A vendor offers to provide coffee machines if a foodservice operation purchases its coffee products. This type of practice is:

The scenario described involves a vendor offering coffee machines as an incentive for a foodservice operation to purchase their coffee products. This practice is categorized as a value-added service. Value-added services are additional benefits or features that enhance the overall offer and make it more appealing to the customer. In this case, the vendor is providing a coffee machine to enhance the value of purchasing coffee products from them, thereby making the deal more attractive to the foodservice operation.

This type of arrangement is common in many industries, where vendors try to differentiate themselves by offering additional products or services that complement their main offerings. It encourages customer loyalty and can result in increased sales for the vendor while providing tangible benefits to the foodservice operation.

The other options presented do not fit this scenario. For example, while practices should always align with ethical standards, offering additional equipment in such a competitive field is generally accepted as a legitimate business strategy rather than an ethics violation. The practice doesn't constitute collusion, as it doesn't involve secret agreements with competitors to manipulate the market. Similarly, while the Federal Trade Commission has regulations surrounding unfair business practices, this scenario aligns with acceptable marketing strategies under their guidelines.