An Introduction To Vending: The Market
An Introduction To Vending: The Market
An Introduction To Vending: The Market
There are about 3.7 million vending machines in Europe, run by some 10.000 companies,
mostly SMEs and family businesses.
Vending machine operators run service and maintain machines to make sure that
consumers' favourites are always available.
The market
Over 70% of vending machines in Europe serve hot drinks, the remaining 30% vend
anything from sandwiches to cold drinks, hot meals and snacks. The machines are a
convenient point of sale equivalent in size to a shop of 1m². Most machines are located in
companies and the rest are placed in public locations like train stations or airports.
Vending machines
The benefits are a convenient
"Convenience", speed
point of sale
24h/7 availability
"Versatility": machines can sell almost any product
A wide range of payment options
Clean, hygienic, safe, always at the right temperature
Quality of food and drinks, household brands
Offers a place to meet with colleagues
Practical: comes with a clean cup every time
Machine branding adaptable to the clients requirements (schools, banks etc)
Hydration & energy – for a competitive workforce
Flexible placing options (sell, lease or rent)
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The players
Mostly SMEs
Based in Europe, be it for manufacturers or operators
Operators: The machines are managed by (the so-called) operators. They run the
machines as their core business. They conclude commercial agreements with
companies or public institutions for the placing of the machines, invest funds into the
hardware, and are responsible for cleaning and filling the machines with products (be
it cups, snacks, coffee beans, cans, etc…).
Machine manufacturers: they make the machines used by the operators. Machines
exist in different types and sizes. The vending industry tailors its offer to the size of the
companies where the machines will be placed, from free-standing to table-top
machines and anything in between. Machines can sell almost any product, including
hot and/or cold drinks, as well as ambient or refrigerated foods, deep-frozen food and
hot meals. So called "combi" machines offer the possibility to sell different food and
drink products and some can even operate simultaneously at different temperature
levels. Machine manufacturers sell machines to the operators – the operator decides
which payment system and water filter (for hot drink machines) he will use.
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Greener vending
The vending industry has been getting greener for years. A lot of individual initiatives,
coupled with sector-endorsed measures, have reshaped the ecological footprint of the
vending sector.
The machines comply with the RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous
Substances in electrical and electronic equipment) Directive;
Vending companies invest a lot in research and development in the areas of eco-
efficiency and refrigeration;
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Soft drinks and bottled water are packaged with PET, which has a high recycling
rate. Some companies have developed lighter packaging for their soft drinks;
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About 3,700,000 food and drink vending machines are located in Europe. The vending
industry in Europe is mainly a hot drinks business. Over 70% of vending machines in
Europe offer hot drinks, the remaining 30% vend anything from sandwiches to cold
drinks, hot meals and snacks. The machines are a convenient point of sale, equivalent in
size to a shop of 1m².
The vending
sector The vending sector responds to the needs of the consumer. In
Europe, more than 10 million hot drinks and millions of cans of cold
responds to drinks are vended every day alongside snacks and food. To keep up
the needs of with the consumption trends, the vending sector constantly develops
new solutions.
the consumer
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Products from vending machines
deliver hydration and energy to
perform all day long at work
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Vending, a people's industry
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Vending invests in research and development. It develops new products to
anticipate the demand for eco-efficiency, healthier food and drink products or more
environmentally-friendly packaging. Consequently, the vending sector is also
employing a highly qualified workforce.
The vending industry employs
a workforce with
all levels of qualifications
September 2007