GVS REFRESHES THE STAFF AT HMP EVERTHORPE

Vending equipment and service specialist GVS has been chosen by HMP Everthorpe to provide a range of machines to offer a 24-hour refreshment service for its staff.  It is the first time that there has been vending at the site and the response so far has been excellent.

GVS was contacted when the prison decided it was not financially viable to offer a manned catering facility on a 24-hour basis.  It was necessary to find a solution to give staff access to cold drinks, snacks, confectionery and food at any time of the day or night.  With the previous system, there was very little room to display products or hold stock, so vending seemed an ideal way of storing maximum products in minimum space.  Following consultation with GVS’s National Sales & Marketing Manager, Pat Gibney, two Necta machines were chosen; the Snakky, a snack, can and bottle vendor with a compact footprint and the Starfood, a flexible carousel machine which can vend anything from single fruits to plated meals.  The machines are sited in the Officer’s Mess Lounge.

The machines are cleaned and filled by on-site catering staff with various food items prepared internally, giving the catering team full control.  A key benefit of GVS’s service is that it does not tie its customers into an ingredients contract, meaning they can source products and the best possible prices. 

“The response to the new machines has been very positive,” commented Lisa Britchford, HMP Everthorpe’s Catering Manager.  “The staff are pleased with the variety of products that the machines can offer.  The fact that the items for the food vendor are on site ensures value for money and consistent quality.”

The purchase was completed through GVS’s OGCbuying.solutions contract, which allows public sector organisations to purchase equipment through GVS at exclusive low rates and eliminating the need to go out to tender.  “HMP Everthorpe were reassured by our OGCbuying.solutions contract as it shows that we have been fully evaluated for value for money and quality of service,” commented Pat Gibney.  “There are many circumstances within prisons where vending can provide a practical and cost effective solution; from staff feeding to providing drinks and snacks for visitors to small, tabletop drinks machines for training or meeting areas.”

“We were delighted to help HMP Everthorpe design a solution to meet its staff feeding requirements.  GVS were, in fact, the only company to respond to their enquiries!” added Pat Gibney.  “We are very much looking to develop our links with the Prison Service during 2006 and beyond.”

Notes to Editors:
GVS offer a unique and comprehensive service proposition alongside unbiased, unaligned advice on all aspects of beverage service and equipment for drink, snack and food provision.  GVS is totally independent and provides equipment from the UK's leading manufacturers.  With over 100 staff, 80 of which making up the Service team, it also offers an unsurpassed level of after-sales service and maintenance to its wide-reaching customer base.  GVS is proud to hold the OGCbuying.solutions contract (A126648/C) for the provision of vending equipment and water coolers to the public sector.

Issued by Sarah Corbett for GVS sarah.corbett@gv-solutions.co.uk.

For further information please call 01342 843939,
email info@gv-solutions.co.uk or visit www.gv-solutions.co.uk.