RustleRs
Family firm plans for the future with Rustlers
Carl Hunter, Kepak Vending’s Field Sales and National Account Manager.
A vending company that’s steeped in history is looking to the future with the help of Rustlers, supplier of the UK’s No.1 microwavable snack brand*, and its new out of home solutions.
The origins of Tonbridge-based Millsons Vending can be traced back over 100 years, to when founder Edward Millson opened a farm shop in Tonbridge, Kent, in 1918. The company evolved into doorstep milk delivery before branching out into milk vending machines in the late 1980s. Forward the clock 40 years and modern-day Millsons Vending, an
AVS member, is one of the UK’s most progressive vending companies, specialising in servicing customers in Kent, Sussex and Surrey, but affiliated to 27 independently-owned vending businesses throughout the UK. The family-run business involves father Hugh, mum Jane and
brothers Fergus and Oli. It has more than half a century’s experience in supplying coffee and vending machines to hundreds of businesses large and small. Whilst the COVID pandemic means the company has had to be
fleet of foot in reacting to ever changing circumstances, and like many other vending operators Millsons has taken a temporary hit on volume supplies, it has not detracted from its ambitions to forge new marketing opportunities.
And that’s where market-leading Rustlers comes into play. Oli Millson joined the family firm in 2012 and is heavily involved in
the operational side of the business, including maximising opportunities with supplier partners such as Rustlers. “We met Rustlers at the AVS annual conference and as we were
looking to expand our food operation, the timing couldn’t have been better. We used to source chilled food from cash and carries, but that can be time-consuming, and to have a major player in chilled foods like Rustlers on board really strengthens our offer,” says Oli. Millsons receives weekly deliveries from Rustlers distribution
partner Camelot Chilled Foods and currently lists 8 of the 10 products available to them, including the Rustlers Quarter Pounder, the UK’s best-selling micro-snacking product, and the highly popular Rustlers All Day Breakfast Sausage Muffin. “Rustlers is an instantly recognisable brand and a bit like leading
confectionery lines, it acts as a beacon in vending machines,” adds Oli. “We know the brand has a huge following and annual sales are worth more than over £111 million, so it’s a brand that we know will help to grow the food side of our business.” Millsons currently has 15 chilled food vending machines and Oli
describes them as ‘really versatile and profitable’. The company is also looking to develop a micro-market offer, enabling it to increase its focus on hot, fresh, tasty meal solutions which can be accessed at any time of the day or night.
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