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Blue
Direct, run by Managing Director James Anderton, (recently appointed President
of the European Point-of-use Drinking Water Association), offers a small amount
of vending services including vended drinks and snacks. Vending has always been
a peripheral part of the business due to the specialist equipment variants and
man power commitment needed.
When questioned how he perceived the vending industry to differ from the water
cooler sector, James replied that vending companies were usually focused on higher
value machines with the bulk of revenue driven through ongoing ingredient sales
with leased equipment.
“ The total deal value and profitability for vending companies is higher
than water and therefore has a lower overall cost of sale. The water cooler aspect
for the vending companies is often seen as very peripheral as the margins are
low and it adds little on-going revenue stream,” James continued.
“In theory,
service should be more efficient
as vending companies are often
going to customer sites daily.
However, the investment in direct
training for water coolers has
so far been low - looking at
the number of vending companies
that are members of the EPDWA
- therefore current service levels
and quality of service must be
questionable.”
So does bottled water vending have any advantages over traditional bottled
water cooler or point of use cooler provision?
“ Bottled water vending is only practical in sites requiring payment for
product and some public areas,” James added. “It is unlikely to be
adopted as the only option in offices where water is currently available free
of charge. It has been offered in these environments with limited success where
the supply of water is either erratic or where there is a snack or can machine
on site.”
A case of
convenience – vending in
focus
Filed by Magdalena Kogutowska
www.foodbev.com
posted 2006
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Dirty water coolers may be putting
people's health at risk, a consumer
watchdog has warned.
Consumer Focus Scotland said 23 out
of 87 samples from dispensers in Edinburgh
and the Lothian and Borders region
showed bacterial contamination.
Coolers in leisure centres, offices,
care homes and schools were among those
to fail the tests.
The watchdog says
some failed because of bacterial
contamination and it wants
the safety rules tightened up. ......to
read more
as posted
on BBC website Consumer Focus Scotland
, March 09
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