Vend Services, Inc. was founded in 1965 by Carl Sidwell. The idea for the
creation of his company came during his employment with Southern Bread Company and Frito-Lay. While working for these two companies he serviced vending company operators. Carl was
faced with huge delivery problems, as were his fellow route sales people and competitors. As the operator would open in early morning, there would be as many as ten different companies
waiting in line to deliver their products. It was very chaotic, time-consuming and costly in bookkeeping to process so
many delivery invoices. It seemed that more and more operators faced the same set of problems. Carl saw a need for a distribution company that could carry most all the products the operator
needed and deliver in one stop. He contacted some manufacturers in an attempt to start compiling a cross mix of items the operators wanted. The first manufacturer to sell to Vend Service, Inc. was
Chattanooga Bakery Moon Pies. He saw that he quickly needed to start adding other lines, including fresh baked items. Luckily there was such a bakery in the same small town where he
lived. Carl began buying from Pet Bakeries, which proved to be a key factor to his success. He was able to deliver pastry so fresh, there was still steam on the wrappers.
It was a huge step when Vend Service added Bluebird Juice from Lake Wales, Florida to his menu. This was the first non-pastry item he had tried to sell in five years since starting. It also demanded
he move his operations from his home to a real warehouse built in 1974. He would soon be forced to add an addition to the warehouse in 1976 to house the more than 25 items he sold to operators.
Carl sold his Rome business in 1984 to his two oldest sons and opened a 10,000 sq. foot facility in Orlando, Florida with his daughter and youngest son. Both businesses continued to grow and in
early 1986 Flowers Bakery made an offer for the Orlando site. Seeing this as an opportunity to retire, Carl accepted the offer. He made good on his part and retired to Ormand Beach with his wife Nell.
Both Diane and Mark returned to Rome in 1987 to work with their brothers and in 1988 doubled the size of their facility including for the first time a racking system that allowed for products to be
stored three levels high. Also the decision to add confections was made, a much debated decision that proved to be a turning point for Vend Service, Inc.
About this same time in 1991 Steve left Vend Service and Mike, Mark and Diane were successful in coaxing their Dad out of retirement and back to work only to undergo open-heart surgery soon
after. Carl thought getting back to work as soon as possible would be good therapy. He was able to come back at age 65 and make valuable decisions for the company.
In 1995 a brand new 40,000 sq. foot facility was built with a three-level system. Soon after an additional 40,000 sq. feet were added. In 2001 a facility was purchased in Ocala, Florida. In April
2002, just 37 years after Vend Service was conceived a freezer was added to the Rome facility and they began selling frozen items!
Vend Service is constantly strategizing with other industry veterans and partners to bring our customers the most value for their dollar.
Bringing Quality Brands to You
Vend Services, Inc. was founded in 1965 by Carl Sidwell. The idea for the
creation of his company came during his employment with Southern Bread Company and Frito-Lay. While working for these two companies he serviced vending company operators. Carl was
faced with huge delivery problems, as were his fellow route sales people and competitors. As the operator would open in early morning, there would be as many as ten different companies
waiting in line to deliver their products. It was very chaotic, time-consuming and costly in bookkeeping to process so
many delivery invoices. It seemed that more and more operators faced the same set of problems. Carl saw a need for a distribution company that could carry most all the products the operator
needed and deliver in one stop. He contacted some manufacturers in an attempt to start compiling a cross mix of items the operators wanted. The first manufacturer to sell to Vend Service, Inc. was
Chattanooga Bakery Moon Pies. He saw that he quickly needed to start adding other lines, including fresh baked items. Luckily there was such a bakery in the same small town where he
lived. Carl began buying from Pet Bakeries, which proved to be a key factor to his success. He was able to deliver pastry so fresh, there was still steam on the wrappers.