A recap of 2023 for Coinadrink Limited, the vending machine operator.
2023 has been another successful year for West Midlands vending and refreshment operator Coinadrink Limited.
As ever, there have been challenges, but there have also been moments of pride and impressive milestones reached. Our 61st year trading has continued to see the business grow as a leader in workplace refreshment solutions.
As is recent tradition, sit back with a tea or coffee as we take you back through our key moments of 2023.
Our MD runs 56 miles for Cancer Research – March 2023
With a coherent history of charitable fundraising, it seems fitting that our first key moment of 2023 was just that.
This time, it was our Managing Director Tom Williams who used his passion for running to raise over £1000 for Cancer Research, a charity close to the family’s heart following the passing of Tom’s father and our founder Roger exactly one year earlier.
Tom embraced the challenge throughout the month of February as a welcome distraction as the 12-month marker approached. He completed the final stage of his run on the 3rd March, the anniversary date of his fathers’ passing.
Want to read more? You can do so here.
Celebrating 50 years as members of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce – March 2023
Our valuable membership with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce ticked over to 50 years in 2023.
They say time flies when you’re having fun and that was certainly the case for us when we received the surprising but welcome message from the Chamber at the start of the year.
We have enjoyed five decades of working with a huge number of Black Country businesses, sharing best practice, operating as one in the face of challenges, and having a great time in the process!
Our business has since become Platinum members of the Chamber and we are looking forward to what the future brings alongside local members, many of whom we consider firm friends.
We are an official Real Living Wage employer! – April 2o23
April 2023 was a particularly proud moment for Coinadrink Limited as we were officially regarded as a Real Living Wage employer!
We have stood by our long-standing mantra that we will pay employees what we can afford, not just what we can get away with. This is an important value of ours that was first instilled all those years ago by our founder Roger Williams.
Since taking the reigns as MD in 2022, son Tom was keen to uphold his fathers’ values and immediately started to put everything in place to bring all employees up to the Real Living Wage. Back in April we were thrilled to have achieved this recognition way ahead of schedule.
The Real Living Wage differs from the National Living Wage to pay a wage that better meets the cost of living, meaning this is a flexible scheme that regularly changes to suit. Coinadrink promises to adhere to these changes.
Introducing the Borg E-Series water dispensers – May 2023
Four months into the new year saw Coinadrink add new refreshment solutions that we started offering to customers.
As the weather started to warm up, the new E-Series of Borg water dispensers were a welcome arrival. The E4, E6 and E7 presented a stylish and sustainable approach to workplace hydration by being manufactured here in the UK. They also housed a range of cutting-edge technology to deliver premium hydration facilities to offices, showrooms, boardrooms and more.
Available as tabletop of freestanding models, the trio of dispensers would go onto set the standard for plumbed-in water dispensers.
Launching our first Micro Market of the year! – June 2023
The Micro Market, handled through our Express Refreshments division, is fast becoming the go-to solution for modern businesses looking to enhance employee wellbeing through refreshment break times. Demand has soared since Covid-19 and June saw us launch our first of this year.
A local client approached us towards the end of 2022 to explore how the Micro Market solution could lead their wellbeing initiatives and encourage staff to return to the office a little more. As ever, we worked with our trusted shopfitters Nebrak to help bring their vision to life; a personalised refreshment hub positioned behind their main reception to catch the eye of everyone who walks through their doors.
It’s noteworthy to mention that they were very keen to make the Micro Market the headline in their premises.
Six months after install, staff at the company are enjoying this 24/7 unattended facility equipped with all manner of quality refreshments from fresh bean coffee to fresh food, with an automated service that handles replenishment and maintenance.
And it wouldn’t be the only new Micro Market install of the year…
Neo Q introduces an intriguing two-in-one solution – June 2023
Being in business for 61 years, Coinadrink knows only too well just how progressive the vending industry can be.
The arrival of the Neo Q in April was a strong example of clear innovation. The hot beverage machine could go onto help businesses cut costs by implementing a separate facility for filtered water in addition to one for fresh bean coffee, demonstrating a two-in-one solution that’s certainly unique.
The Neo Q is an intriguing piece of equipment and one that we are continuing to explore with enthusiasm.
We are awarded “Best Overall Operator”! – June 2023
Undoubtedly the biggest moment for our business this year was when we travelled down to London for the prestigious Vending Industry awards back in June.
It was a very successful evening that saw us scoop the cherished “Best Overall Operator” award, the big one that all vending operators want to win! We were highly commended in this category for 2022 so as you can imagine it was a very proud moment for our team members to head up on stage and collect this accolade.
It’s testament to our values as an experienced vending and refreshment operator, combining a long-standing personal touch with advanced innovation to deliver a reliable service to customers in and around the West Midlands.
It was also a successful night for the individuals of Coinadrink, with our respected engineer Mike Powell being awarded “Best Service Engineer” and our Customer Support and Development Team Leader Julie Jones being highly commended in the “Woman of the Year” category.
All the awards travelled back up the Midlands with us to be given pride of place here in our office!
Trialling a sustainable method to recycle used coffee grounds and tea leaves – June 2023
June 2023 saw us team up with leading resource organisation Veolia, as we trialled a way to recycle used coffee grounds and tea leaves from our own site and customer’ sites.
As a leading vending and refreshment operator, we take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously. This was just the latest scheme we wanted to introduce to show our customers that we are pro-active in the face of what is a big concern for us all.
We explored the benefits of bringing the used coffee grounds and tea leaves from customers’ machines back to our own premises, ready to be collected by Veolia on a consistent basis.
Six months later, as we prepare for a new year, we are thrilled to say that this is currently something we are continuing with.
Revisiting our support of Just Small Change – August 2023
Coinadrink and the Just Small Change have enjoyed an established relationship that developed through friendship first and foremost, between our founder Roger and the charity’s founders Peter and Jane Donaghue.
Unlike the many other charity’s that we have tied our name to in support over the years, Just Small Change works overseas in some of the most deprived areas of the globe, working to fight poverty through meaningful methods that deliver dignity as well as relief to the beneficiaries.
In August, we received communication from the charity to inform us that our fundraising activities for aiding new projects in Uganda.
You can read more about that here.
Double the pleasure with the Vitro X1 MIA and X5 – August 2023
The Vitro X1 MIA and X5 presented thrilling tabletop coffee solutions by enabling the user to choose between two different types of coffee beans for their beverage.
The dual coffee bean hoppers and grinders were nothing like the market has previously seen. These tabletop coffee machines showcased the flexibility of modern-day coffee facilities that employees can experience at the office or guests can experience in hospitality settings.
If you’re a business leader who would like to present the choice of a rich roast and decaf option to staff, for example, then you’ll really want to learn more about the Vitro X1 MIA and X5.
Another Micro Market install! – August 2023
We launched our second bespoke Micro Market for an additional client in August, to heat up their on-site refreshment solution for the benefit of their employees.
This is one was completely different to the first, which just goes to show how no two Micro Market facilities look the same. They are designed from the ground up to be unique to the clients’ personal taste, from size to shape to available products. Once again we teamed up with Nebrak to fulfil this exciting and enjoyable brief, the latest of our ten Micro Markets we now have out in the field!
Employees at this company now have access to healthier items, fresh food and of course delicious fresh bean coffee, all available 24/7. This is a flexible refreshment solution that works for the user, not the other way around.
It is nice to mention that the client also has operated vending elsewhere on the premises from us, emphasising how Coinadrink can provide the complete refreshment service with our solutions.
Please note that this photo was taken prior to our fresh food service going live.
Enquire about a Micro Market for 2024 here.
Another moment of Magic with the M2+ – October 2023
The Saeco Magic is a premium yet slender and cost-effective tabletop coffee machine that first debuted in 2022. In October 2023, the M2+ launched.
This differed to the original M1 by adding a larger coffee bean hopper and offered an alternative to the M2 by removing its water tank to deliver a plumbed-in solution for businesses.
The trio of Magic tabletop coffee machines presented an accessible route into high-quality coffee in the workplace.
Looking to enhance coffee culture in your own working environment in 2024? View the Magic tabletop coffee machines alongside our other options!
Get prepared for the new year with vending! – November 2023
November 2023 saw us release our most informative guide yet on the benefits of vending machines in the workplace, as most businesses started preparing for 2024.
Our article covered everything, from the industries that vending machines can work for to all the benefits of having this facility on site. Vending machines are a cost-effective and convenient solution to provide high-quality refreshments and represent a valuable employee perk that can strengthen wellbeing, productivity, and wider company culture.
Interested in a vending machine for your staff and visitors to enjoy for 2024? Read our guide here.
A proud and now highly commended family business! – November 2023
Recognition for our vending and refreshment service just kept on coming this year.
Last month our MD and partner attended the Wolverhampton Racecourse for the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. We came away as a highly commended family business, which of course we have been since day one in 1962 when Roger Williams opened our doors.
As a family business, we hold values that ensure we are a great place to work for and a great company for our clients to work with. Our people-orientated culture drives our service, with initiatives that make staff more encouraged to achieve our business goals.
Just some of the initiatives we provide here as a family business include our approved apprenticeship programme open to all staff members.
Working with a local foodbank again this Christmas… – November 2023
Coinadrink first teamed up with the Bloxwich and Blakenall Foodbank last Christmas. November 2023 saw us announce our support again for this year.
The Bloxwich and Blakenall Foodbank works throughout our local community, providing relief for individuals and families during what is a very tough situation amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. The last few years, and in the wake of Covid-19, has seen more people turn to foodbanks than ever. As a business we wanted to help out.
Our staff have kindly been donating requested items from, nappies, to tinned food, to single-serve tea and coffee. In addition to this, Coinadrink have also committed to gifting £500 worth of our own stock to send with it all.
At the time of writing, we are in the last few days of donations before we will transport everything to the foodbank.
Coinadrink scoops the Product Innovation award! – November 2023
Just when you thought we were done with the awards for 2023, another one arrives! This time it was the Product Innovation Award from Best Practice UK, presented to us for our outstanding refreshment solutions and service.
Whilst Coinadrink is an operator of equipment, sourcing it all from a range of specially selected suppliers, it is our own bespoke systems and technology that power the service our customers have been trusting for over six decades. This includes our route planning, replenishment strategy, and our response to service calls.
The judges were also impressed by our keen eye for future innovation, as we continue to lead by example. Without wishing to give much away, we are currently exploring the development of smart fridges as another unattended retail solution for customers.
Let’s see what 2024 brings. In the meantime, you can read more about our award here.
A sustainable paper water cup is here – December 2023
Coinadrink was delighted to offer our water customers a sustainable paper cup solution in December, that would hopefully alleviate any concern or confusion surrounding the impending plastic cup ban.
Go-Aqua, introduced by our Go-Pak supplier, is a stylish, 7oz paper water cup that can be totally recycled at the appropriate facilities. At a fantastic price of £24 excluding VAT on Refreshment Shop, both new and existing customers can now enjoy a convenient drinking cup that will also fit in their existing dispensers.
Thank you for your support during our 61st year trading!
2023 was certainly filled with lots of memories, then. Our 61st year trading included lots of award wins, new equipment added to our range, and a continuing emphasis on our own staff, customers, and the wider community.
In addition to what you have just read, we again of course hosted the usual charitable events ranging from the MacMillan Coffee Morning in September and Christmas Jumper Day in December. Fundraising is just a natural part of our DNA here at Coinadrink.
We also added lots of new customers who have embraced the latest in refreshment solutions, from tabletop coffee machines to grand Micro Market facilities.
To sign off 2023, we just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 12 months. Our customers, our suppliers, chamber members and of course our hard-working team; your continuing support really does mean the world to us.
From everyone at Coinadrink Limited and divisions, we hope you have a fantastic Christmas and New Year.
Here’s to 2024!
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