Automatic Merchandiser

APR 2014

Automatic Merchandiser serves the business management, marketing, technology and product information needs of its readers including vending operators, coffee service operators, product brokers, and product and equipment distributors in print.

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Mike Edwards of Greensboro Vending & Cofee Co. Wins Route Driver of the Year By Adrienne Zimmer, Assistant Editor For over 14 years, Mike Edwards has provided top-notch service to clients on behalf of Greensboro Vending & Coffee Co. located in Greensboro, N.C. MIKE EDWARDS loves his job as a route driver for the opportunity to meet new people and try new products. Edwards, who began his vending career nearly two decades ago, has worked for Greensboro Vending & Coffee for fourteen years. As a large vending company, Greens- boro Vending needed a route driver who could easily manage accounts with profes- sionalism, responsibility and timeliness. Mike Edwards is that route driver. Edwards, the 2013 Route Driver of the Year fourth quarter winner, will be crowned the 2013 yearly winner in Chicago, Ill., at the 2014 NAMA OneShow. Where it all began When Mike Edwards was twenty-one years old, a friend from high school offered to get him a job at J&H; Vendors Sup- ply in North Carolina, working in the warehouse. Years later the company was bought out by Vend South and Edwards found himself in an unfamiliar place: as manager of a vending company. After about one year, Vend South was acquired by Vendors Supply, located in Salisbury, N.C. For Edwards, the constant acquisitions weren't a problem, but when it came to commuting, he decided he couldn't travel the distance to work for Vendors Supply, so he gave up the managerial position in hopes of fnding work closer to home. Edwards' supervisor at the time made one phone call to Greensboro Vending and the company hired Edwards within the week. Like most route drivers, Edwards didn't know at the age of twenty-one that he wanted to stay in the vending indus- try. "After I was in the industry for a few years and after I'd worked in multiple positions, I began to think that this is what I wanted to do," said Edwards. autm_52-53_0414RDOY_F.indd 52 3/21/14 12:08 PM

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