DATA management company Brulines has acquired a vending machine software specialist to add to its growing stable of businesses.

The Stockton business, which also develops and sells technology to measure the amount of beer sold in pubs and fuel in forecourts, paid an undisclosed sum for Oxford-based Lookout Solutions.

Lookout has developed a management software application for the vending market and has clients including a  multinational brand owner and soft drinks giant AG Barr among its customers.

AIM-listed Brulines announced the acquisition at the same time as it updated the market on trading for the six months to the end of September. The interim results will be published in December.

It said trading in the core beer monitoring business has been pleasing, despite some initial delays in installing its iDraught beer measuring system in some bars.

Its fast-growing fuel solutions business has resolved some initial integration issues and Brulines says it has made good progress in winning new business.

And it is continuing to cut losses on its Vianet vending division, which Lookout will become part of.

Brulines said: Whilst the board fully expects the difficult economic environment and current challenging trading conditions to continue for some time yet, the future growth prospects across the group's leisure and fuel solutions divisions are very encouraging and management continues to view the future with confidence.