Senate bill to phase out $1 bill, promote dollar coin

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Tom Harkin,D-Ia., and John McCain,R-Ariz., introduced legislation to phase out the dollar bill over a 4-year period and force the country to begin using the 1.4 billion dollar coins that are in storage at the Federal Reserve. The bill is called the Currency Optimization, Innovation, and National Savings (COINS) Act. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has advocated for this change for more than two decades to help reduce government spending. They claim dollar coin will save money for those engaged in a large number of transactions like large retail stores, vending machines operators and transit agencies. “Promoting the dollar coin is a smart investment for our country that saves taxpayer’s money,” said Harkin. “With the deficit looming, we need only look at the cost savings from this effort to understand why this legislation is so urgently needed. I am hopeful that this bipartisan legislation will continue to gain traction in Congress.”

“With our nation’s debt now over $15 trillion, Congress must look at every area of the federal government, big or small, to save money,” said McCain. “By moving from the costly dollar bill to the dollar coin, we can save real money and show the American taxpayer that we are serious about cutting spending in Washington.”

Obama seeks school vending nutrition rules

The Obama administration is working on setting nutritional standards for foods that children can buy outside the cafeteria. The administration says it wants to ensure that what they eat contributes to good health and smaller waistlines. The proposed rules are expected within the next few weeks.

NAMA fights rest stop commercialization

The National Automatic Merchandising Association has sent a memo urging members to oppose S.B. 1813, a transportation bill which contains “The Portman Amendment” to allow for the “commercialization” of rest stop areas. NAMA believes commercialization of rest stops could diminish vending and rest stops.

Vistar Corp. launches green initiative

Vistar Corp. has teamed up with supplier companies such as Solo, Berkley Square, Silver Source, Tork and Chinet, to help grow its “green initiative” business program. For additional information on the green initiative, visit the customer center tab on the Vistar web site, www.vistar.com.

Massachusetts vendors fight fee hike

Massachusetts vending operators have begun placing stickers vending machines urging consumers to contact the state department of public health to protest a machine fee increase from $3 to $20.

DS Waters to buy Standard Companies

DS Waters of America, Inc. will acquire substantially all of the assets of Standard Companies Inc., one of the nation’s largest OCS firms. DS Waters is one of the country’s largest providers of home and office bottled water delivery service, with a growing presence in OCS and water filtration systems. Standard operates three business units: Standard Coffee Service®, StandGuard Quality Water Assurance® and Relyant Coffee Equipment Services™.

Richardsons halt Wow! Foods, join G & J Marketing Co.

Jimmy Richardson and his sons, Cole and Jason, recently discontinued Wow! Foods, a manufacturer of handheld foods serving the vending and convenience store channels, and have joined G & J Marketing Co., the Palm Harbor, Fla.-based vend product brokerage. Richardson said he and his son, Cole, are now independent contractors working as national sales reps for G & J Marketing, while his other son, Jason, is a vice president of operations. AdvancePierre Foods bought Wow! Foods packaging materials and continues to produce certain Wow! Foods products.

Sara Lee Corp. renames coffee and tea business

Sara Lee Corp. announced that its International Coffee and Tea company will be named D.E Master Blenders 1753.

Foley buys Robinson Vending

Foley Food & Vending Inc., Norwood, Mass., acquired Robinson Vending Inc., based in Bridgewater, Mass. for an undisclosed sum from owner Dave Robinson who has joined Foley as vice president of route operations. Robinson’s three routes have been folded into Foley’s Norwood facility. Foley now operates a total of nine routes with 20 employees.

InOne signs supplier pact with USG

InOne Technology, LLC, a subsidiary of Coin Acceptors, Inc., has been selected by Unified Strategies Group (USG), the vend operator buying co-op, as a provider of vending machine controller boards, DEX audit boxes, and LED replacement lights.

Canteen buys Rainbow Vending

Canteen Vending Services Inc. acquired Rainbow Vending in San Diego, Calif. from owner Greg Carron for an undisclosed sum. Canteen is leasing Rainbow Vending’s facility. Carron is presently working with Canteen in a consulting capacity.

Coffee Equipment Website debuts

Keith Zarin, a coffee equipment veteran, has launched Discount Coffee Equipment, an Internet Website, www.discountcoffeeequipment.com, offering brewers, grinders, cappuccino machines, airpots and repair parts.

Hershey buys protein drink maker

The Hershey Co. has acquired a controlling stake in Tri-Us Inc., the Colorado manufacturer of protein drinks called mix1 that Hershey invested in last year.

General Mills buys natural snack maker

General Mills Inc. acquired Food Should Taste Good, a natural snack foods that will become part of Small Planet Foods.