LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. (www.gavina.com), announced today that Tim Cleland of Gavina's Food Service Division has been named the 2011 Coffee Allied Member of the Year by the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA).  Tim will accept the award at the 2011 NAMA Industry Award Ceremony hosted by Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo at Center Stage in Chicago, Illinois on April 28, 2011.

"The coveted Coffee Allied Member of the Year Award recognizes Gavina as a company who has consistently exemplified the highest standards of professional excellence in the vending, coffee service or food service management industry, and who has been an inspiration to others," said NAMA President and CEO Richard Geerdes.

The NAMA Industry Awards are presented to individuals and companies that best exemplify consistent support of the Vending and Coffee Service Industry. Candidates are chosen based on their history of service to their communities and to the Vending/Coffee Service Industry through efforts with NAMA and State Associations, level of innovation, willingness to expand conventional practices and practice consistent ethical business standards in accordance with NAMA code of ethics.

"It is an honor to be recognized by an organization like NAMA which also gives so much back to the industry," said Tim Cleland.

This year NAMA named a total of five industry award winners, the other four included:

• Dr. Michael Kasavana, Endowed Professor at the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University – named Industry Person of the Year
• Craig Kushner, President of Monumental Vending – named Vending Operator of the Year
• Howard Chapman, Vice President and Division Manager, Office Beverage Division for Royal Cup Coffee – named Coffee Service Operator of the Year
• Steven Richardson, President of DeMitri Chesapeake Sales – named Vending Allied Member of the Year

National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA)

NAMA is the national trade association of the food and refreshment vending, coffee service and foodservice management industries including on-site, commissary, catering, & mobile. Its membership is comprised of service companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to operating service companies.  The basic mission of the association, to collectively advance and promote the automatic merchandising and coffee service industries, still guides NAMA today as it did in 1936, the year of the organization's founding.

About F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.

Produced by F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. since 1967, Gavina is a leading coffee brand for Food Service and OCS & Vending in Southern California.  Based in Vernon, California, F. Gavina & Sons, Inc., one of the largest family-owned coffee companies in America and the nation's largest  privately held minority roaster, has been a leading producer of high-quality and great tasting coffee for  more than four generations.  Spanning more than 130 years, dating back to the family's humble beginnings in the rich-coffee bearing soil of the Caribbean, the unmatched experience as coffee growers and roasters has paved the way for a strong presence in wholesale and retail accounts all across the country. To learn more about Gavina's Coffee and the Gavina family, please visit www.gavina.com.

SOURCE F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.