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Pinnacle Foods To Acquire Boulder Brands ▶ Pinnacle Foods Inc. and Boulder Brands, Inc. announced that they have entered into a defnitive agreement for the acquisi- tion of Boulder Brands by Pinnacle Foods, in a transaction that expands Pinnacle's presence in growing and complemen- tary health and wellness categories. The transaction also expands Pinnacle's presence in the natural and organic retail channel and provides Pinnacle with a new growth platform in refrigerated foods. The Coca-Cola Co. Announces Letters Of Intent With Three U.S. Bottlers ▶ The Coca-Cola Company announced it has signed let- ters of intent with three U.S. bottlers to grant expanded distribution territories in seven states as part of its ongoing efforts to refranchise half of company-owned U.S. bottler-delivered volume by the end of 2017. In each territory, The Coca-Cola Company will grant exclusive rights to these bottlers for the sale and distribution of bottler-delivered Coca-Cola beverages. In addition, Coca-Cola Refreshments, the company-owned U.S. bottler, will sell its sales and distribution assets to the expanding local bottling partner. New letters of intent provide that: • Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, based in Tampa, will assume additional territory in north Florida including Brevard, Daytona, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Orlando. • Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution, L.L.C., based in Chicago, will assume additional terri- tory including the state of Michigan, the majority of Wisconsin including Milwaukee, southern Minnesota including Minneapolis and portions of northeast Iowa and northern Illinois adjacent to its Chicago territory. • Atlantic Coca-Cola Bot- tling Company, based in Atlantic, Iowa, will assume new territory in southeast- ern Iowa, including Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities, western Illinois and northeastern Missouri. My Fit Foods™ Looks To Vending & Micro Markets ▶ My Fit Foods™, a producer and retailer of handcrafted, fresh, grab- and-go meals, announced the opening and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certifcation of its new, 30,000-square- foot central kitchen. The opening of the handcrafted production kitchen allows My Fit Foods to expand and sell its products through new, strategic distribution channels, including cor- porate cafeterias, vending and micro markets, as well as third party retailers. The central kitchen is expected to create over 150 new job opportunities in the Dallas- Fort Worth area. LightSpeed Automation Announces Integration With Vagabond Vending ▶ LightSpeed Automation announces a new integration with Vagabond Vending, the mobile-frst Vending Manage- ment Solution (VMS). The integration is in development and should be available to Vagabond and LightSpeed customers in early 2016. "We are very excited to bring LightSpeed to Vagabond's customers," stated David Marler, LightSpeed's VP of sales and marketing. "Their customer base matches up well with both our Xpress and Foundation systems. We look forward to bringing them the same effciencies and proftability that our larger operators enjoy." Seven Industry Companies Join The American Business Act On Climate Pledge ▶ Seven companies in the vending industry have taken part in the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, joining more than 140 companies. NAMA member compa- nies to participate thus far include: • 365 Retail Markets • All Star Services • Cantaloupe Systems • Compass Group and Canteen • Gourmet Coffee Service • Royal Vending • The Wittern Group "Sustainability is an important focus for busi- nesses looking to grow and adapt amid a changing environmental landscape," said Eric Dell, NAMA senior vice president of govern- ment affairs. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA Acquires Minority Stake In Club Coffee ▶ Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA has announced plans to acquire a 25.1 percent minority equity position in Club Coffee of Toronto, Canada, for $25.1 million (CDN). The parties anticipate their agreement will enable MZB to expand its reach in Canada and Club Coffee to enhance its U.S. pres- ence. The equity investment is expected to be fnalized before the end of this calen- dar year and is subject to the parties' successful conclu- sion of due diligence and other pre-closing conditions. C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S JAN. 27-28 TMVA Board Meeting Hotel Contessa San Antonio, TX Phone: 832-358-8080 www.tmva.org JAN. 17-19 Winter Fancy Food Show Moscone Center San Francisco, CA Phone: 646-878-0301 www.specialtyfood.com MAR. 17-19 NCA Annual Convention Hotel del Coronado San Diego, CA Phone: 212-766-4007 www.ncausa.org APR. 13-15 NAMA OneShow McCormick Convention Center Chicago, IL Phone: 312-346-0370 www.namaoneshow.org December 2015 VendingMarketWatch.com Automatic Merchandiser 9 T O P N E W S