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The vending machine operator industry comprises about 5000 companies with collective annual revenue of about $6 billion, reveals a report titled 'Vending Machine Operators - Industry Profile', offered by Research & Markets. These vending machine operators include top companies such as Coca-Cola, Compass Group, ARAMARK, and Sodexho. However, the vending machine operator industry is quite fragmented with the top 50 companies accounting for about 40 percent of industry sales.
The growth in this segment is driven by both consumer spending and growth in business, with the placement of vending machines in workplaces contributing significantly. Profitability of individual vending machine operators is dependent on numerous factors including effective merchandising, quality of service and obtaining the premium locations.
Drink vending machines mainly dispensing cold beverages account for almost 40 percent of overall vending machine sales, while candy and snacks dispensing machines account for another 30 percents. Hot beverages, hot & cold meal products, ice-creams are the other products that are increasingly being dispensed using vending machines.
The growth in this segment is driven by both consumer spending and growth in business, with the placement of vending machines in workplaces contributing significantly. Profitability of individual vending machine operators is dependent on numerous factors including effective merchandising, quality of service and obtaining the premium locations.
Drink vending machines mainly dispensing cold beverages account for almost 40 percent of overall vending machine sales, while candy and snacks dispensing machines account for another 30 percents. Hot beverages, hot & cold meal products, ice-creams are the other products that are increasingly being dispensed using vending machines.
With the UK government setting aggressive targets to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, vending machine suppliers are striving to offset their carbon footprint with various operational procedures.
For example, vending machines from Express Vending come fitted with inbuilt power-saving facility that can reduce power consumption by up to 30%. The machinesâ special features reduce boiler temperature during slack periods such as weekends or after-work hours. Moreover, the power saving mode also helps reduce scale build-up within the boiler thereby increasing boiler efficiency.
Besides, the vending machine supplier is also partnering with waste management solution providers to enable recycling of cups used by the machine. The company also recommends the Save a Cup scheme started by the vending, food service and plastics industries to collect the millions of hard-wall polystyrene cups used in the UK every week.
Apart from making the vending machines environment friendly, the company is improving its vending fleet to cut down on carbon emissions.
For example, vending machines from Express Vending come fitted with inbuilt power-saving facility that can reduce power consumption by up to 30%. The machinesâ special features reduce boiler temperature during slack periods such as weekends or after-work hours. Moreover, the power saving mode also helps reduce scale build-up within the boiler thereby increasing boiler efficiency.
Besides, the vending machine supplier is also partnering with waste management solution providers to enable recycling of cups used by the machine. The company also recommends the Save a Cup scheme started by the vending, food service and plastics industries to collect the millions of hard-wall polystyrene cups used in the UK every week.
Apart from making the vending machines environment friendly, the company is improving its vending fleet to cut down on carbon emissions.
USA Technologies has been awarded a patent for its VM2iQ, an important technology in its EnergyMiser energy conservation product line targeted at the $46 billion drink vending industry.
The patent is for âMethod and Apparatus for Conserving Power Consumed by a Refrigerated Appliance Utilizing Audio Signal Detectionâ and protects the VM2iQ technology which enables automatic switching on and off of the energy savings mode of a vending machine by monitoring the sales from the vending machine. In fact this technology is responsible for savings of more than one-third of utility costs for vending machine operators.
The VM2iQ is the second generation of the VendingMiser which is installed internally, operates on audio signals. Several tens of thousands of vending machines already use the VM2iQ, including some of the biggest global retailers.
Increasingly, energy efficiency is becoming a key differentiator amongst vending machine manufacturers as operators look at greater efficiencies and reduced costs.
The patent is for âMethod and Apparatus for Conserving Power Consumed by a Refrigerated Appliance Utilizing Audio Signal Detectionâ and protects the VM2iQ technology which enables automatic switching on and off of the energy savings mode of a vending machine by monitoring the sales from the vending machine. In fact this technology is responsible for savings of more than one-third of utility costs for vending machine operators.
The VM2iQ is the second generation of the VendingMiser which is installed internally, operates on audio signals. Several tens of thousands of vending machines already use the VM2iQ, including some of the biggest global retailers.
Increasingly, energy efficiency is becoming a key differentiator amongst vending machine manufacturers as operators look at greater efficiencies and reduced costs.
According to an article by Rosie Johnston in Radio Praha (http://www.radio.cz/en/article/96763) internationally known brewer Pilsner Urquell is releasing additional units of its âpivoautomatyâ beer vending machines that are in many ways similar to the ubiquitous soft drink vending machines.
One of the key highlights of the pivoautomaty vending machine is that it is intelligent and can read customerâs identification cards besides accepting money. This is an important feature since it ensures that the vending machine dispenses a drink to only those above the legally accepted age. Because the vending machine can with all European passports and ID cards, it can make the decision to dispense a drink for foreigners / tourists as well.
Pilsner Urquell is introducing more of these machines for dispensing its beers after an initial half-year trial. These vending machines have proven to be extremely popular amongst students.
Similar machines may be coming to other parts of Europe, including the UK, in the not-so-distant future.
One of the key highlights of the pivoautomaty vending machine is that it is intelligent and can read customerâs identification cards besides accepting money. This is an important feature since it ensures that the vending machine dispenses a drink to only those above the legally accepted age. Because the vending machine can with all European passports and ID cards, it can make the decision to dispense a drink for foreigners / tourists as well.
Pilsner Urquell is introducing more of these machines for dispensing its beers after an initial half-year trial. These vending machines have proven to be extremely popular amongst students.
Similar machines may be coming to other parts of Europe, including the UK, in the not-so-distant future.
The UKâs leading hot and cold drinks vending machine supplier Kafévend has opened a new office in Durham to implement its growth strategy and expanding its network in the North East and Scotland.
This new office will supersede the companyâs Sunderland operations, which had been operating since October 2005; with the Sunderland facilities now moving to larger premises in Durham.
âKafevéndâs new regional presence in Durham provides a geographical advantage that will mean the company will be able to fully service and facilitate the northern reaches of the United Kingdom,â said managing director John Collins.
By the end of the year, the beverage vending machine supplier will also open their seventh regional centre in Runcorn.
This new office will supersede the companyâs Sunderland operations, which had been operating since October 2005; with the Sunderland facilities now moving to larger premises in Durham.
âKafevéndâs new regional presence in Durham provides a geographical advantage that will mean the company will be able to fully service and facilitate the northern reaches of the United Kingdom,â said managing director John Collins.
By the end of the year, the beverage vending machine supplier will also open their seventh regional centre in Runcorn.