Vianet has announced ‘a significant deal’ with Lavazza Professional UK for its fast-growing Smart Machines division.
Vianet says it has been awarded a three-year contract to provide contactless payment, telemetry and data services across its unattended retail estate.
The deal gives Vianet ‘preferred supplier’ access to a further 10,000 machines in Lavazza Professional UK’s direct estate providing coffee solutions to vending operators and end-users. Vianet will provide services including real-time monitoring, business intelligence and contactless payment, which it says ‘will allow Lavazza Professional UK to maximise operational efficiency, stock control, and cash flow whilst reducing the estate’s carbon footprint.’
In a stock market announcement to shareholder, the company said that, whilst not having a material impact on the current financial year, the deal marks ‘a financially significant new three-year contract.’ The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
‘I’m delighted that we have secured this long-term contract with Lavazza Professional UK’, James Dickson, Chair and CEO, (pictured), said. ‘Following a rigorous process, LP clearly understand the significant brand and financial benefit to be derived from rolling out SmartVend, our leading end to end solution.’
News of the deal comes a month after Vianet published half-year results that saw profits and revenues rise. Sales increased from £4m to £6.3m in the six months ended September 30 2021 and adjusted operating profit rose to £820,000 from a loss of £380,000.
The group said it had seen a strong recovery in its Smart Zones division, aligned to the re-opening of pubs in the second quarter of its financial year, together with good growth in both new business and unit sales in its Smart Machines division.
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Thank-you! Photograph of James Dickson: Jonathan Pow/jp@jonathanpow.com – for Vianet Group
