NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Vendin'
Jose Antonio Braña, General Manager of VENDIN and one of the founders of the company.
EVA: What is the main business of your company?
We have been focused on just the one business for more than fifteen years. We manufacture ingredients for hot beverage vending machines. We produce a wide range of instant products and roasted coffee. We offer our products to three main business areas: traditional vending, office coffee service and dispensing.
EVA: In which countries do you operate?
The majority of our customers are located all over Europe and in the Middle East. We have recently started up activity in China, as a beginning to a defined strategy for the Asian market.
EVA: How do you see the vending market in Spain at the moment? And at an international level?
Well, the vending market is quite saturated, above all, in the old vending industry countries. Its growth potential is not as big as in other countries like some from Eastern Europe, Asia or the Middle East.
EVA: How do you expect the market to develop in the next five years?
I would say that in Europe we will probably see more mergers and acquisitions of some of the vending companies. In any case, I really think that mini vending or Office Coffee Service will undergo an important growth rate all over the world.
EVA: You sell fair trade coffee, how does it fare? Do consumers still buy them, given the current crisis?
VENDIN is fair-trade certified. I really support the development of fair trade products; they must be supported by us, by all companies, but I also think that, in this current economic situation, it is not so easy to sell these kinds of products. This year, Fair Trade coffee is not as much in demand by our customers as it used to be.
EVA: You have recently become a member of the European Vending Association, what are your expectations from this membership?
As a person who has been involved in the vending industry for over thirty years, I really expect solid support from all companies from this industry and I would also appreciate the coordination of some actions in order to improve the vending industry and its image.
EVA: How do you see the impact of EU legislation on your business? Is there any threat concerning your business at the moment?
By now, its impact is not negative. Going back to the question, my opinion is that the EVA, as an association of companies, is in the best position to be our spokesperson, able to defend our position and interests.
EVA: You are ISO 9001:2008 certified; do you also consider EMAS or ISO 14000 certification? Do you feel a pressure from green procurement?
After becoming ISO 9001:2008 certified, we started to study the possibility of getting ISO 14000 certification. At some stage, VENDIN will be EMAS or ISO 14000 certified but not for the moment.
EVA: The EVA will hold a conference on the image of vending in December. On a personal level, how do you perceive vending? Can it be improved, and if so, how?
The current image of the vending industry is not the best. Of course, it can easily be improved and the first way to do this is by offering final customers high quality products (ingredients, machines, spare parts…). In VENDIN, we have recently created a new work area. It is called VENDINOVA and its motto is “improving vending”. Thanks to this we have already launched new products and created a new healthy line of products (Functional ingredients for vending machines).
EVA: What is the main business of your company?
We have been focused on just the one business for more than fifteen years. We manufacture ingredients for hot beverage vending machines. We produce a wide range of instant products and roasted coffee. We offer our products to three main business areas: traditional vending, office coffee service and dispensing.
EVA: In which countries do you operate?
The majority of our customers are located all over Europe and in the Middle East. We have recently started up activity in China, as a beginning to a defined strategy for the Asian market.
EVA: How do you see the vending market in Spain at the moment? And at an international level?
Well, the vending market is quite saturated, above all, in the old vending industry countries. Its growth potential is not as big as in other countries like some from Eastern Europe, Asia or the Middle East.
EVA: How do you expect the market to develop in the next five years?
I would say that in Europe we will probably see more mergers and acquisitions of some of the vending companies. In any case, I really think that mini vending or Office Coffee Service will undergo an important growth rate all over the world.
EVA: You sell fair trade coffee, how does it fare? Do consumers still buy them, given the current crisis?
VENDIN is fair-trade certified. I really support the development of fair trade products; they must be supported by us, by all companies, but I also think that, in this current economic situation, it is not so easy to sell these kinds of products. This year, Fair Trade coffee is not as much in demand by our customers as it used to be.
EVA: You have recently become a member of the European Vending Association, what are your expectations from this membership?
As a person who has been involved in the vending industry for over thirty years, I really expect solid support from all companies from this industry and I would also appreciate the coordination of some actions in order to improve the vending industry and its image.
EVA: How do you see the impact of EU legislation on your business? Is there any threat concerning your business at the moment?
By now, its impact is not negative. Going back to the question, my opinion is that the EVA, as an association of companies, is in the best position to be our spokesperson, able to defend our position and interests.
EVA: You are ISO 9001:2008 certified; do you also consider EMAS or ISO 14000 certification? Do you feel a pressure from green procurement?
After becoming ISO 9001:2008 certified, we started to study the possibility of getting ISO 14000 certification. At some stage, VENDIN will be EMAS or ISO 14000 certified but not for the moment.
EVA: The EVA will hold a conference on the image of vending in December. On a personal level, how do you perceive vending? Can it be improved, and if so, how?
The current image of the vending industry is not the best. Of course, it can easily be improved and the first way to do this is by offering final customers high quality products (ingredients, machines, spare parts…). In VENDIN, we have recently created a new work area. It is called VENDINOVA and its motto is “improving vending”. Thanks to this we have already launched new products and created a new healthy line of products (Functional ingredients for vending machines).
