Vending

Industry loses Allan Z. Gilbert

Allan Z. Gilbert, a longtime convenience services industry entrepreneur, recently passed away at the age of 82.

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September 2, 2021

Allan Z. Gilbert

Allan Z. Gilbert, a longtime convenience services industry entrepreneur, recently passed away at the age of 82 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, Massachusetts, according to an obituary.

He launched New England Vending Corp. while in college and grew it into a large company. In the 1970s, he launched Data Intelligence Systems, one of the first vending software companies in the U.S.

Gilbert later expanded his vending business to include Lemon Tree Systems which operated cafeterias in more than 40 customer locations in the Boston area.

He also founded Merrimack Financial Services, providing working capital to vending and coffee service businesses, in addition to acting as an advisor in vending industry mergers and acquisitions.

Gilbert also started the Massachusetts Vending Association Scholarship fund that continues to help vending industry employed families send children to college.

Gilbert is survived by his wife, Marilee K. (Moser) Gilbert of Boxford, Massachusetts; his son, Matthew Gilbert of Boston; his daughter, Bunny Watson and her husband Alan of Byfield; and his granddaughter, Maia Dendinger of New York. He was preceded in death by his sister, Anita Shatz.

Donations can be sent to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St. Danvers, MA 01923 or to Beverly Hospital, C/O Philanthropy, 75 Herrick St., Beverly, MA 01915.

Photo courtesy of the Gilbert family.