The AVA 2025 Annual Review is now to be had, offering an in-depth evaluation of the closing one year, highlighting developments and taking a look ahead to the demanding situations and alternatives dealing with the merchandising and automatic retail trade over the following yr and past. Highlights of the evaluation come with the next: 

AVA participants have persisted to turn resilience whilst the trade moved previous its pre-pandemic efficiency. Diversification and technological evolution have broadened the attraction to shoppers and glad the call for at high-foot fall environments akin to airports, teach stations and gymnasiums, whilst proceeding to care for high quality requirements.

Throughout 2025, the point of interest of the AVA group has been on serving to participants reduce during the noise. Whether thru coverage paintings, conversations with executive or day by day steering, the purpose has been to assist participants ship the excessive requirements that shoppers and shoppers now be expecting.

The annual census as soon as once more proved very important as a useful resource for operators making plans sustainable expansion, each this yr and past. As a core good thing about being a member, the whole census and marketplace document supply important knowledge and perception. Research unearths that product earnings rose 13% year-on-year, achieving £2.14 billion in 2014, whilst, with related classes incorporated, the full trade worth now stands at greater than £3.6 billion.

AVA participants have additionally benefited from coaching programmes, high quality audits and toughen during the Business Support Service. A big focal point in 2025 has been the redevelopment of the Engineer’s Electrical Safety Awareness coaching, with a brand new two-day face-to-face type presented.

The AVA’s occasions calendar has all the time been a spotlight and 2025 was once no exception. From golfing days in Wetherby and Surrey, to a sold-out Christmas Luncheon at 8 Northumberland in London, participants loved alternatives to community, rejoice achievements and construct relationships.

Looking to 2026, the point of interest might be on more potent advocacy, extra coaching, persisted toughen and a hectic occasions calendar. 

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