Main Picture:
Standing, L-R: Mike Gardner, (Vending Solutions MD), Ross MacDonald, (MD Upton Group), Johnny Broderick, (MD, The Broderick Group); Alastair Balmforth, (MD Refreshment Systems), Julie Hurran, (Director –Bulk Vending Services )Mark Braid, (Myrtle Coffee MD) and Andrew Steen, (Ratio Brand Distribution).
Seated, L-R: Edward Selka, (LTT Vending MD), Rob Little, (Vendman MD), Nigel Haworth, (Chef / Patron, Northcote); Daniel Hamby (Vendman Operations Director), Steve Gallagher, (MD, Gem Vending).
BY IAN REYNOLDS-YOUNG
If only every vending company operated its business in the same way. How much easier would that make the creation of vending management software?
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Vending might seem straightforward – all vending companies, fill, stock and maintain vending machines, after all – but each individual business has its own ways of doing things; systems that work for them.
That’s the rationale behind Vendman’s creation of ‘Centres Of Excellence’. The unique way that each member of the ‘club’ uses Vendman technology can now be celebrated and used to demonstrate to other vending businesses the potential of the software in their own operations. As Rob says, ‘every single Vendman installation is bespoke.’
‘All Vendman Centres of Excellence demonstrate the potential of Vendman unleashed’, Rob Little, Vendman’s MD said. ‘I could explain the features and benefits of our technology to a non-user for a month and that wouldn’t be half as effective as allowing them to see the system working in the real world for just an hour.”
The choice of Northcote for the inaugural get-together was particularly apposite. Founded some thirty years ago by a young chef and an ambitious Maître-D, the name of Northcote, and those of its rapidly maturing leaders, Chef / Patron Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft, have become synonymous with ‘excellence’ in the culinary world.
Northcote has the ‘gongs’ to prove it: It was named as both ‘Luxury Experience of the Year 2014’ and ‘Small Hotel of the Year 2014’ in the Lancashire Tourism Awards; as Independent Hotel of the Year 2014/15 in the Hilden’s Style Awards. The restaurant has held a coveted Michelin star since 1996, it has 4 AA Rosettes and was recently named in the BMW SquareMeal Awards as the ‘Best UK Restaurant outside of London 2014.’ The latest accolade is inclusion on the uber-prestigious Relais & Chateau list.
So, when Nigel and later Craig addressed the group, their credibility guaranteed the attentive ears of some of the vending industry’s biggest hitters. With talk of excellence in the air and with excellence literally on a plate in front of them, the evening had its desired focus; and an intimate solo performance by recording artiste Kirsty Almeida proved to be the icing on the elaborate cake.
Steve Gallagher, MD of Gem Vending, said ‘since it’s inception 21 years ago Vendman has been the supplier to have positively improved our business. The event at Northcote was superb, and beautifully organized: from the moment I arrived in the car park, to the fabulous room, food and entertainment. It was very, very good.’
Ross Macdonald, MD of the Upton Group, concurred. ‘It was a great night’, he said. ‘An excellent hotel serving fantastic food contributed to focusing us on this new concept and it was a fantastic success.’
Johnny Broderick, MD of The Broderick Group, was also fulsome in his praise: ‘The Northcote experience was fantastic and very well run, I loved it!’ he said. ‘The venue, the setting, the food and the company were superb and even though we were one of Vendman’s first customers I must say that I learnt so much from the day!’
‘We’re always looking for new ideas to help move our business forward’, said Myrtle Coffee Services MD Mark Braid, ‘and we look forward to playing an active role as a centre of excellence to help us achieve our business goals. It was a great way to start! An excellent venue, with good entertainment, food, wine and company.’
‘Far from being an elite organisation, all Vendman customers can aspire to become a Centre of Excellence’, Rob said. ‘That’s why we’ll be inviting customers to regional symposia to discuss excellence in 2015.’
