Coffee time?

Ah, belated we know but HAPPY 2014!

Is it coffee time where you are right now?  Things are definitely bubbling away in the percolator of interest in coffee, vending and big brands right now.


In case you haven't heard the latest, the Big Red has purchased a 10% stake in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters; ostensibly to create a brave new world of cold drinks via pods (that's going to be some very interesting R&D for sure!); the Keurig Cold Platform (sounds like an abandoned UK station to me….).  Not sure if that will rock, roll and rumble into the world of hot drinks, but let's watch and wait with interest…

Of course, the Big Green mermaid of coffee (or more accurately, milk!) long ago declared their interest in office coffee and is marching full steam ahead in their alliance with Selecta.  So they have definitely pinned their colours to the veritable mast of vending…  and in the technology corner we have the oft discussed and much critiqued Costa Express...

Boys and Girls of vending… the big brands "get" coffee - in fact, they have probably done as much to craft a growing global coffee habit as anyone (although coffee shops have been around a long, long time - just without the wifi, fancy sofas and complicated ordering procedures!).  Looks like they are now "getting" vending; even if they don't want to call it that…  (I'm a gourmet on the go, don't you know!) and the fact that people (mostly) buy brands means that we in vending really need to "get" coffee; with all its fancy names and swirly art… our playground is getting full and if you're not already talking like a Barista, maybe it's time you were!

To close, how about this playlist to keep you on topic!

Make good choices - and excellent coffee :)

The Friendly Vending Geeks wishing you a good day

What a difference a day makes...

24 little hours...

Hello Again!

Yesterday we were "Outraged of Oxford" by an advert from the famous yellow arches that portrayed our industry in very poor light.

Well, 24 hours later, what do you think of this little gem (no, we're not vending lettuce, just yet!)

A world of difference - I guess we're "Happy of Hampshire"

Have you had your cup of coffee today?

Let us know what you think

The Friendly Vending Geeks at 24vend

Jack and the Beanstalk

Reading over some industry data last week, we were struck by how coffee is an integral part of life as we know it in the UK.  It's probably that way too in many other countries around the world and "coffee culture" is growing, now slowing.  Being inquisitive types, we did some digging...

1 in 5 people in the UK go to a coffee shop every day - yes, DAILY!

The main colours of UK coffee shops are Red, Green and Blue!  Not sure which is your favourite of these high street brands, but they represent around 54% (market share) of the UK coffee scene...  In terms of locations, Big Red 1500, Big Green 760 and Big Blue 530; places to drink coffee, read industry reports and chat!  It's growing; + 7.5%  (2012); impressive no matter what colour you have pinned to the mast!

What's more interesting is that in total there are estimated to be just under 16, 000 coffee shops in the UK - that includes all of the independent and small chains (great coffee!) dotted on our highways and byways.

So, 16, 000; that's a big number, right?

Well, how about I raise you to 278, 000 as a B I G number?

278, 000 is the (2012) UK vending industry estimate of the number of hot drinks vending machines dotted in our offices, hospitals and leisure centres etc; down in 2012 by around 2.5%.

Another fact that you might find interesting is that the average cup of coffee in the high street will set you back at least a  rocking £2.20 and more if  you add 'ccino, frappé, mocha, decaf, soya, skinny, sprinkles (you get our drift) into the mix.  Growth, profit, loyalty are just some of the words you can associate with the Red, Blue, Green and other colours of the coffee world in which we co-exist.

I'm not sure how many of you reading this are supping a £2.20 cup of vended coffee.  Oops, didn't make you schlurp on your crema did we?

We've talked about this before on previous blogs and not much has changed.  The Big Colours of Coffee are eyeing our playground.  They love the high street as much as the next, but closed sites such as Offices must be on their maps!

Big Red has already made serious moves into Gourmet Vending!  Just calling it Gourmet changes the emotion that we engage when we think about buying from a machine...  they can dress it up all they like, and mess with our heads and our emotions but we know, truly we do, that it's just Vending (like we do!) by any other name.  Big Green is partying with a large Operator and who knows what Big Blue are up to in their Covent Garden coffee hot house.

As you're all smart boys and girls, you'll have spotted that nowhere in this article do we use the word Quality.  Now, you all know that we can't really tell a turnip from a tea-towel without a coffee fix, but it's pretty certain the the vending equipment we use makes excellent, consistent coffee that deserves more love and attention from the sipping public.  However, if we continue to flog it for 2 tenths of not very much because we've squeezed all value from the final brew, why are we surprised when our industry is slip, sliding away rather than racing to the top?

In the age old story, Jack watered his beanstalk and took great care; maybe we should all try to be like Jack... what say you?

So riddle us this; which would you rather be ...  growing at+7.5% or declining at -2.5%?

(all our data comes from Allegra Strategies or AVA)

Thanks for listening and let us know how you're winning the hearts and minds of vending consumers through great coffee!

Welcome One, Welcome All!

Welcome Bienvenue Wilkommen Bienvenido

Thanks for taking a few moments to read our blog.  24vend is an international vending and unattended retailing consultancy based in the UK but with vending friends around the world. 

We're excited to announce that, following a meeting last week at Vending Paris, we have been accepted as members of EVA, the European vending trade association.  Add to that our membership of AVA, the UK and Ireland vending trade association, we are definitely linked to the best in the world when it comes to all things vending.  Great news!

We take our work very seriously, but do have a great sense of fun, so we promise to be less dull and more drole in our take on the world in which we operate!  We know you'll tell us if you believe otherwise.

To get the party started, we have included a few photos from our vast collection of vending photos.  If you happen by our offices, you'll see many more - the invitation is open to one and all - we can assure everyone of a warm welcome, good coffee and great conversation. 

Welcome to our world - a life in the year of Vending Geeks!

See you soon
Gillian & Neil
PS On the subject of Apples, we will will return this topic later.  No!  Not the one belonging to either Newton or the late, great Steve, but the fruit!  Catch you later.