University Vending Services is being sold to CRH Catering Co. Inc., based in Connellsville, said one CRH employee. But University administrators refused to confirm the sale.

Bob Rhodes, general manager of the Altoona Division of CRH Catering Co. Inc., said the University awarded CRH a 10-year vending service contract.

Rhodes said he did not know whether final arrangements had been made, and added that he was unsure of the sale's cost. CRH will take over stocking and maintenance of the facilities, he added.

Discussions had also begun several months ago between the University and Pepsico Inc. to sell vending services, William McKinnon, associate vice president for business and operations, said in January.

Some of the money from this sale was for possible use in the Academic/Athletic Convocation and Events Center, McKinnon said. The discussions also stirred controversy about a possible loss of jobs for vending service employees.

Anne Ward, public relations manager for Pepsico in Somers, N.Y., could not be reached for comment.

One University official denied the sale's finalization.

The University is negotiating with CRH for the vending service deal and with Pepsico to serve products to be resold by the University in areas such as the dining halls and the HUB, McKinnon said.

No deals have been finalized, McKinnon said.

John Berardinelli, CRH sales manager, said CRH has been negotiating with the University but does not yet know of any formalized agreement. He declined to comment further without speaking to his superiors.

"I can't confirm it because it hasn't happened yet," Berardinelli said.

CRH is a Connellsville-based company that serves the East Coast, including West Virginia, Old Dominion and William and Mary universities, Berardinelli said.

Greg Sampsell, president of Teamster's Union Local 8, which represents vending services employees, said the union is still negotiating with the University and has a meeting scheduled next month.