Hot-Beverage
Vending And OCS Pioneer Thomas Nesser Dies At 80
by Tim Sanford, Editor
ROCHESTER, NY -- Thomas A. Nesser, the founder of
Sirness Services here, died on Feb. 26. He was 80.
Nesser began his involvement with
the workplace services industry in western New York in the early 1950s, working
for Kwik Kafe of Rochester. Kwik Kafe offered franchises to operate the
brand-new coffee vending machines invented by Cyrus Melikian and Lloyd Rudd, who
later established Rudd-Melikian. The Rochester franchise was one of the first.
The operation was one of four
charter members of Automatic Retailers of America (now Aramark) in 1959. Nesser
remained with the fast-growing organization, assuming responsibilities for
account sales and retention. ARA became the dominant provider of vending and
foodservice management services in its market area.
In 1977, Nesser recognized the
potential of office coffee service, then a new, fast-growing industry. He and
his son, Thomas Jr., established Sirness Services, ably assisted by their local
coffee roaster friends Sid and Bob Maves.
The new company began selling Maves/La
Touraine coffee to business and industry clients, and soon grew out of the
founders' basement. Within six years, Sirness Services employed more than 20
people and was selling a wide variety of local and national brands. It since has
grown into a diversified workplace services operation offering not only office
refreshment services but also full-line vending. The company today has a staff
of 40 and annual revenues of $7 million.
A strong believer in quality coffee
and customer service, Nesser watched the growth of the specialty coffee industry
with great satisfaction. Sirness Services was the first to offer the Keurig
coffee system in the Rochester area.
Sirness Services will continue Tom
Nesser's legacy under the direction of his nephew Mark Wahl, a 16-year veteran
of the business, and Tom Nesser Jr., who has been involved from the beginning.
Vending Times, March 2011, Vol. 51, No. 3
Industry
loses Thomas Nesser
Vending and OCS veteran Thomas A.
Nesser passed away recently after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80.
Nesser was the founder and president of Sirness Services Inc. in Rochester N.Y.
which he founded in 1977. He was involved in the vending and foodservice
industry in western New York since the early 1950s.
Automatic Merchandiser, March 2011
Industry
Loses Coffee Service And Vending Veteran Thomas A. Nesser
Vending and coffee service veteran
Thomas A. Nesser passed away recently after a year-long battle with cancer. He
was 80. Nesser was the founder and president of Sirness Services Inc. in
Rochester N.Y. which he founded in 1977. He was involved in the vending and
foodservice industry in western New York since the early 1950s.
He first worked for Kwik Kafe of
Rochester, one of the first Kwik Kafe franchises. Kwik Kafe of Rochester sold
out to Automatic Retailers of America (ARA Services/Aramark) in 1959. ARA became
the predominant provider of vending and food service management in the Rochester
area with over 40 routes, achieving $10 million in annual sales in 1970.
Nesser, with the help of his son Tom
Jr. and his local coffee roaster friend's Sid and Bob Maves, began selling Maves/LaTouraine
coffee to business and industry customers. The company evolved into a
diversified operation employing over 20 people in the first six years.
Sirness Services is a full line
vending and coffee service operation employing 40 people and occupying 40,000
square feet, with revenues of $7 million. Sirness Services continues under the
leadership of Nesser's nephew, Mark Wahl, who has worked with Sirness for 16
years, and Tom Nesser Jr., who has been involved with the company since the
beginning.
VendingMarketwatch.com, March 10, 2011
