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SUCCESS STORY: By Alfonso Flores, Assistant Editor Tom DiNardo and Jack Yuppa of Culinary Ventures Vending in Union, N.J. are always looking for a way to stay ahead of the competition. By utilizing multiple technological platforms, this company has proven itself a leader in innovation. C ulinary Ventures Vending (CVV) in Union, N.J. is dedicated to vending — specifcally vending machines. The 23-route vending company, which serves the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, has declared a commitment to adding technology to its machines that places CVV ahead of the innovative curve within the vending industry and helps the company succeed in the highly competitive East coast market. Co-owners Jack Yuppa and Tom DiNardo use some of the latest hardware and software the vending industry has to offer to run their business. This belief in innovation in business is especially interesting considering that DiNardo has avoided using a personal computer for as long as anyone can remember. "I, Tom DiNardo don't turn on a computer," he said, "but I can't let that stop me from running my business." This commitment to technology is shared by others at CVV. "You have a bunch of dinosaurs in the industry that don't want to become extinct," Vikan Manoukian, CEO of CVV said. "Many of the operators want to stay in the dark ages, but Tom has the foresight to embrace the new technology." A recent example of CVV embracing technology is its announcement to install Crane Merchandising Systems Currenza Navigator boxes on 3,000 vending machines. Completed OPERATION PROFILE by the end of 2013, CVV believes the technology will better serve customers while also increasing sales and effciencies in the entire operation. Humble beginnings CVV offcially started as Culinary Ventures International in 1994 when DiNardo and Yuppa, along with three other individuals decided to purchase what was then Vendicraft. Each of the fve partners had all been a part of the vending or food service industry, but had never owned their own business. Yuppa recalls frst getting into business with DiNardo. "Tom and I lived in the same town and he happened to be in the vending business as well," Yuppa said. "It made sense for me to ask him to be partners and he agreed." The company began as a cafeteria service provider that dabbled in vending. It stayed that way until 2000, when it switched its focus to strictly vending. Two of the co-owners left and one retired, leaving Yuppa and DiNardo to run the operation, now called Culinary Ventures Vending, as president and vice president, respectively. Early focus on technology Not long after switching to vending, Yuppa and DiNardo adopted Crane Profle: Culinary Ventures Vending Founded: 1994 Owners: Jack Yuppa and Tom DiNardo Headquarters: Union, N.J. Number of routes: 23 Number of employees: 48 Hardware and software suppliers: Crane-Streamware, LightSpeed Main equipment suppliers: Crane Annual Sales: Not Revealed Joan Akoto, employee at Culinary Ventures Vending, counts the profits in the money room. May 2013 VendingMarketWatch.com Automatic Merchandiser 27