BVA Annual Meeting & NAMA Spring Expo Combined in 2005

CHICAGO, IL - September 2 - In Spring 2005, the Better Vendors Association (BVA) will co-locate its

show with the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) Spring Expo, Richard M. Geerdes, NAMA President and CEO announced today. The move is designed to benefit members of both organizations.

While NAMA is the national trade association representing the vending, coffee service and on-site food management industries, BVA is a non-profit purchasing cooperative owned by independent operators across the country designed to help members gain the best rebates from national consumer recognized suppliers. Previously both the BVA and NAMA held trades shows in the spring.

In announcing the new arrangement Geerdes said, “We're delighted that BVA will be co-locating their trade show with ours because it makes sense for the members of both organizations. BVA members get all the benefits of a NAMA show, and exhibitors benefit from a higher number of show attendees who otherwise would be unable to attend. It's a win-win for everyone involved, and we congratulate BVA on their decision to join us.”

BVA's Executive Director Brian Faley explained that their organization was impressed with the size of the NAMA Spring Expo which eventually led to the decision to work with NAMA to add the BVA show to NAMA's Spring Expo. Said Faley, “We were very impressed with the quality of NAMA's show which is why we decided it would be mutually beneficial to put the two shows together. We are pleased to offer this powerful benefit for both our members and NAMA,” he said

Under the new arrangement, BVA members will still have exclusive meetings and events, but will be invited to participate in NAMA Spring Expo events as well, such as the Western Golf Classic and the Quality Coffee Certification Program. There will be joint events as well, such as a NAMA Reception hosted by exhibitors for operators for all NAMA and BVA members. The two organizations are also looking at a variety of other benefits for both BVA and NAMA members. The two organizations are working out the specifics and details will be released as soon as they are available.

Concluded Geerdes, “We're excited about the new relationship and look forward to welcoming BVA members to our show in the Spring.”

NAMA is the national trade association of the food and refreshment vending, coffee services and foodservice management industries including on-site, commissary, catering, & mobile. Its membership is comprised of service companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to operating service companies. The basic mission of the association, to collectively advance and promote the automatic merchandising and OCS industries, still guides NAMA today as it did in 1936, the year of the organization's founding. For more information contact NAMA at (312) 346-0370 or visit their website @ www.vending.org