22 February 2024 – Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to acquire BDS Vending Solutions.
BDS Vending, founded in 1993, is a well-established food and drink vending services business in Ireland, with a fleet of approximately 2,000 vending machines. The two founders, David Mullan and Brian Berry, will continue to lead BDS Vending throughout the transition period.
This proposed acquisition is part of Coca-Cola HBC’s strategy to enhance its route-to-market capabilities and will provide new opportunities across its well-rounded cold and hot beverages and snacks portfolio. BDS Vending also brings proven technology and services, which will empower Coca-Cola HBC to develop further capabilities across its markets.
The Proposed Transaction is subject to approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in the Republic of Ireland and is anticipated to be completed over the coming months.
Davide Franzetti, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland & Northern Ireland, commented:
“We are delighted to be announcing this proposed acquisition of BDS Vending and we look forward to working with the BDS team. BDS will provide us with a joint platform to build capabilities in our route-to-market, to offer our customers greater choice and to further enhance our consumer experience.”
David Mullan and Brian Berry, commented:
“In-line with our commitment to the vending industry over the past 30 years we feel it’s the right time to have BDS Vending join forces with Coca-Cola HBC and transition our business model to become part of a larger group with a much wider geographic reach. We have worked hard on innovation and our vending offering over the past three decades so bringing this model to the Coca-Cola HBC family will be an exciting journey.
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About Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland is the authorised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company for the island, responsible for the manufacture, distribution, sale and channel marketing of its beverage portfolio.
Coca-Cola HBC produces global brands Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Appletiser and Schweppes, as well as locally owned brands Deep RiverRock and Fruice. Coca-Cola HBC also distributes premium spirits ranges for The Campari Group, Jack Daniels and Coke ready to drink, and Edrington. In 2023, Coca-Cola HBC acquired Finlandia Vodka from Brown-Forman.
In 2020, Coca-Cola HBC moved into the coffee industry and began distributing the Costa ready-to-drink variants, beans and pods in retail. In 2021, Coca-Cola HBC acquired a 30% equity shareholding in Caffé Vergnano. Caffé Vergnano launched in Ireland and Northern Ireland and continues to grow across the hospitality sector.
The business has a strong heritage on the island since the establishment of bottling operations in 1939. The company employs over 750 people through its office in Dublin, manufacturing facility in Lisburn, and depots in Cork, Tuam and Tipperary.
The company’s sustainability leadership has long been recognised internationally. In 2023, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices ranked Coca Cola HBC as the #1 global beverage leader in sustainability. Locally, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland was awarded ‘Best Business’ by the Belfast Telegraph in 2023, in no small part due to its sustainability commitments, as well and ‘Sustainability Team of the Year’ as ‘Gold Plastic Pledge Member’ at Repak’s Pakman Awards in 2023.
About BDS Vending Solutions Ltd
BDS Vending is a privately-held dedicated food and drink vending services business that offers full-service vending solutions, including machine sales, supply, operation, servicing and customer support services. BDS Vending, founded in 1993 by David Mullan and Brian Berry, is based in Dublin and primarily active in Ireland with minor operations in Northern Ireland. It operates depots in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Sligo, Limerick and Wexford.
BDS Vending sells a range of different products, including cold beverages, hot beverages, snacks and a limited fresh food assortment. BDS Vending provides vending services to customers operating across a range of different channels including workplace, education, healthcare, sports and leisure, and entertainment. In addition to its vending services offering, BDS Vending is also active in providing contract catering services to offices and other work environments.