Five Star Breaktime Solutions acquires KBS Vending
Five Star Breaktime Solutions finalized the acquisition of KBS Vending LLC in Dayton, Ohio, on February 13.
KBS Vending LLC primarily serviced vending machines and some refreshment services such as coffee, water and tea. Five Star anticipates adding the KBS accounts to its existing routes. “While this acquisition adds good business to our routes, it does not significantly change our footprint in Dayton or Ohio overall,” said C.J. Recher, vice president of marketing for Five Star Breaktime Solutions.
“We plan to provide as good or better daily service to newly acquired clients. Our team carefully evaluates each service location over time to determine if any of our other offerings are a good fit to help each client elevate the Breaktime experience for their on-site associates and guests,” he added.
Five Star works with each new customer, including those gained through acquisition, to ensure the convenience services offered at the location meet the clients' needs, noted Pat Barger, director of mergers and acquisitions at Five Star Breaktime Solutions.
“As a general rule, we are able to offer new products which have not previously been available, especially through our culinary center prepared foods and our extensive vendor partnerships,” he said. The company also looks to upgrade the equipment or technology, most notably with enhanced credit card readers that offer a number of payment options.
The company also offers “a multitude of services that include not only vending, but micro market, coffee, water, pantry, dining and catering services. So, we not only enhance the associate experience but can also provide our new clients with a one-stop shop for their company’s food and beverage needs,” Barger added.
The acquisition is the latest by Five Star Breaktime Solutions, which has facilitated its growth in key markets with acquisitions that make sense, Recher said. “In general, acquisitions come in all shapes and sizes with a mix of attributes. We like to partner with operators who are well established and respected — with a history of solid service and relationships to their accounts, and strong ties to their community. Also, operations with a high level of organization and well-maintained vehicles and machines are more attractive,” said Recher.
More about KBS Vending
Kent Smith, founder of KBS Vending, has worked in the vending industry since high school, aside from a foray into civil engineering after college. Returning to the vending industry, he worked for Derringer and Anytime Breaktime, primarily repairing and refurbishing vending equipment, before launching KBS Vending in 1997. During his tenure, he grew the company from two to more than 50 accounts.
Smith plans to retire.
What they are saying
The acquisition will expand Five Star’s business across Dayton. “We appreciate the confidence Kent has in Five Star Breaktime Solutions to assume ownership of his business. We also applaud his 40-plus years of service to the industry, and wish Kent the very best in his retirement,” said Pat Barger, Five Star’s director of mergers and acquisitions, said in a release.
“We're thrilled to welcome KBS Vending customers to our family as we continue to expand our growth in Dayton, Ohio. This acquisition marks an exciting milestone in our journey, and we're eager to provide the same high-quality service and support that our customers have come to expect,” said Keith Survant, Five Star’s senior vice president of the North Region, in a release.
Read more about acquisitions by Five Star Breaktime Solutions on VendingMarketWatch.com
Linda Becker | Editor-in-Chief
Linda Becker is editor-in-chief of Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com. She has more than 20 years of experience in B2B publishing, writing, editing and producing content for magazines, websites, webinars, podcasts, newsletters and eBooks, primarily for manufacturing and process engineering audiences. Since joining Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com, Linda has developed a new appreciation for the convenience services industry and the essential role it plays. She is dedicated to serving readers by covering the latest news in the vending, office coffee service and micro market industry. She can be reached at 262-203-9924 or [email protected].
