Spanish vending operator Eboca and Italian company Cattelan Distributori Automatici (CDA) have formalised a partnership to design to promote knowledge-sharing, innovation and collaboration across the vending industry.

The two companies, which operate vending machines offering coffee and other hot drinks, cold beverages, snacks and food, established their Cultural and Entrepreneurial Twinning during a two-day meeting in Italy at the beginning of September.

The relationship began in July, when representatives from CDA visited Eboca’s facilities in Spain. The visit provided an opportunity for the Italian team to learn more about Eboca’s culture and approach to vending machines.

Eboca subsequently travelled to Italy to formally establish the twinning.

The companies said the initiative is not intended to be a conventional commercial agreement, but rather a long-term exchange of knowledge, experiences and values while both businesses remain independent.

In a LinkedIn post announcing the partnership, CDA said: “Two companies. Two countries. Two stories. A shared vision of the future.”

The partnership will focus on five areas: people, innovation, responsibility, territory and the future. It is intended to give both organisations an opportunity to compare approaches and learn from different business environments and operating models.

In their own LinkedIn post, Eboca said the initiative has an ‘unusual purpose’ for a business partnership: rather than focusing on what each company can gain commercially from the other, its value lies in what the two organisations can learn together.

The companies plan to organise further visits, employee meetings and discussions covering vending technology, sustainability and the challenges facing the industry. As the partnership develops, Eboca and CDA will look to turn their initial exchange into an ongoing platform for sharing practical experience and exploring the future of vending.

Top image: © Eboca