Coca-Cola HBC buys Irish vending-machine firm BDS

Coca-Cola HBC, the Switzerland-based bottling partner of the Coca-Cola Company, has announced it is snapping up an Irish vending-machine business to "unlock profitable opportunities".

The group said its Northern Ireland subsidiary has acquired 100% of BDS Vending Solutions, an established food and drink vending services business with around 2,000 vending machines, for an undisclosed sum.

BDS is headquartered in Dublin but has operational centres across Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Galway, Sligo, Limerick and Wexford, and provides machine sales, supply, operation, servicing to customers.

The acquisition of BDS is "consistent with Coca-Cola HBC's strategy to enhance its route-to-market capabilities, including last mile delivery, while at the same time it will unlock profitable opportunities across its well-rounded cold and hot beverages and snacks portfolio", the company said in a statement on Thursday.

"BDS Vending furthermore provides a valuable building block, with proven technology and services, from which Coca-Cola HBC plans to develop additional capabilities across its markets."