable growth expectations and creating mutually beneficial relationships between vend operators and product suppliers, is a key to the long term success of VMI and its member companies. Other long term initiatives for VMI are, the desire to enhance the integrity of the industry, embracing the evolving technologies that may make our businesses more efficient, and being recognized as a leader in providing nutrition choices for our clients. The ultimate goal for VMI members is to provide better service for our clients at an enhanced value. About VMI VMI, founded in 2003, is now comprised of twelve independent regional vending and food service operators serving clients nationwide. VMI leverages the combined strength of the member companies to enhance current purchasing opportunities and future operations of the member companies. Double digit annual growth and membership expansion is expected to continue for the next several years. Contact: Chris Stave, Executive Director, Vend Marketing Institute "All Star Services, Inc. Acquires Consolidated Vendors Corporation of Southeastern, Michigan"December 4, 2006 All Star Services, Inc., a Vending / Foodservice / Coffee Service provider based in Port Huron, Michigan, recently acquired the assets of Consolidated Vendors Corporation of Southeastern Michigan for an undisclosed sum. According to Jeffery R. Smith, President of All Star Services, Inc., this makes the second acquisition for All Star Services, Inc. over the past 6 months of 2006 and the 5th acquisition over the past 10 years. All Star Services, Inc. is hiring 15 of the Consolidated Vendors Corporation employees. This acquisition will cause All Star Services, Inc. to move from their current facility in Shelby to a larger building in Sterling Heights. All Star Services, Inc. is an independent vending & foodservice company with facilities located in Port Huron, Sterling Heights, Cass City & Saginaw operating in 16 counties throughout southeastern Michigan. 2006 NAMA Chairman's Legislative AwardThe National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has awarded Bob Oplaski, Ken Zydek and Tom Whennen of the Illinois Automatic Merchandising Council (IAMC) its 2006 Chairman's Legislative Award. Brian Allen, NAMA counsel and director of government affairs, presented the award at the IAMC board of governors budget meeting in November. According to Allen, the award recognizes excellence in legislative and government affairs activities on behalf of the vending, office coffee and foodservice industries. In discussing the award Allen said, "The IAMC successfully lobbied for the passage of state legislation to limit municipal license fee increases. Effective last June 30th, the law says such increases are limited annually to the greater of $25, the amount of the fee multiplied by 5 percent, or the amount of the fee multiplied by the Consumer Price Index." Where the only constant is change Vending-machine operator Sanese serves new clients with varied businesses, expanding menusTuesday, December 19, 2006  
Ralph Sanese Jr. is a tough guy to reach this time of year. The Christmas season is hectic for his family's business, Sanese Services Inc., especially considering the large number of corporate parties the company is catering. He likes to be on the scene for as many of these big events as possible, especially those of major customers. "I want to make sure everything is right," said Sanese, 53, the company's president. "Ours is a demanding business, but it is very much a people business." The company began as a small vending operation 60 years ago and continues to branch out. These days, Sanese Services not only has vending and catering divisions, but operates an office coffee business and dozens of corporate, school and college cafeterias and dining rooms. The vending division, which makes up half of the company's business, offers an increasing number of products and categories for customers. "It used to be the (soda) machine had a Coke and a Sprite and a Fanta grape," Sanese said. "Now you have six to eight types of Coke, alone," along with a multitude of other products. Meanwhile, the company has added numerous new food products, both for vending and catering, including those for health-conscious consumers who demand organic items. "You're always looking to improve what you are selling for your clients," Sanese said. Part of that is because the company has plenty of competition, ranging from dozens of vending firms, mostly momand-pop operations, to big food-service corporations, such as Aramark. "There are lots of providers, and in many cases they are selling the same products" at similar prices, said Richard Geerdes, president and CEO of the National Automated Machine American, a vending trade group based in Chicago. Because the profit margin is low in vending and capital costs for the machines are high, success for a company "really comes down to the service and the relationships, like Sanese has." Based in a 120,000-squarefoot building at 6465 Busch Blvd., Sanese Services has offices in a half dozenOhio cities. The company employs 850 and has 1,500 customers. It recorded sales of $54 million last year, according to Food Management magazine. As many as 15 Sanese family members have served with the company, and now there are four: Ralph Jr.; his brothers Chic, who runs the vending business in Columbus, and Jeff, who leads the coffee business in Columbus; and a sister, Deb Compson, the liaison for Worthington Industries. The company's early days are encapsulated in a nondescript, black-and-white photo from the 1940s that hangs on a wall just past the lobby of the Sanese Services headquarters. It shows two shirtless, confident young men on either side of a 1942 Crosley truck. They are Ralph's father, Ralph Sr., and uncle, Al, who began the business in 1946 after returning from World War II. The brothers were given some money and two cigarette vending machines from their restaurateur father, Alfred, to provide them with some income while they attended college. They made so much money from the machines that they left school to go into business full time. The company began putting food vending machines into manufacturing plants in the 1950s to compete with catering trucks, and later added a catering service. Ralph Jr. became president in 1991, and continued to expand the business. His father was chairman until he died in 2000. Al, who retired in the 1980s, died two years earlier. Rod Calhoun to attend NAMA Executive Development ProgramSeveral executives of member companies of Vend Marketing Institute were nominated by the owners of their companies to attend the Executive Development Program at Michigan State University, sponsored by a scholarship offered by Pepsico Foodservice. The Executive Development program is conducted by NAMA and Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University. The program is an intense five day program designed for senior-level leaders in the vending and food service industry. Topics include leadership, team building, finance, customer service, negotiation strategies, marketing, sales and supply chain management. With further study and credit for work accomplishments, this program can lead to the vending industry leadership designation of NCE. Rod Calhoun, Vice President, Jackson Brothers of the South, was selected for the Pepsico Foodservice scholarship. Rod joined Jackson Brothers in 2001 as Operations Manager at the Springfield Branch. He had previously worked for Coca Cola Enterprises in Illinois in cold drink operations. Strong leadership skills and a unique set of ideas and goals lead him to his next position as General Manager. Rod continued his advancement with the promotion to Vice President after Jackson Brothers acquired CM Vending and increased operations in southern Missouri and Arkansas. While advancing his career, Rod also found the time to finish his bachelor’s degree in business at Evangel College. Rod, his wife Lisa and their children, live in the Ft. Smith, Arkansas area. Rod stays involved in his community through his church and other business related organizations. VMI congratulates Rod on his career at Jackson Brothers and on his selection to attend this outstanding program. VMI also thanks Pepsico Foodservice for offering this scholarship, their support of VMI and their dedication to the industry! Sanese Services Celebrating 60 Years: Celebrating Our Past, Serving Your FutureSanese Services, a complete food provider located in Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating its’ 60th year in business. Founded in 1946, the company was created amongst humble beginnings at the end of World War II. Brothers, Ralph and Al Sanese returned from the armed services and were given funds from their father, Alfred, for the purchase of vending machines to support themselves through college. Sanese informed his sons that cigarette machines were the next big thing and would be an excellent means of temporary income. The venture proved to go well beyond a temporary state. From the Sanese brothers’ original purchase of two cigarette machines and a 1942 Crosley truck, the “temporary venture” has now grown into a multi-million dollar company. Over the past 60 years, Sanese Services has evolved from a vending company into a food services company with numerous business segments. Aside from the vending business, the Sanese Services umbrella also encloses branded businesses such as the Dining Dimensions Corporate Dining, Catering by Design, Aroma Dolce Office Coffee and Lunches Kids Love School Food Services. Now under second-generation leadership, the company continues to thrive, grow and change throughout a decade of economic instability, industry changes and culture adaptations. "In this day and age, a company cannot rest on its' laurels and expect success", said President Ralph Sanese, "you must continuously keep watch on the business pulse, closely observe market trends and make changes accordingly to be successful – and we will be successful." Success has smiled upon Sanese Services during the past year leading to the 60th year anniversary. The company has been able to retain valued long-term relationships with numerous clients across central Ohio. Sanese has also realized great success in continued growth with the Catering by Design, Aroma Dolce Office Coffee and Lunches Kids Love business segments. Most Recently, Catering by Design was named the #1 Caterer in Greater Columbus by the Business First Publications. "Not bad for a company that started out with two cigarette machines", quipped Mr. Sanese, "and now, we've even given that up." Contact: Marj Plantz, Executive Assistant Dining Passport
The Dining Passport can also be used as a gift card or as business awards for associates. The Grille, a Sanese Services operated local restaurant in New Bremen, Ohio, began offering the new card to patrons during the holiday season as an alternative to gift certificates offered in years previous. Promotion Winner
Upon notification of his prize, Mr. Renninger said that he and his wife had always wanted to take a vacation to Yosemite, but that the possibility was still years away, until now. Sanese Services, in conjunction with the Vend Marketing Institute and its' partner suppliers, offered the promotion during the last quarter of 2005. The Vending is More promotion was created to promote the healthy offerings within the vending industry. Sanese customers had the opportunity to enter the promotion by finding a promotional code on the front of participating vending machines. Codes could be entered online by logging onto www.vendmi.com, or filling out a form and sending it by mail.
Treat America on Winning StreakTreat America competed this year against 32 drivers to win the End Annual NAMA Route Driver Rodeo. They also won the inaugural RDR in 2003. Food Express in the Fast FiftyFor the third year in a row, Food Express has been recognized as one of the "Fast Fifty." This annual award recognizes the fifty fastest growing independent companies in North Carolina's Triad region. Extreme CateringCatering by Design, a Sanese Services company, recently participated in a local version of Extreme Makeover, a popular show which features goodwill home makeovers for those in need. Brenda Davis, a Pataskala, Ohio resident was left speechless upon her return home as she found that her tattered mobile home was replaced by a brand new model. Generous community members and businesses contributed their time and money to provide Ms. Davis with a new home, vehicle, closure on outstanding financials and college tuition for her two daughters. The Catering by Design event team, including Sanese Services President, Ralph Sanese, were on hand during the three-day event to provide food and beverages for all on-site workers who donated their time and talents for this special cause. Vending is More!Last summer, the Vend Marketing Institute (VMI) held a major marketing promotion centered on bringing clients back to vending, especially those seeking healthier alternatives. Chris Stave, VMI Marketing Director, stated that the support for the promotion offered by VMI supplier partners has been unprecedented. "All segments of the vending industry realize that the industry must grow, and to grow, the industry has to satisfy the needs of all of its potential clients. Vending industry suppliers like Coca Cola, Kraft Foods, Frito Lay, Nestle and Pierre recognize the benefits of promoting the healthier alternatives and are working with organizations like the National Automatic Merchandising Association and the Vend Marketing Institute to that end," says Stave. The promotion offered an exciting Grand Prize consisting of a three night vacation at Yosemite National Park with air transportation provided by Southwest Airlines. Additional prizes stressing an active lifestyle were also awarded. Sanese Online SolutionsSanese Services presents the Sanese Online Solutions (SOS), a new communications tool for clients. The SOS program enables clients to obtain pertinent information concerning food service operations through custom-designed internet systems. Sanese Online Solutions include:
The Carry-Out CafeKraft, KRH Foodsystems, and Sanese Services have partnered together to provide the state of Ohio with the latest innovation in food services - The Carry Out Cafe. These self-contained minirestaurants offer customers hot mini-meals at the press of a button. They utilize a revolutionary automated cooking technology from HOT Choice that delivers delicious, piping hot menu items in about 90 seconds. Great selection of menu items including Tombstone® Pizza, Oreo® Brownies, Oscar Mayer® Hot Dogs, Kraft® Macaroni & Cheese, and Tyson® Chicken Strips and hot crispy french fries! Cashless VendingSpurred on by the current success of credit card sales in fast food restaurants, Sanese Services is testing credit card acceptors on vending merchandisers in select locations. Sanese Services is working with USA Technologies, a leader in credit card systems, to assure that the systems will work without fail in each area. Award Winning CafeThe Grille, a Sanese Services owned restaurant was recently awarded top awards in two categories, "Best Atmosphere" and "Best Place for a Business Lunch." A local newspaper sponsored the 2005 Reader's Choice awards, in which readers could vote for their favorite establishment. |
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In order to provide greater convenience for our dining customers, Sanese Services now offers the Dining Passport. The Dining Passport is a debit card that can be used for food transactions at any participating Sanese dining unit. Cards may be obtained at the point of purchase and additional funds may be added electronically at any time.
Sanese Services recently announced the grand prize winner of the Vending is More promotion. Scott Renninger, an associate of Bath and Body Works in Columbus, Oh, was awarded an extensive Yosemite national Park prize package including round trip air fare for two, four day car rental, a three night stay at Curry Village Resort in Yosemite, tour of the national park, bike rental, rock climbing classes and a $500 Visa gift card.