Andy Dixon has joined Lyons Instant Coffee, accepting a brief to develop the famous brand as head of the vending, foodservice and wholesale sectors.
A well-known figure in the marketplace thanks to his service at Jacobs Douwe Egberts and Mondelēz, there can be few people that can equal Andy’s knowledge of coffee and its development as a vended beverage – so much so that his enthusiasm for both his new product and his new mission is, in itself, a heavyweight endorsement for the Lyons Instant Coffee brand, which ought to make the UK’s operators sit up and take notice…
‘There’s a whole list of good reasons for operators to take a close look at heritage brand like Lyons Instant Coffee’, Andy told PV, ‘but for me, it all boils down to the fact that the brand offers a unique combination of quality, value for money and – with Brexit still up in the air – British manufacture.’
Andy plans to harness the momentum that’s been gathering behind the brand in recent months. ‘It’s the fastest growing instant coffee in the retail and convenience segement’, he says, ‘and I’m confident that we’ll see similar growth in the vending sector. Already, a number of respected operators have come on board by ordering Lyons Instant Coffee through our partners at ARN* and with their approval, over the next few months I’ll be sharing those success stories to encourage others to give Lyons Instant Coffee a try.
‘COVID-19 has changed the face of vending’, Andy says, ‘and it’s incumbent upon operators to compensate for the contraction of their machine parks by doing everything possible to maximise the revenue generated by their remaining machines, as well as developing innovative new markets. Lyons Instant Coffee is perfectly suited to that purpose and that’s the message I’ll be taking to the marketplace.
‘Having been a part of the vending ‘family’ for the greater part of my career, I have a real understanding of the industry’s operational imperatives and genuine empathy with operators as they face challenges that were unimaginable prior to the pandemic’, Andy said. ‘I firmly believe that Lyons Instant Coffee presents an excellent proposition in any situation where margins are an issue, but drinks quality can’t be compromised. That’s why I’ll be enthusiastically knocking on doors to tell the brand’s story.’
*Automatic Retailing Northern Ltd
To get in touch with Andy, drop him an e-mail HERE
More Lyons Instant Coffee stories on Planet Vending, HERE
