Some recent developments in the New Zealand domestic coffee and vending markets have significant implications for Kiwi consumers regarding both choice and ultimately, hot beverage quality.

It has become apparent in recent years that the large multinational soft drink manufacturers are moving into the hot beverage markets worldwide as they have realised that the chilled and carbonated beverage market has reached a plateau and will show very little growth in future.

Not surprisingly therefore, it is understood that Coca Cola Amatil have recently acquired an Auckland based coffee vending wholesaler / retailer, Cafe Direct.

Due to the Coke and Subway connection with the chilled beverage supply,
Cafe Direct have become more than just the 'preferred' supplier for Subway for coffee vending machines and coffee / soluble supplies.

The General understands that Subway franchise owners are apparently being more or less directed into taking Cafe Direct products and machines whereas previously they had some discretion in sourcing the best available equipment.

Cafe Direct has been well known in the past as a reseller of the of the Colibri, a smallish and funky looking coffee vending machine, but with very limited capacities, all plastic construction (including the brewer) and rather average hot beverage output quality.

If the cries of horror from some of the Subway fans are any indication this enforced provision of less than great coffee on the customer, has not gone down at all well.

This development is all the more interesting since other large fast food chains such as McDonalds are opting to go for fresh milk super-automatic coffee machines.

More to follow - watch this space - the Oz invasion is on again and Kiwis are being taken for a ride.

Long established and well known local NZ vending company National Vending forced to yield local coffee market to the Aussies!