CHICAGO (JULY 2008) — Incredible Technologies revealed a new cabinet design, a miniature golf videogame and several other developments during its seventh annual Operator Summit, held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare here this spring. Some 140 representatives from 80 operating companies attended, making this the second-largest summit to date, and received a firsthand report on IT’s product and marketing plans for the coming year… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
NEW YORK CITY (July 18, 2008) — The three major music providers serving the nation’s digital jukeboxes scored big with several prereleases this week. Joining the digital jukebox networks is new material from Alice Cooper, Black Stone Cherry and Foreigner… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
ELGIN, IL (July 16, 2008) — Four vending industry professionals have joined forces to launch Royal Sales & Consulting, a business consultancy serving professionals in the vending and foodservice disciplines… [full story] Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
BURLINGTON, ON, Canada (July 18, 2008) — Sodexo and VIP Energy Services have entered an exclusive arrangement aimed at providing energy management services to current and future Sodexo clients… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
CINCINNATI (July 16, 2008) — Pierre Foods Inc. has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, in order to restructure its debt. Operations are expected to continue normally while the company executes its reorganization plan… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
TORRANCE, CA (JULY 2008) — Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corp. introduced two home jukeboxes at the recent International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo, held in Charlotte, NC… [full story]Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
WEST CHESTER, PA (July 18, 2008) — MEI has teamed up with electronic recycling companies Intercon Solutions and Scientific Recycling Inc. to offer a “no landfill” recycling process for electronic vending products. MEI explained that the need for such a process became evident when it received a large number of outdated bill validators from vending and amusement customers taking advantage of its “New $5 Trade-in Program”… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
LAS VEGAS ( JULY 2008) — The convergence of lower-cost, more powerful wireless networks, higher vend prices and enhanced computer-based auditing is encouraging the installation of credit and debit card payment systems in vending machines. At the same time, growing public enthusiasm for cashless purchases has widened the use of “closed” stored-value and debit transaction technology in an expanding range of affinity-group locations… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
MELROSE PARK, IL (JULY 2008) — Stern Pinball Inc. has rolled out two flipper games based on proven cinematic franchises. The first, which made its debut in late spring, is titled Indiana Jones, inspired by all four of the Steven Spielberg archaeological fantasies. Rolling out at this writing is Stern’s Batman pin, just in time for the July 18 premiere of Warner Bros.’ latest Batman epic, “The Dark Knight”… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
CHICAGO (July 10, 2008)— The board of directors of the National Automatic Merchandising Association has voted to consolidate the National and Spring Expos into an entirely new springtime event. The first of these is scheduled for April 28-30, 2010, at McCormick Place North in Chicago… [full story] Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
HERSHEY, PA (July 8, 2008) — The International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry reports that its 2008 Fun Expo again will be run in conjunction with an expanded educational program, Fun Academy. It will start on Monday, September 8; the Fun Expo exhibits will open on Wednesday, September 10. Both events conclude on Friday, September 12, and will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center… [full story] Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN (July 9, 2008) — New from Crane Vending Solutions Distribution are two versatile combination venders in the company’s GPL and Automatic Products lines. Both are offered in five- and six-shelf models, and can dispense candy and snacks, packaged cold beverages and food… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
VALLEY COTTAGE, NY (JUNE 2008) — Kosher consumers on the go have long been accustomed to passing up food courts, restaurants and cafeterias offering every kind of food but kosher, and settling for a less-than-satisfying bagged snack and cold drink... [full story]Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
CHERRY HILL, NJ (JUNE 2008) — While bottled water consumption continues to reach new highs, growing skepticism about the quality of the water and concern over the impact of its packaging on the environment is driving demand for smaller-footprint alternatives to single-serve PET containers and, increasingly, the classic 5-gal. bulk bottle (which now is plastic, too). Vending and OCS operators, already regarded as experts in providing workplace refreshment, are in a prime position to sell the quality, ease of use, cost savings and reduced carbon footprint that reward the switch to point-of-use water treatment... [full story] Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
DESTIN, FL (July 3, 2008) — The Southeastern Vending Association will hold its 2008 convention at the Sandestin Resort here from August 6 through 8, and a lively mix of business and recreational programming is in preparation... [full story] Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
DANVILLE, CA (July 3, 2008) — TGI Fridays selects TouchTunes as the restaurant’s exclusive provider of digital jukebox music. TouchTunes will maintain ownership of its Gen 3 broadband-enabled Ovation and Allegro jukeboxes, which will likely be installed in all 324 corporate-owned Friday’s locations by the end of September. The Pelican group will manage deployment and ongoing administration… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
ALBANY, NY (June 27, 2008) — Major legislation repealing a 21-year-old discriminatory law, which forbids free games or time on amusement machines, has passed both houses in New York state and is on its way to the governor. If signed into law, New York’s trade could experience a boon… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
ORBA LINDA, CA (June 26, 2008) — Pacific Brokerage Co., based here, and Burdette Beckmann (Hollywood, FL) announced that they will merge their organizations effective July 1. This partnership and Burdette Beckmann's recent purchase of the vending division of California-based Elite Associates mark Burdette's entry into the West Coast market… [full story]
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
For vending, amusement and music operators, commissions are a major cost. Nearly all businesses grapple with pricing and cost containment. Commissions are a less widespread issue, but certainly not unique to us. Concessionaires confront a problem that is almost identical to ours… more by Alicia Lavay-Kertes
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
Anyone following the news these days might be forgiven for concluding that no one is able to say, with certainty, just what is going on. Veteran commodities traders differ widely in their assessments of the role that speculation plays in keeping petroleum prices high despite falling demand, and on the worldwide runup in food cost… more by Tim Sanford
Issue: Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2008
