News | Industry Updates Urgent call to Government to support UK vending


The vending industry is calling on the UK Government for renewed and further support to help vending operators and their direct supply chain to survive the pandemic as research shows one in five jobs in the sector could be at risk. The Automatic Vending Association (AVA) called for urgent support for operators to continue their work, including


an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for hospitality businesses – and that plea has been answered. The Chancellor announced on 5 November that the CJRS is to be extended to 31 March 2021. The next task is to ensure that vending, as part of the hospitality


and foodservice industry, is expressly included in the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) and Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) schemes. The AVA has also asked the Government to consider an additional financial grant to cover percentage of lost revenue during the crisis or the removal of Employers NI and employee pensions payments, with an increased contribution towards paying people to work. Since the initial lockdown in March, vending operator have


suffered a devastating impact on business. As people were directed to work from home where they could, turnover


Vending sets safety standard of food and drink during pandemic


The Automatic Vending Association (AVA) has reaffirmed its high safety standards in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that vending is one of the most hygienic and safest ways for workers to buy food and beverages when not working from home. Factors including rising cashless technology, how safely machines


are stocked, how long the products are kept in vending machines and the availability of vending machines all make up this claim. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, retailers and hospitality businesses


have continued to close across the country, meaning vending machines have become a continued source of sustenance for key workers and workers unable to work from home. The AVA’s 2019 census survey found the split of sectors where vending machines are most used to be 70% business and industry, 9% education, 9% leisure, 5% healthcare and 4% travel. These show workers such as healthcare, public transport, food


production and factory staff have relied on sourcing food and drinks from vending machines while on shift, when local cafes and on-site canteens will have shut due to government and scientific guidelines. Findings from the trade body’s 2019 census highlight an increase


in cashless vends from 34% in 2017 to 62% in 2019, with leaders in the industry predicting all vending operators will adopt cashless technology by the end of 2022. This comes after significant investment in the technology year-on-


year and 13% rise in penetration to the pay vend base, bringing the 2019 figure to 36%. The World Health Organisation (WHO) along with national governments stressed the importance of contact-virus-free


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payments when the pandemic hit, stating contactless card and mobile payment systems are the safest ways to pay as no contact or object (cash) is transmitted from one person to the other. The AVA says food hygiene and safety is in the DNA of its


operating companies. Snack and soft drink vending machines are stocked from the back and run forward, meaning products are likely to be inside the machine without any other human contact for more than 72 hours, the longest amount of time the virus has been recorded to live on a surface. Vending machines are also stocked by one highly qualified cleaning and maintenance worker at a time, which in comparison to a canteen diner or coffee shop with two to three employees handling food at the time of consumption, significantly decreases the spread of infection. The machine itself then dispenses a clean single use yet recyclable cup to its customer. AVA’s chief executive David Llewellyn said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the essential need for packaging in all material formats to ensure the continued availability of food and beverages in a manner safe, hygienic and free of contamination. “For the working person, whether they are returning to the office


or continuing as a key worker in the public sector, we believe products available in vending machines are one of the most sanitary ways to eat and drink during the pandemic. “The Automatic Vending Association is here to set the standard


for its members, to have a positive impact on their customers and in the end the consumer. At this time of great uncertainty and consumer anxiety, these standards are important as ever.”


plummeted to an average of 34% of its previous level and over 60% of the workforce was furloughed. This could very easily be the same during this new lockdown period. AVA’s chief executive, David Llewellyn said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the hospitality industry, but it is vital that vending is not forgotten. The impact may not be as immediately obvious on out of home and foodservice industries such as vending, but as the Government advises people to stay at home and places more restrictions on movement, without support, our industry will be damaged further. “We are calling for urgent support from the Government to


help vending companies and the direct supply chain, to ensure that we can navigate this pandemic and our members can continue to operate throughout, and into the future.”


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