Canadian Vending

Men on the Move
Mr. Baker formed Baker Vend-
ing Services in 1954. In 1959, he
became Executive Vice-President of
Vendomatic Services Limited and
in 1962, when the corporate name
was changed to Versafood Services
Limited, Mr. Baker was President
of the Company. He was appoint-
ed Chairman of the Board in 1967.
Until November 1970, he held the
positions of Chairman and Presi-
dent.
VERSAFOOD
ANNOUNCEMENT
llan D. Baker, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
Senior management of Versafood
Services Limited has been streng-
thened by the appointment of Wil-
liam E. Emerson as president of
the Company. Mr. Emerson fills the
president's position following the
appointment of Allan D. Baker as
chairman and chief executive offi-
cer.
As founder of the Company, Mr.
Baker has seen Versafood grow to
become Canada's largest food ser-
vice management firm with domes-
tic sales reaching $60,000,000. In
:r;ecent years, Versafood has also ex-
tended its operations into England,
Germany and the Caribbean. With
anticipated growth potential in over-
seas markets, Mr. Baker retains re-
sponsibility for the Company's in-
ternational development.
Mr. Emerson joins Versafood
following a distinguished business
career with Pepsi-Cola Canada Ltd.
and PepsiCo International. Immedi-
ately prior to his recent appoint-
ment, he was chairman of the board
of Pepsi-Cola Canada Ltd. and
vice-president and general manager,
operations of PepsiCo International.
Since early 1969, Mr. Emerson's
office has been located in New
York. He now returns to Canada
where he is well known in the busi-
ness community.
Canadian Vending Magazine
Allan D. Baker is Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Of-
ficer of Versafood Services Limi-
ted.
Founded by Baker, the company
has grown, in 16 years, to over 60
million dollars of sales in Canada,
and, as well, bas associate compan-
ies in Jamaica, Germany and Eng-
land.
Versafood employs about 6,500
persons. Its stock is listed on the
Toronto, Montreal and Calgary ex-
changes and has nearly 50% of its
shares on the Canadian market.
Among the company's accounts
are hospitals, homes for the aged,
universities, colleges, schools and
leading business and manufacturing
companies. Through Heritage Ser-
vices, Versafood operates restaur-
ants and hotels, including the 10-
restaurant complex in the Toronto-
Dominion Centre, one of the largest
single food complexes in Canada.
Since the beginning of 1968,
Versafood has owned Jiffy Foods
Limited, a mobile catering company
located in Toronto; Robert-Stewart
Foods Limited, a producer of bak-
ery products to the food service in-
dustry and retail outlets; Arco Au-
tomatic Retail Company Limited
and Coffee Bar Corporation, opera-
tors of vending locations in Mont-
real and southern Ontario.
In February, 1969, Versafood •
purchased a 70 % interest in Ap-
etito-Fertigmenu, the largest pro-
cessor of frozen pre-prepared meals
in Europe. Apetito is located in
Rheine, Germany, and is a supplier
to industry, institutions, offices and
restaurants throughout West Ger-
many and is considered to have a
tremendous growth potential within
the European Common Market
area.
In March, 1969, Versafood en-
tered the airline catering business
through the purchase of a 50% in- ·
terest in Versair In-Flite Services
Limited of Jamaica. This rapidly
growing company services all air
carriers operating out of the Island
of Jamaica. It also operates air ter-
minal restaurant and bar facilities
in Kingston a.nd Montego Bay. Mr.
Baker is Chairman of the Board of
Versair In-Flite Services Limited.
B.C. Litter Legislation in Effect
B.C. is the first province to put litter legislation into
effect, but other provinces have the matter under re-
view. Pollution is certainly a high priority for public
and press agitation and governments and business must
take such representation into consideration. However,
it is to be hoped that if further legislation is needed it
will be better than that introduced in B.C.
33