BRULINES has snapped up another business to add to its stable of data capture companies across the pub, petrol forecourt and vending machine sectors.
The fast-growing Stockton-based group paid an undisclosed sum for Lookout Solutions, an Oxford company with clients including soft drinks producer AG Barr and a multinational brand .
A software application for the vending industry developed by Lookout will now be integrated into Brulines’ Vianet subsidiary, which is aiming to create a one-stop data measuring shop for the vending industry.
As part of the deal, Lookout’s founder and managing director Mark Boland has joined Vianet’s board as sales and marketing director.
Brulines chief executive James Dickson said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark Boland to Brulines.
“In addition to Lookout’s excellent vending management application completing our leading end-to-end solution for the sector, we gain a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the vending industry, which will prove invaluable as we continue to expand our presence and drive growth in the global vending market.”
The acquisition is the latest step in Brulines’ quest to create a market-leading company providing for the global vending sector, which started with the acquisition of Vianet in 2008.
The company, which also sells and develops technology to keep track of beer sold in pubs – its core iDraught beer monitoring business – and measures fuel sales in filling station forecourts, announced the Lookout deal at the same time as it issued a trading update.
The group said despite some initial delays in installations, trading in the beer monitoring division was “pleasing” in the six months to September 30. It has secured a number of “major customer” contract extensions and said the launch of its new Nucleus Smart system had been well received.
There were integration issues during the first quarter in the fuel solutions divisions but Brulines said they have now been resolved.
Brulines said: “The division is now trading positively and has made good progress in gaining new business as the market’s only end-to-end solution for forecourt operators.”
And it is reducing losses associated with Vianet, where it is chasing new sales opportunities with “several major international brand owners”.
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.”
Brulines interim results will be published on December 6.
