Automatic Merchandiser - 22

OPERATION

PROFILE

and 80 percent vending to a nearly
50-50 ratio of sales between micro
markets and vending. Scott said the
company is now pushing to increase
micro market accounts by recommending the service to their existing
clients and marketing through wordof-mouth and media advertising.
The company has never had a
full-time, dedicated salesperson, as a
lot of its competition has been fairly
friendly, said Scott.
"Back in the day, everyone would
respect others' territory, to a point,"
Scott said. "Considering that we
were already good friends with the
people who owned the vending companies serving in most of the areas
we had potential in, we never felt
the need for someone to go out and
pound on doors."
Scott said Allan's Vending Service's territory has substantial geographic gaps between clients, so
long-distance routes need to include
financially worthwhile accounts to
warrant the travel required.
"Once you get up in more of the
rural areas, I don't think it's quite as
cutthroat as it might be in the more
metropolitan areas," he said.

Supporting the community
Scott said that while box stores are
taking over "mom-and-pop" stores,
Allan's Vending Service has been able
to remain an independent, familyowned business. The business sticks
to its roots and values, which Scott
said includes supporting local nonprofit organizations.
"Our focus is giving back to the
community as much as we can, since
that's what's kept us in business over
the years," Scott said. "We're very
community-driven."
Allan's Vending Service contributes to its community by supporting
fundraising events, including supporting The Prouty™ athletic charitable challenge for cancer research as
a major sponsor. The business also
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Automatic Merchandiser

Scott Allan said the company's office
coffee service has grown over time.

Operation Profile:
Allan's Vending Service
Founded: 1946
Headquarters: White River
Junction, VT
No. Of Routes: 2 Micro Market,
4 Office Coffee Service,
9 Vending
No. Of Employees: 24
No. Of Micro Markets: 16
Micro Market Provider: Avanti
No. Vending Machines:
Approx. 800
Product/Equipment providers:
Crane, Avanti, Streamware
Connect, Holiday House,
Cafection, Bunn, Keurig, Flavia,
Vendors Exchange, Betson,
Vistar, Coke/Pepsi etc.
Technology Provider: Crane
Streamware/Simplifi

helps fund playground projects and
other support for youth.

Success in foodservice
Following double percentage growth
in the late 1990s, the company outgrew
its facility in New Hampshire around
2001. Scott credited the commissary

VendingMarketWatch.com

June/July 2019

with bringing in larger accounts, as all
the area vendors have the same equipment and shelf-stable foods.
"Our food was our biggest selling
point," he said.
The family found a building just
three miles away in Vermont, and for
a better deal than what they had seen
in New Hampshire. The Vermont
building, which they are still in today,
had been partly constructed prior to
their purchase, and they were able to
customize the interior to suit their
needs. The family was able to design
a larger service shop with walk-in
coolers and freezers they didn't have
in their older warehouse. They were
also able to add more commissary
equipment, such as commercial mixers, convection ovens and larger food
prep areas, as well as packaging and
labeling equipment. The commissary
is now housed in the same building as
the rest of the company's operations.
Scott said their territory has
remained largely the same over the
history of the company. They have
been able to service companies since
their beginnings as just a handful of
people a few decades ago that have
now grown into companies of roughly
1,000 employees.
He said one of the achievements
he is most proud of is the company's
ability to withstand economic recessions.
During most of the tough times
clients experience, they have been
able to keep working with Allan's
Vending Service.
"We would cut back on machines
if needed and just kind of roll with
their flow," Scott said.

Sustaining a team atmosphere
Another one of the company's successes is its formation of strong relationships with its employees, which
has been witnessed through employee
retention. "We've been lucky enough
to have people with us for 20, 30
years," Scott said.

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