SandenVendo America - History
1937
The Vendo Company created the first vending system called “The Red Top”.
The beverage-vending machine, so universally recognized today, traces its roots back to the 1930’s. The first machines were not coin-operated, but simple coolers packed with ice and bottles of soda that operated on the honor system. That didn't necessarily denote a more honest time, but rather a lack of needed technology. When the first coin-operated machines appeared, they worked poorly, jamming frequently and accepting almost any kind of slug. Brothers Elmer F. and John T. Pierson changed all that. The Piersons purchased a patent for a simple, inexpensive and reliable vending lid. This lid could be locked on top of the Westinghouse and Frigidaire chest coolers already present in service stations and grocery stores, thereby converting them into vending machines. With $3,000 in start-up capital, the brothers started The Vendo Company in 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri. Joined by J.E. Hagstrom and his company, they developed the first truly workable vending system, a lid called "The Red Top". The lid moved the delivery opening to the next bottle in the chest, rather than moving bottles through the ice. This innovation eliminated the jamming problem and made the machine simple and practical. “The Red Top” was not only responsible for creating a major market almost overnight, it also changed the world of beverage retailing forever.
1941
The Vendo Company was authorized to produce 5,000 “Red Tops” for military training camps and war plants.
The 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor curtailed Vendo’s production, like that of most other peacetime industries. Despite severe wartime restrictions, soft drinks were classified as "essential for soldier morale" by the U.S. War Department, and Vendo was authorized to produce 5,000 "Red Tops" for military training camps and war plants. Vendo further supported the nation’s war effort by producing radar detection systems and associated electronic equipment. The company earned an impressive seven Army-Navy "E" awards for excellence in fulfilling Army and Navy production contracts.
1950s
The vending industry exploded geographically and in scope.
The end of the war brought about a prosperous new era for America and for the vending industry. In the 50s, the industry exploded geographically and in scope. As more Americans began to move into the suburbs, soft drink bottlers rushed to extend their vending operations. Vending also began to expand internationally, with Vendo products being shipped to 20 different countries by 1956. Beverage vending machines had a new look in the 50s upright, streamlined units with round-cornered cabinets. Vendo built a new plant during this decade and introduced vending machines to support multiple products such as packaged snacks, fresh foods, coffee, milk, and ice cream. These machines brought more variety to the public and allowed bottlers to significantly increase their volume. The company tested automated convenience stores, restaurants and drive-in refreshment stations serviced totally by vending machines.
1956
The Vendo Company merged with former competitor, Vendorlator Manufacturing Company, and established itself in Fresno, CA.
Like Vendo, Vendorlator had been in business since 1937. The company was founded as a co-partnership by Harry S. Childers and Howard M. Tripp. While Vendo had mainly served Coca-Cola bottlers before the merger, Vendorlator counted Pepsi-Cola and Royal Crown among its principal customers. After the merger, the combined companies became a major supplier for the entire soft drink industry. The Vendo Company went public in 1956, and company stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1961, where it remained for over 20 years.
1960s
Vendo expanded its international division and was one of the first to introduce vending machines for canned beverages.
The 60s were a time of worldwide expansion for Vendo. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began manufacturing Vendo beverage coolers in Japan in 1962. Vendo international division also had licensed manufacturing operations in England and Mexico. In 1964 it began new subsidiaries and contract manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Australia, Italy, Germany, France and Canada. Always the industry pioneer, in the late 60s Vendo was one of the first to introduce vending machines for canned beverages. These machines were a great advantage for bottlers, who could fit nearly twice as many cans as bottles in a machine of the same size.
1970s
The energy and oil crises struck a blow to many American industries, and vending was no exception.
Vending machines were considered nonessential and many companies cut back on their purchases. Also, due to the oil crisis and many factory closings, fewer machines were placed in factories and gas stations. In the mid-70s, Vendo left Kansas City and sold off its snack machine division. Retaining only its cold drink machine line, the company split its operations between the Fresno plant and a new facility in Corinth, Mississippi.
1988
The Vendo Company was acquired by the Sanden Corporation of Japan.
In 1981, Vendo concentrated all of its domestic manufacturing and administrative offices in Fresno and in 1988, was acquired by the Sanden Corporation of Japan. For over 50 years, Sanden has been a leading manufacturer of automotive air-conditioning compressors and systems, vending machines, commercial freezers and refrigerated showcases. The company infused Vendo with superior technology, state-of-the-art equipment and research facilities.
1990s
Vendo continued to expand on a global scale.
The 90s brought continued technological innovation and global expansion for Vendo. Some of these advances included programmable electronic vending machines, high-capacity machines that accommodate plastic bottles in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and machines that accept debit cards and "smart cards."
2005
Vendo moved its headquarters and operations to Dallas, TX and was renamed SandenVendo America, Inc.
In 2005, Vendo moved its headquarters and operations to Dallas, TX, and in doing so was renamed SandenVendo America Inc., signifying a new global synergy with parent and sister companies in Japan, North America, and Europe. Today, SandenVendo employs almost 400 people in its new facility in Dallas and works in conjunction with numerous Vendo sales, service and manufacturing operations throughout the world. SandenVendo continues to expand its reach into markets such as Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe. From “The Red Top” affixed to a simple cooler filled with ice and bottles of soda to the electronically controlled, high-capacity, multi-product vending machines of today, SandenVendo continues to blaze trails in innovation, design, technology, manufacturing and customer service.
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