Leaders from the UK’s biggest vending companies gathered last month to take part in the 37th annual Nestlé Professional® Hawkstone Golf Day.
Celebrated as one of the vending sector’s premier networking event, more than 75 senior professionals came together to compete for the highly sought-after golfing title; to share business experiences and make new connections.
Victorious on the day was Team Gallagher, led by Steve Gallagher, Chairman of GEM Vending. Paul Howard, MD of Nebrak, secured the individual high score at the event, with an impressive 66 points.
‘Our annual golf day is a real highlight of the vending calendar and it was fantastic to welcome back familiar friends alongside some new faces for this year’, Head of Vending Rob Gormley said. ‘The event brings together operators, wholesalers, machine manufacturers and support services to network, share knowledge and get involved in insightful discussion about the issues that matter to the vending industry. Not to mention some healthy competition with a few great rounds of golf!”
Steve Gallagher told PV: “I’ve been attending the Hawkstone Golf Day since the very beginning, 37 years ago, and while I was delighted to lead the winning team this year, the real highlight for me, as ever, was the chance to spend time with so many industry friends. Our opposing team was captained by Brian Foster, who like me has been attending Hawkstone since Day One. We always enjoy meeting up to test our golfing skills and talk about developments in the industry. The event has become an institution and, as always, it was superbly arranged by the Nestlé Professional® vending team.
In recent years, Hawkstone has evolved from a day of golf to a two-day family event and this year’s get-together was the biggest so far, with a host of additional activities, including golf lessons, Segway and archery. This year’s event also incorporated a warm and emotional farewell to Chris Starling, Business Account Manager, who retires at the end of June after 44 years’ service.
‘Chris is a true stalwart of our industry’ Rob said, ‘and I’d like to take this opportunity, on behalf of our colleagues and associates, to thank him and wish him well for the future.’
