Pictured: Ian Keefe and Louise Cummings
Benders has celebrated the retention of the supply of paper cups contract to AVS – the UK’s largest vending group
The contract is worth over 50 million cups per annum. Across the UK, AVS are experiencing significant growth, having expanded their membership to include three new operators – Hallmark, Freshfast and Cambridgeshire Vending.
Louise Cummings, General Manager of AVS told PV: “We very much enjoy our close relationship with Benders, who are a competitive UK manufacturer of a quality product. AVS looks to support UK manufacturing as much as possible, which can be challenging in a world where imports are cheap and readily available. We are very pleased to be continuing the partnership and, indeed, providing more sales opportunities to Benders as AVS goes from strength to strength”.
“Having personally managed the AVS account for some six years, I am delighted that we have secured the supply agreement once again”, said Ian Keefe, Benders’ Vending Sales Manager. “Clearly the deal we proposed to AVS was an attractive one, covering our whole range e developed to deliver progressive solutions to the vending sector”.
In addition to the current annual volumes, Benders expect to see significant growth as a result of the plastic-to-paper conversion activity many members are in the process of undertaking.
“With the greater quality of coffee available, contemporary branding and top quality machines in the sector, the ability to provide drinks in a quality cup has also contributed to the growth in paper cups replacing plastic within the AVS group and this rate of growth is set to increase”, Ian said.
As well as plastic-to-paper conversions, the sales uplift can be attributed to the shift of vending operators into new market sectors and the increasing use of table top coffee machines.
“Benders has a comprehensive range of sizes and also insulated cups allowing diverse drinks menus to be developed and offered, a benefit AVS were keen to take advantage of”, Ian told us.
