Marley Coffee, a sustainably grown, ethically farmed and artisan roasted gourmet coffee, today announced a licensing partnership agreement with AVT, Inc. (Pink Sheets:AVTC), a leading developer of automated and self-service retailing systems, to create high-end Marley Coffee branded automated coffee vending and merchandising machines for retail locations around the world. Both companies are seeking to target college campuses, traditional retail locations, high-density traffic areas, theatres, hotels and traditional foodservice vendors.
Two of the AVT-developed Marley Coffee-branded vending machines will be unveiled at the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) OneShow at the Venetian/Sands in Las Vegas, April 25-27, at AVT, Inc.’s Booth #427. Marley Coffee will also be showcasing at the NAMA OneShow, at Booth #447.
These futuristic machines, which can be previewed at http://avtinconline.com/images/AVT%20Marley%20Coffee%20Presentation.jpg, will be equipped with touchscreen displays that will grind whole bean coffee and brew anything from a cup of black coffee to a latte to a mocha drink. Some machines will have retail capabilities to dispense other Marley products, like headphones, T-shirts, coffee mugs and bags of Marley Coffee. Other AVT-developed machines will just be high-end coffee dispensers.
“Having been involved in the vending industry my entire career, these are by far some of the most sophisticated machines I’ve ever seen, and unlike most current coffee vending machines, these brew a premium, great tasting cup of coffee,” said Brent Toevs, CEO, Marley Coffee. “Automated retailing is great because it creates a smaller eco-foot print, which is one of the reasons why we partnered with AVT, Inc. and their cutting-edge technology.”
According to The Vending Times Census of the Industry, the vending industry is a growing $55 billion domestic market, with an additional $10 billion from the manual food service industry. There are over 5 million outlets with 350,000 of dedicated to hot beverages.
Unfortunately, coffee vending has been losing market share over the past 2 decades due to outdated technology and an inferior product offerings. However, as consumers migrate to premium coffee, automated vending is one of the solutions that AVT, Inc. and Marley Coffee can provide to help build back that demand.
The Marley Coffee automated machines will allow retailers to offer a coffee shop experience to their customers and will give vending operators a discernable difference in coffee vending solutions.
“I work with some of the biggest retailers in the world, and for a few months now, they’ve all been asking for a coffee solution,” said Shannon Illingworth, Founder and CEO, AVT, Inc. “I’ve seen Rohan Marley and his team at shows, and I’ve been following Marley Coffee for a bit of time. I knew their brand and our technology would be a perfect match for those retailers.”
Currently, AVT has created automated retail solutions for some of the largest stores worldwide, including Walmart, and it’s these types of stores that are looking for new coffee solutions for their customers.
“Come visit us at NAMA OneShow and you’ll see for yourself that these new Marley Coffee-branded automated coffee vending and merchandising machines created in partnership with AVT are the most innovative solutions to happen to the retail and vending industry in some time,” said Rohan Marley, chairman, Marley Coffee. “Our movement continues to grow as so many share our values and desire great tasting coffee and tea made the right way.”
The 2012 NAMA OneShow is the essential event that showcases everything new in vending, coffee service and foodservice. Rohan Marley, chairman and co-founder of Marley Coffee, will be in attendance along with his sister, Karen Marley, as well as the company’s senior management. World Heavyweight Champion, Lennox Lewis, who is a partner in the Jamaican division of Marley Coffee and long-time Marley Coffee ambassador, will join as a special guest. Both Rohan and Lennox will be at the AVT booth on Thursday, April 26, showcasing the Marley Coffee-branded AVT machines.
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