AVEX 2015 Plans Wellbeing Zone To Highlight Healthy Vending Products

MANCHESTER, England -- New for 2015's AVEX vending industry trade show is the "Wellness Zone." The biennial event, sponsored by the Automatic Vending Association, is set for June 30 and July 1 at the Manchester Central Convention Complex Ltd. here.

Designed to showcase the "healthier options" available in vending machines, the new exhibit extension will provide a serene atmosphere for the presentation of educational seminars and expert opinions on "healthy" vending, AVA explained.

"With so many companies now responding to the healthy vending agenda, both in the UK and globally, and the obesity crisis making the headlines daily, it is clear that demand in this area has never been higher," said AVEX show manager Rosie Mills. "We're therefore extremely excited to be launching our new health and wellbeing zone, all aimed at showcasing the vast array of solutions available to those who want to offer healthier alternatives in their vending machines."

Mills reported that the variety of seminars and silent educational video will allow guests to learn more about the "healthier" vending market and the opportunities it presents to operators.

The inauguration of the Wellness Zone follows the rollout of a major "healthy vending" campaign by AVA to emphasize that vending can be part of the solution to the UK's obesity epidemic, and to help improve public perception of the industry.

In a development related to this initiative, representatives from across the food, health and vending sectors joined an industry panel in December to select the winners of this year's Culinary Product Development Challenge, organized by AVA and University College Birmingham. Working in teams, final year Culinary Arts Management students were tasked with developing a delicious new range of vending products to meet calls for "healthier" vending alternatives.

The winning team, which calls itself Goosefoot, developed a snack consisting of two quinoa bars (one sweet, one savory) after spotting a gap in the vending market for a "healthy" snack bar free from allergens and artificial ingredients.

Also new at AVEX 2015 is Barista Street, a special-interest area of the exhibit devoted to the latest single-cup coffee technologies. This has attracted a great deal of interest in the hotel, restaurant and café sector, and its presence is expected to draw a wider range of trade visitors.

Show planners are predicting about 200 exhibitors and more than 3,000 industry registrants at this year's AVEX. Sports icon Kriss Akabusi, a noted track and field champion who won three Olympic medals, has been named as the event's keynote speaker. At this writing, with opening day five months ahead, 70% of available exhibit space has been reserved. "AVEX 2015 is already proving to be the most successful event in its history," the show management reported.

Information about exhibiting at or attending AVEX 2015 may be found at its new website, avexshow.co.uk.