AVI Acquires Sanese in Deal Involving FM Top 50 Contract Companies

AVI Foodsystems, Inc., has acquired Sanese Services, Inc., in a deal involving FM Top 50 contract management companies. AVI, based in Warren, OH, is No. 6 on the 2013 FM Top 50 with revenues of $600 million in fiscal 2012. Sanese is No. 38 with revenues of $44 million in 2012.

AVI, originally a vending company, has been expanding its manual foodservice business for a decade and it now accounts for about as much of the business as vending. Together, the two areas now account for about three quarters of AVI's annual revenues. Sanese has a very similar business mix.

Both companies have made major recent commitments to developing unmanned micro-market concepts that can provide retail dining services to smaller B&I accounts round the clock at a viable cost and with greater quality and variety than has been possible through traditional vending. AVI says its Market C automated micro-market concept has seen impressive sales growth in the last year with its menu of freshly prepared gourmet selections, Tassimo branded hot beverages and a wide assortment of snacks, cold beverages and frozen choices.

Sanese has a similar concept, its Aroma Dolce Café/CK automated c-store, which provides fresh and packaged food and beverage options like chips, sandwiches, fresh fruits and salads as well as general merchandise. The product selections are fully customizable and can be scaled to fit the size of the host venue. The products are purchased by customers at a self-service kiosk that transmits real-time sales data to ensure that shelves remain fully stocked.