Tayto partner buys vending machine firm in England

A SISTER company of Tayto crisps in Northern Ireland has bought another UK vending machine business in a multi-million pound deal.

Tayto’s affiliate company Montagu Group has bought Bathbased West Country Vending Service for an undisclosed amount.

The deal includes West Country subsidiary Hilton Vending, and brings an additional 5,300 operational vending machines under the group’s control, the company says.

Earlier this year the Montagu Group announced it had bought Freedom Refreshments Ltd — the first vending acquisition by the Tayto family.

Paul Allen, chief executive of the Montagu Group, said: “West Country is a long-established, route-based business with robust strongholds in the areas in which it operates.

“This acquisition is the next progressive step in our strategic development programme and increases our share of the GB vending-solutions sector significantly, bringing an extra 5,300 vending machines online.

“West Country is both disciplined and highly customer-focused with a family-oriented ethos similar to the Tayto Group, which, along with its fixed revenue streams, made it an attractive proposition.

“Although we are still in the very early days of our expansion into the GB vending sector, we are making large strides, building our profile and presence rapidly. We have acquired more than 12,500 vending machines in the space of a year which, in turn, has increased the group’s turnover substantially.”