News | Industry Updates


needs of our 24/7, on-the-go society by making high-quality, innovative food and beverage services accessible wherever and whenever people need them. David Llewellyn, chief executive of the


AVA, said: “The vending industry has come a long way from its coin operated machine roots and over the last couple of years we have seen a real shift in consumer demands and the challenges our members face. “It was important to reassess our focus


and reshape the vision of the AVA to better reflect the wide range of services our members offer, plus the innovation and resilience the industry has demonstrated in turning challenges into opportunities.” Mr Llewellyn continued: “Throughout the


New name for AVA


The AVA has launched a new name as it sets out its vision for the future, ensuring the organisation and the industry it represents continues to be agile, innovative and deliver for its members against an ever- changing retail landscape. From now on, the AVA will be known as the Vending & Automated Retail Association to better reflect the full range of services its members offer to consumers around the UK. The AVA, which was initially established in


1929 as the ‘Coin Operated Machine Association’, is the trade body representing owners, operators, buying groups and manufacturers in the vending and coffee dispensary services. It consists of 160 members which manage the 460,000 vending machines across the UK employing around 25,000 people and adding £1.46bn to the UK economy. The AVA’s new vision is for the vending and automated retail industry to meet the


past 18 months, we at the AVA have been a source of information and guidance to our members, providing updates on support or funding available and sharing successes to encourage advances. “As an industry we are currently facing an


impact from almost 40 pieces of upcoming legislation with everything from the proposed Deposit Return Scheme to the Single Use Plastics Tax, to changes in refrigeration gases having both practical and financial implications for our members. We know our members look to us for


support and as the challenging times for retail and food-to-go especifically look set to continue, our new vision will help us to focus on and communicate the innovation and collaboration which will fuel growth and success for the industry.”


Swedish company UniCup Scandinavia AB has now created an


entirely new bio-based lid made of spruce and pine. The “Liplid” is placed inside, rather than on, the cup, and improves the stability and drinking experience of on-the-go beverages. Founders Lars Bendix and Håkan Löfholm have been developing products for on-the-go food and beverages for more than 20 years. They have seen and experienced major problems associated with plastic lids that are fitted onto beverage cups. When used for cold drinks or hot tea and coffee, these lids fail to meet the needs of today’s consumers in terms of both functionality and sustainability. The lids are difficult to put on properly. Spills are common. It is hard to drink through the lid and to cool down the beverage. The plastic lids are also a major environmental problem. More than 300 billion lids are produced globally each year, and many of these end up in nature. Now the idea, hatched and drawn up on a paper napkin by


Swedish innovation targets plastic lid scourge


Every year, more than 300 billion plastic lids – 1,500,000,000kg of plastic – are used on our coffee and beverage cups. The lids leak, and we spill and burn ourselves. And because they are made of plastic, the lids are harmful to the environment – and are slated to be banned in the EU.


Lars and Håkan over a cup of coffee in Stockholm is a reality that can solve these problems. “We have developed an environmentally friendly lid that sits


inside the cup. This improves the cup’s stability and the overall drinking experience. You drink from the rim of the cup instead of the lid, so you don’t burn yourself and it doesn’t taste like plastic or paper. The coffee tastes just like it does in your coffee cup at home.”


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