From One Coffee Machine in a Children’s Ward to a Record Breaking, Family-Run Business — Built Entirely on Service
By Business Editor
The award-winning JW Vending started as a small family venture 25 years ago with one coffee machine at the inspirational Bristol Royal Infirmary Children’s Hospital.
Since then, it has grown into one of the South West’s fastest-growing suppliers.
Founded by John Worgan after he took early retirement, the business began when he installed his first machine on the hospital’s children’s ward — and that one machine is still serving customers today.
From those humble beginnings, John hired his first employee, Rachel Mountstevens, who arrived with her children in a pushchair after maternity leave.
She’s still with the business today, now running the office team — and even one of her sons worked here for five years.
Over time, John’s three sons — Andrew, Lee, and Chris — joined the business. Together they built the company on their dad’s mantra of “service, service, service.”
Chris Worgan, now a Director alongside his brothers, said:
“It’s a tremendous success story and we are proud to say we started in such a brilliant hospital in Bristol, which we continue to serve and support. “Our dad taught us to put customers first and that’s what we do. We love to help people.”
Today, JW Vending has:
• A 36-strong workforce
• A new 10,000 sq ft headquarters
• Round-the-clock cover with night shifts and weekend rounds
• Living Wage accreditation
• National recognition for engineering excellence, with other vending companies trusting them to cover contracts in the South West.
And yet, at its heart, it’s still a family business — with dad John dropping by once a week (when he’s not on the golf course) to check in.
From chilled water to premium coffee and even self-service mini markets, JW Vending provides flexible renting and leasing solutions tailored to every customer.
What makes JW Vending different
• No sales team — growth has come purely through word of mouth and outstanding customer service.
• Organic record growth all without debt or outside finance.
• Reinvesting profits into engineers and technology — not sales — to ensure faster fixes, pioneering systems, and a true 24/7 service.
• The very first customer is still with them 25 years later.
• Staff loyalty that matches customer loyalty — almost all the same employees stayed through Covid and beyond.
