[vendtalk] VERY IMPORTANT - CRH Catering Wins Vending Contract At Virginia Rest Stops

[Vandervoort's]

The following is of extreme interest to the entire Randolph Sheppard
program. 

>From Vending Times
Issue Date: Vol. 52, No. 9, September 2012, Posted On: 9/5/2012 

CRH Catering Wins Vending Contract At Virginia Rest Stops; Geico Sponsors
Safe Phone Zones

Emily Jed; Emily at vendingtimes.net 

RICHMOND, VA -- CRH Catering Co. has been awarded a three-year vending
contract at Virginia's rest areas and welcome centers, where Geico will
sponsor Safe Phone Zones. The public and private partnerships are expected
to defray the estimated $21 million annual cost of operating the 43 roadside
facilities. 

The Safe Phone Zones program, which aims to reduce distracted driving,
includes highway signs that encourage motorists to pull over to rest areas
and rest stops where they can safely use their mobile phones and devices.

Gov. Bob McDonnell said Virginia is the first state in the country to secure
a sponsor as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation's
Sponsorship, Advertising and Vending Enhancement (SAVE) initiative.

In April 2010, McDonnell reopened all of the commonwealth's closed rest area
facilities that now serve an estimated 33 million visitors each year. 

"By partnering with the private sector, we are not only keeping our rest
areas open, but we are making our roads safer by discouraging distracted
driving," said Gov. McDonnell. 

Pennsylvania's CRH Catering Co., which has locations in Richmond and
Norfolk, VA, will develop and manage a new program to generate additional
revenues that will help offset operating costs Virginia rest areas and
welcome centers. CRH has agreed to pay VDOT approximately $2 million
annually in revenue generated by the ongoing vending program and the new
Geico sponsorship.

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton said the state will
continue to work with the private and public sectors to develop "other
innovative funding alternatives."

Source:
http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=
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