Automatic Merchandiser is proud to present the 2024 Most Influential Women in Convenience Services Awards. We recognize these individuals who have made a positive impact on the convenience services industry or their organization. This award is a celebration of their achievements and spotlights influential women who are shaping the future of the industry.
Congratulations to the 2024 award winners!
Turn to page 12
Navreet Gill 365 Retail Markets
Brenda Williams 365 Retail Markets
Margaret Nyamumbo Kahawa 1893
and
OCS Update: 4 key observations from the NAMA Show 2024 e 2024 NAMA Show in Dallas was notable for several reasons, including attendee turnout and trade show oor exhibits, the positive vibe, education sessions, and the many new entrants to the convenience services industry.
Automatic Merchandiser’s 2024 Most Influential Women in Convenience Services
Recognizing the outstanding women who are shaping the future of the vending, micro market and o ce co ee service industry.
There is no shortage of innovation and technology in the OCS space
While most of the industry buzz these days is about vending and micro market advancements, the OCS business has seen plenty of innovation over the years, and the trend toward technology is accelerating.
Hot food vending
Exhibitors at the 2024 NAMA Show showcased the latest innovations in hot food vending technology.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
Visit vendingmarketwatch.com for more on hot topics in vending, micro markets and office coffee service
IT WAS A COMMON THEME AT THE RECENT NAMA
Show: OCS growth is slow; pantry service growth is steady and micro market growth is explosive. This condition presents an excellent opportunity for OCS operators that extends well beyond coffee service.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55055242
The future of vending machines | Conversational AI and beyond
Ben Gaskill of Everest Ice and Water Systems explores the integration of conversational AI and voice recognition technology – from fostering greater customer convenience and efficiency to providing operators with automatic restocking. It’s an exciting leap forward for the vending machine industry.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55036594
Revolutionizing vending operations | Smart technologies enhance efficiency and sustainability
Malin Östman with Selfly Store shares two case studies that show how the integration of smart technologies like RFID and AI in vending operations can offer benefits including enhanced operational efficiency, reduced costs and improved customer satisfaction.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55036365
AiFi and GS Draft System Solutions launched a frictionless stadium market – the Michelob Ultra Grill – at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The integration allows stadium attendees to pour and pay for fresh draft beers as well as grab hot food items, candy and packaged snacks without having to wait in line.
VendingMarketWatch.com/ 55016820
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Automatic Merchandiser (USPS Permit 017-280, ISSN 1061-1797 print, ISSN 1948-5697 online) is published 6 times per year in February/March, April, June/July, August, September/October, and November by Endeavor Business Media, LLC. 201 N Main St, 5th Floor, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Automatic Merchandiser PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscriptions. Subscription prices: U.S. $47.50 per year; Canada/ Mexico $81.25 per year; All other countries $116.25 per year. All subscriptions are payable in U.S. funds. Send subscription inquiries to Automatic Merchandiser, PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257. Customer service can be reached toll-free at 877-382-9187 or at circ.vendingmarketwatch@omeda.com for magazine subscription assistance or questions. Printed in the USA. Copyright 2024 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopies, recordings, or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the publisher. Endeavor Business Media, LLC does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person or company for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever. The views and opinions in the articles herein are not to be taken as official expressions of the publishers, unless so stated. The publishers do not warrant either expressly or by implication, the factual accuracy of the articles herein, nor do they so warrant any views or opinions by the authors of said articles.
Bob Tullio
Editorial Advisory Board
Nick Montano Contributor
Joe Hessling 365 Retail Markets
Josh Rosenberg Automated Retail Technologies
John Reilly Avanti Markets
Elyssa Steiner Cantaloupe Systems
Carl Moser Canteen Corporate
Evan Jarecki Gimme
Michael Miller Mondelēz International
Paresh Patel PayRange
Jeff Deitchler Prairie Fire Coffee
With a full recovery, the future is bright
IT’S AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE VENDING AND MICRO market industry that’s now experiencing a full recovery from the pandemic. In this issue, you’ll find our annual State of the Vending and Micro Market Industry Report, which takes an in-depth look at the industry’s overall growth during the past year. In 2023, vending and micro market sales climbed 20% –from $21.7 billion to $26.04 billion, surpassing 2019’s revenue benchmark high. It’s a long-awaited recovery, and operators are optimistic that the industry will continue to thrive. In 2023, operators reported a growth of locations due to workers returning to the office, as well as revenue gains from new accounts, increasing prices, adding new services and high-quality products, and implementing new equipment and technology.
This issue also features the award winners of Automatic Merchandiser’s 2024 Most Influential Women in Convenience Services, beginning on page 12. This award recognizes outstanding women who have made a difference in the vending, micro market and office coffee service industry, and we are honored to celebrate their achievements. A special thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination for a colleague deserving of this award, and congratulations to all the winners.
It was great to see everyone at the recent NAMA Show, and I hope you all had a successful event with many new connections, takeaways and solutions. In this issue, Bob Tullio shares some observations from the show that he is also covering in Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcasts. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss them.
Lastly, read about technology and innovation trends in office coffee service on page 26, plus some new technologies for hot food vending solutions – that were showcased at the recent NAMA Show – on page 30.
Don’t forget to nominate a colleague for Automatic Merchandiser’s annual 40 Under 40 Awards, which highlight innovators who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to advancing convenience services. The winners will be featured in the September/October issue.
This is my last issue with Automatic Merchandiser, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the wonderful people I’ve met in this industry. I truly appreciate how much I’ve learned from you, and I look forward to our paths crossing again! A new editor will be taking the reins, and I know she will continue the mission of being a vital voice for vending, micro market and OCS operators.
Follow us at Facebook/VendingMarket @VendingMagazine
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It’s a long-awaited recovery, and operators are optimistic that the industry will continue to thrive.
TOP NEWS
Cantaloupe Inc. partners with Monumental Markets to implement Seed Markets
[ TECHNOLOGY ]
CANTALOUPE INC. ANNOUNCED IT PARTNERED WITH
Monumental Markets to enhance operational efficiency and address critical challenges in its 500+ micro market and pantry locations. Monumental Markets, a two-time NAMA Operator of the Year, is known for its innovative approach in the competitive Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland market. By utilizing Cantaloupe’s Seed Markets platform, Monumental Markets aims to streamline operations, improve scheduling and elevate the guest experience.
Monumental Markets encountered difficulties managing two separate micro market systems and one OCS pantry system, which resulted in challenges with month-end subsidy billing, inventory management and route scheduling. These obstacles not only hindered efficiency but also impacted profitability. To address these issues and gain better visibility into its business, Monumental Markets sought a streamlined solution. With the implementation of Seed Markets, its operations have significantly improved, reducing manual labor and optimizing efficiency.
“With Seed Markets, you literally hit a button and it is done,” Craig Kushner, president of Monumental Markets, said in the announcement. “What once required days of manual work is now accomplished effortlessly, allowing us to reallocate our resources towards growth and service excellence. Having everything on one system allows us to move away from static scheduling to dynamic scheduling, which significantly enhances our service levels and drives productivity.”
Franke debuts first product line and new coffee machine
Franke Coffee Systems introduced the North American market to a new product category, BeyondTraditional, as well as its inaugural product line, Mytico, and espresso machine, Mytico Due, which pairs traditional Italian espresso machine design with the benefits of automated coffee-making.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55017165
Five Star Breaktime Solutions announces acquisitions
The acquisition of Aiden Alexander Vending LLC bolsters Five Star Breaktime Solutions’ market presence and service capabilities in south central Georgia, and the acquisition of Van Vending Service Inc. expands its presence in the Nashville area.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55042787
Nayax partners with Slovakia’s ASO Vending
The strategic partnership will include the installation of thousands of Nayax’s Onyx contactless card readers on vending machines throughout the country over the next few years, more than doubling Nayax’s active devices in Slovakia.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55041041
Sodexo’s InReach acquires Legend Food Service
The addition will strengthen the InReach footprint in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia markets, adding approximately 35 additional employees while offering micro markets, vending, pantry, office coffee, water and fresh food.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55036999
when great meetings are powere by great coffee.
At Franke, we’re not just in the business of selling coffee machines. We’re in the business of creating memorable coffee moments for your employees an guests. Franke coffee machines are the perfect solution for operators wanting to elevate their coffee program an increase workplace pro uctivity an satisfaction.
The awar -winning A800 Fresh Brew is a bean-to-cup solution esigne to brew every cup of coffee fresh to or er, meaning better taste an less waste. Its capable of crafting elicious hot an ice coffees on eman . Each cup is groun fresh from a choice of 3 unique bean types – so you can elight your employees with their favorite blen every time.
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TOP NEWS
365 Retail Markets acquires Impulsify Inc.
365 Retail Markets announced the acquisition of Impulsify Inc., a Denver-based retail technology firm focused on providing graband-go experiences in hotels and multifamily communities. Impulsify offers easy-to-manage self-service retail outlets that improve property experiences and guest experiences and provide incremental revenue opportunities. The complementing technology of both companies paves the way for greater selfservice, grab-and-go options in hospitality and beyond.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55042382
NAMA
announces its 2024 Industry Awards honorees
The National Automatic Merchandising Association announced its 2024
NAMA Industry Awards honorees: Jim Brinton, president, Evergreen Refreshments was awarded 2024 NAMA Industry Person of the Year; American Food & Vending was awarded 2024 NAMA Operator of the Year; and Vistar was named 2024 NAMA Allied Member of the Year. The NAMA Industry Awards were presented at the NAMA Show as part of the general session.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55019375
AVS Companies adds Steve Campbell to its micro market and vending team
AVS Companies announced that Steve Campbell has joined the team as the business development manager. Campbell
has over 36 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. With the past 12 years focused on selling coolers to multiple industries, Campbell brings a wealth of knowledge to AVS Companies to assist customers for all their cooler needs.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55018876
ZippyAssist announces native integration with Cantaloupe Inc.’s Seed VMS
The native integration allows businesses using both Seed and ZippyAssist to effortlessly sync ZippyAssist with equipment data managed in Seed. ZippyAssist uses equipment data to make it easy for consumers and operators to identify specific equipment items quickly and accurately.
VendingMarketWatch.com/55041756
Sideloaders, and Conventional models are all part of the THIEMAN line-up. For many years THIEMAN has been customizing liftgates to meet specific needs. If a special need arises, give us a call. From 1000 lb. to 6600 lb. lifting capacities, THIEMAN can provide a liftgate for almost ever y application.
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key observations from the NAMA Show 2024
The 2024 NAMA Show in Dallas was notable for several reasons, including attendee turnout and trade show floor exhibits, the positive vibe, education sessions, and the many new entrants to the convenience services industry.
By Bob Tullio, Contributing Editor
AS AN OPERATOR FOR 37 YEARS and a contributing editor for over seven, I have attended plenty of industry trade shows, including at least 40 shows relating to vending and amusement. For me, the 2024 NAMA Show in Dallas was among the most notable.
My primary activity at the NAMA Show is to conduct interviews – from video interviews with suppliers in their booths to operator interviews on the convention oor – I’m doing what I love to do. Be sure to check out two podcast episodes of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, released in May, that feature the following four observations – plus six more – along with many operator interviews.
1. THE SIZE
“Big” is the best word to describe the show. e crowds, the convention oor itself and the size of the booths were all bigger than we have seen in quite some time.
Dan Welch, owner of World Cup Co ee in Portland, noted that his feet were telling him just how big this show was. ere was quite a bit of ground to cover.
Dean Prather, of Quality Vending in Kansas City, said he was pleased with the size of the show, the number of products on display and the quickly evolving technology that was showcased. “Compared to what we saw three years ago in New Orleans – there is no comparison,” he added. “We were able to accomplish our objectives at this show.”
2. THE VIBE
Many operators agreed about the overall attitude surrounding the show. e vibe was positive – more positive than they had seen in years. Chip English, president at Continental Convenience Solutions of Anaheim, California, said he was pleased with the overall vibe of the
show. “New people, new suppliers, new manufacturers, very good content. I’m happy we made the trip out here,” he said.
James Evans of Evans Co ee and Vending in New Jersey was thrilled by the positive nature of the show, a er going through some rough times over the last several years. “ is is positive … is is, by far, down here in Dallas, Texas, the most exciting show in years,” Evans said. He also noted that even a er 4 p.m., operators were still interacting on the convention oor.
3. THE EDUCATION
Based on the attendance at the education sessions, attendees were hungry to learn. e mere mention of the term “AI” in the title of a session made one meeting room too small as operators owed out the door into the hall, straining their necks and ears to be a part of consultant Gil Cargill’s session, “How to Use AI to Streamline Lead Generation.”
Welch, of World Cup Co ee, noted that attending the education session, “How an OCS or Pantry Services Salesperson Can Become a Workplace Consultant,” led by
Bob Tullio (on left) speaking to Ryan McWhirter, 365 Retail Markets
Linda Saldana from Seventh Wave Refreshments, Fabian Campos from InReach, Kim Lenz from Associated Services and Bill Kirchoff from Distant Lands, was worth the price of admission. “Hearing them share their thoughts on listening, understanding the pantry and micro market differences and how to make pantry service and micro markets more successful – that’s what I needed,” Welch said.
Hats off to the NAMA team for putting together a series of education sessions that resonated with operators.
4. THE NEW ENTRANTS
The education sessions were full of new operators. Suddenly, the industry is attracting a new generation of entrepreneurs – attracted by technology, the
opportunity and the idea of “passive income,” a concept that is regularly promoted on social media. From all indications, the many new entrants are eager to learn. They want to do it right from the beginning.
Jennifer Montana of 605 Vending and Markets, a new operator from Souix Falls, South Dakota, said she was at the show to learn as much as she could, with a special interest in OCS, because she sees the opportunity of using OCS to get in the door at some major micro market and pantry locations. “I see that coffee service is an easy adjunct to add to a location. I need to learn how to be an expert in the coffee business,” Montana said.
“In multiple education sessions that I attended – and I mean multiple – I heard many people
raise their hand and say, ‘I am a new operator,’” said Arthur Siller of Evergreen Refreshments in Seattle. “They would either be asking the panel questions or members of the audience questions, and to me, that is the healthiest sign we can have –lots of new people who are excited to be a part of it.” ■
About the author VendingMarketWatch. com contributing editor and industry consultant Bob Tullio is a content specialist who advises operators in the convenience services industry on how to build a successful business from the ground up and advises suppliers on how to successfully connect with operators. Tullio’s YouTube channel, b2b Perspective, is designed to “elevate your business in two minutes.” Visit www. tulliob2b.com or email bob@tulliob2b.com.
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Automatic Merchandiser’s 2024 Most Influential Women in Convenience Services
Recognizing the outstanding women who are shaping the future of the vending, micro market and o ce co ee service industry.
By Molly Rogers, Editor-in-Chief
AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISER IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE 2024 MOST INFLUENTIAL Women in Convenience Services Awards. We recognize these individuals who have made a positive impact on the industry or their organization. is award is a celebration of their achievements. Congratulations to the following 2024 award winners.
STEPHANIE BEERMAN
Stephanie Beerman is the Western regional sales manager for Barcel USA. She has served the convenience services industry for almost 13 years consistently proving herself as a dynamic leader and force behind numerous successful campaigns and initiatives. Beerman’s journey began at the Atnip Company in 2011 where she gained invaluable experience developing the marketing department through the execution of sales strategies, marketing tactics and data analytics. Her passion for growing brands and helping customers led her to Barcel USA in 2023 where she transitioned to sales. The same enthusiasm for her work has been instrumental in forging lasting relationships and driving growth for her customers and team. Beerman embraces opportunities to learn from her peers and mentors to expand her knowledge. She sees each day as an opportunity to expand her skill set and deepen her understanding to grow and thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of the convenience services industry.
JENNIFER “JB” BULCAO
Jennifer “JB” Bulcao is the executive director of the Foundation of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the convenience services industry. Bulcao’s current focus at the NAMA Foundation is to provide industry members with advocacy tools to make their voices heard and educate policymakers at every level, in addition to conducting research that empowers businesses to make informed decisions and inspires industry innovation by delivering critical data on workplace, consumer and technology trends. Additionally, Bulcao has served for over three years as NAMA’s board and governance liaison. In this capacity, she works closely with NAMA’s president and CEO on designing and executing the activities of the association’s leadership bodies. Bulcao finds this position extremely rewarding, working closely with the top leaders on strategic planning for the continued growth of the industry.
CHRISSY CARSON
Chrissy Carson is a sales and service representative with Ray Coffee Service. After studying history at Armstrong University, Carson remained in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, working her way up to managing a popular local restaurant for seven years. Six years ago, she discovered the vending industry, and she was able to take that knowledge gained from the service industry and apply it in a completely different environment. It was an exciting challenge for her. “The service industry has always been the place my skills as a people person and communication representative have been put to best use. I look forward to what the future holds for the vending industry and being a part of it.” For Ray Coffee Service, Carson has been invaluable in securing new accounts, handling current accounts and providing insight into future company projects.
APRIL CATHCART
April Cathcart is a CPG veteran and brand enthusiast, with a career spanning multiple categories and channels. As the director of sales for unattended retail at Mars Wrigley, Cathcart leads the strategy and execution for the U.S. market, including vending machines, micro markets, new business models and technology. During her tenure, the Mars Wrigley team has expanded both in resources and expertise, bringing best practices and thought leadership to drive convenience services growth and relevancy. Cathcart subscribes to a people-first work style and is known for bringing a unique approach of partnership combined with a passion for driving results and maximizing value. In 2023, Cathcart assumed a board of directors position for the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) and is honored to contribute to and advocate for key initiatives transforming the convenience services industry. Cathcart is most proud to hold the title of “working mom” as she balances a fulfilling career with raising three spunky kiddos.
JOLENE CONWAY
Jolene Conway is the founder and CEO of Dible Dough. She single-handedly created a new category in the snacking industry – Cookie Dough Bars. This indulgent cookie dough concept started when Conway was the team mom in charge of the concession stands for her daughters’ athletic teams. Selling individualized servings of dough was a huge success, and this is where Dible Dough was born. Having a background in sales and catering, Conway’s continued hard work, dedication and persistence has resulted in the creation of four flavors of an all-natural cookie dough treat that is sold at 6,000+ stores nationwide. Dible Dough is an individually wrapped, grab-and-go cookie dough bar that is full of simple, recognizable, non-GMO ingredients, leaving no room for preservatives, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.
JEN CORTO
Jen Corto serves as the president and co-founder of Buffalo Strive, a leading micro market company in Buffalo, New York, which she established with her husband, Jon, 13 years ago. With Jen’s expertise in business finance, holding both an MBA and CPA, and Jon’s background as a professional NFL player, they have successfully expanded their business. Today, Strive is the largest independent operator in the region, employing over 70 people across western New York. The company thrives in various sectors, including markets, coffee, water, catering and vending and is renowned for its fresh food offerings prepared daily in its state-of-the-art commissary. In 2024, Strive plans to begin wholesaling these fresh products. Committed to empowerment and leadership, Strive is a woman-led enterprise. Outside of her professional life, Corto is devoted to her three children, managing both her family and Strive’s accounting and financial operations.
BECKY DAY
Becky Day is the vice president of national sales at Ellis Coffee Company. Day’s journey to this position is a testament to her relentless drive and her deep passion for coffee and the family values that Ellis Coffee represents. Before joining Ellis Coffee, Day had a successful career in the nonprofit educational sector. Despite her success, she yearned for a more intimate, value-driven professional setting. This desire led her to transition into the coffee industry, drawn by the opportunity to work in a family business that mirrored the entrepreneurial spirit of her father’s own enterprise. At Ellis Coffee, Day quickly made her mark by spearheading the company’s expansion into the southern and midwestern United States. Her strategic initiatives and deep understanding of these markets significantly increased Ellis Coffee’s footprint, establishing the brand as a beloved choice among coffee enthusiasts in these regions. Her efforts have not only grown the business but have also strengthened the company’s reputation for exceptional customer service.
RHONDA DUNN
Rhonda Dunn is the owner/operator of Machine Cuisine. Since 2001, Dunn has worked in California and Arizona, earning accolades such as Arizona Automatic Merchandising Council Operator of the Year four times since 2013 as well as sitting on the board as acting treasurer of the AAMC since 2013. She has also contributed to the NAMA Tradeshow Advisory Committee for the past 10 years. “Little did I know that when I agreed to help my family with their side hustle for retirement, that one day I would be running a multimillion-dollarper-year company. Starting out as an owner/operator gave me an edge most companies don’t have. Personal experience in the trade is what lit my fire. Being an entrepreneur, one is always looking for an opportunity.” Dunn is a progressive businesswoman that has built a highly successful organization, and she leads her team with the utmost enthusiasm on a daily basis.
CATHERINE FEELEY
Cathy Feeley is Southwest sales manager with CBI & Associates. She has been in the industry for over 40 years, starting with Kraft Foodservice on the East coast and then moving to the West where she “retired” with Kraft in 1993. After a five-year hiatus, she came back into the convenience services channel via the broker world. She has been with CBI & Associates since 2015. She currently serves on two NAMA committees and as an officer for Arizona and California’s state council boards, which helps her keep her pulse on the refreshment services world. Feeley was honored to be voted by her Arizona peers as the AAMC Supplier of the Year. She was also an Automatic Merchandiser Pros to Know award winner in 2021 and 2023. Feeley says she currently enjoys being an additional resource to her clients to help them develop marketing strategies, overcome obstacles and grow their business. Her passion is selling coffee and healthy snacks and beverages.
KAREN FOSTER
Karen Foster joined Brokers Unlimited, Premier Broker Sales & Marketing, in 2015 as an account executive. Her territory is North Carolina and South Carolina, working with operators and working closely with Vistar N.C. and Vendors Supply N.C. and S.C. Throughout her career, Foster has always been involved in sales. She has relied on her people skills, sales skills, effective communication and relationship building. Being employed with a distributor and now a broker has helped her grow in the industry. “I really enjoy and love what I do, and I hope I’m making a difference.” Foster is a current board member of NCVA and ACE, a former board member of VAMA and a member of the WIN NAMA advisory council.
CARLY FURMAN
Carly Furman has been an integral part of Nayax since she joined the company in 2014 as chief financial officer of Nayax’s subsidiary companies at its R&D headquarters in Israel. In 2016, Furman relocated to Hunt Valley, Maryland, where she established Nayax’s North American office, serving as CEO since then. Furman has been responsible for growing Nayax’s North American customer base to over 25,000 unattended business operators, making the North American branch the largest Nayax subsidiary. She has been heavily involved in taking Nayax public, as the company made its debut on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2021 and its listing on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in 2022. Furman has a B.A. in business economics and accounting from the University of California, Santa. She is honored to be an award winner – as a role model to her daughters and other young woman, showing that they can have both a family and a demanding career if they choose, which is made easier with a great support system.
ANDREA GARCIA
Andrea Garcia is CFO of Agora Refreshments and has been with the company for eight years. During this time, she has helped grow the company through triple-digit growth and has mentored other operators and women in the industry. Garcia has helped preserve the financial viability of the company during major growth stages as well as the unexpected market downturns.
NAVREET GILL
Navreet Gill entered the convenience services industry in 2019 following her early career in sports and entertainment, which fueled her passion for event management and large-scale projects. After Avanti Markets joined the 365 Retail Markets family, Gill established herself as a leader within the marketing group, resulting in her 2022 appointment as director of marketing for 365. She currently oversees all marketing and communications activities across multiple brands and geographic regions of the growing 365 Retail Markets portfolio. She is currently leading a comprehensive branding effort for 365, bringing together many different components of the business to unite them under one common purpose, mission and narrative. Under Gill’s guidance, the marketing team has expanded their activities to include demand generation in new sectors, educational content for existing customers and prospects, enhanced digital marketing capabilities, account-based approaches and data-driven decision-making.
TARA GIORDANO
Tara Giordano, VendCentral’s director of operations, has been an integral part of the company since its inception over 15 years ago, originally part of a dynamic duo with Neil Swindale. As Swindale would close sales, he would pass the clients over to Giordano, ensuring each one received not just a new website but also the utmost attention and care. Today, Giordano’s role remains rooted in that personal touch, now supported by an exceptional team. She oversees operations, client services and web development and manages recruitment, having brought in and mentored a large part of VendCentral’s staff. Giordano lives by a simple motto: leading through service. She believes exceptional customer experience is paramount and continuously strives to improve the customer journey. Through her unwavering dedication and tenure, she has made a positive impact on hundreds of vending operators, ensuring they receive the marketing support and guidance they need to thrive in their businesses.
Margaret Nyamumbo Founder & CEO
Kahawa 1893 is the first Black and woman-owned coffee brand to be distributed nationally in the US bringing racial and gender equality to the coffee trade
By maintaining direct relationships with woman-run farming co-ops, we help them grow their business and enrich their communities
Frac Packs
JAMIE GUADAGNINO
Jamie Guadagnino is a seasoned leader with over two decades of dedicated service to Vistar, demonstrating a remarkable journey of growth and accomplishment. Since joining Vistar in 2000, Guadagnino transitioned through various pivotal positions encompassing customer service, purchasing, sales management, national account sales, as well as some operational experience serving as president of Vistar Arizona for seven years before moving into her current role as vice president of sales for vending/OCS/campus. Guadagnino’s commitment to a customer-centric approach shines through, with a mission to elevate Vistar to always be the supplier of choice. With the support of her outstanding team of professionals, she is dedicated to leading Vistar into new realms of success, ensuring unparalleled service and satisfaction for all clients.
VONDA JENKINS
Vonda Jenkins has been with Canteen Vending for 30 years as a route driver. She started her career in 1991 with Service America. In 1994, she made the move to Canteen. She has had many accomplishments in her career with Canteen, including being named Driver of the Year in 2018. She services over 30 locations and has received many 5-star ratings from clients. Jenkins started out in vending, and eight years ago, moved to mostly markets. Along with a good-size route, Jenkins also runs the satellite warehouse and does all her own ordering of all the products. Her philosophy is, take care of your customers, whatever it takes, take pride in your work, and stay positive and upbeat for your customers.
Congratulations APRIL CATHCART on being named
MICHELE LEE
Michele Lee is an experienced entrepreneur who has owned and operated a variety of successful businesses, including real estate, fitness centers and vending routes, before founding Optimal Station. Lee believes that anyone can be successful despite any odds if they have support and care from others. She recently envisioned and then pioneered an ambitious and visionary smart city cafe called “Good Life Station” to engage the community while attracting and encouraging visitors to frequent other area businesses. Lee is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of business leaders, particularly in the automated retail and marketing industries. She is dedicated to mentoring young entrepreneurs, fostering entrepreneurial spirit and building positive team cultures. She is tireless, dedicated and fierce in her vision, execution and commitment to her businesses and her community.
LEXI LEVANG
Lexi Levang has extensive experience in CPG and vending. She’s worked with P&G and Conagra Foodservice, prior to joining Raybern’s. Levang is making waves in the vending world as a strong woman leader in the rebrand of the Raybern’s line.
MIA MCDONOUGH
Mia McDonough started in the vending industry in 1995 at VSA Southeast. She was the only female in the Southeast at that time. McDonough’s dedication to her customers and her loyalty to her employer proved to be a fruitful career for her. She has been in the top 10 sales nationally most of her career with Vistar. McDonough has also been recognized as a 2008 Supplier of the Year for NCVA as well as 2008 Supplier of the Year for VAMA at the 2009 ACE Convention, as well as a 2001 Automatic Merchandiser Distributor Rep of the Year and a 2018 Automatic Merchandiser Pros to Know recipient. She is a former board member of GAMC, TAMA and NCVA. She has also been involved in her community, such as fundraising campaigns for underprivileged children and neighborhood improvement programs.
MARGARET NYAMUMBO
Margaret Nyamumbo is the founder and CEO of Kahawa 1893, the first nationally distributed Black- and woman-owned coffee company in the United States. Kahawa 1893 sources specialtygrade coffee beans from woman-owned farming cooperatives in Africa and gives back to support them. Nyamumbo grew up on her grandfather’s coffee farm in Kenya and saw firsthand that women provided about 90% of the labor, but they weren’t always compensated. Kahawa 1893’s packaging contains a QR code that enables consumers to digitally tip the farmers, enabling them to invest in their businesses, families and community. Kahawa 1893 has been featured on the TV show Shark Tank and The Today Show and can be found in retailers like Target and Sprouts. Nyamumbo is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Smith College. Kahawa 1893’s compostable soft pods and frac packs are now available to OCS operators nationally through a partnership with Alliant Coffee Solutions.
STEFANIE OLLER
Stefanie Oller is senior vice president of sales for Five Star Breaktime Solutions. Oller has earned her position navigating a male-dominated industry over the last 15 years. She started in the industry as a sales manager in 2009 with a Canteen franchise that was purchased by Five Star Breaktime Solutions in late 2020. She is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. Oller has an infectious personality and a fiery passion for the industry like very few others. She leverages her passion and expertise to get the most out of her sales directors, driving record sales numbers for the company in recent years. Oller carries strong convictions of high-quality service and a neversay-die attitude to work daily. This has been proven successful for her in building business and strategic supplier relationships over the years. She pushes the boundaries on what’s possible, driving her team and the rest of the company to innovate and improve.
MALIN ÖSTMAN
Malin Östman has elevated Selfly Store, a European company, to the forefront of retail innovation. Under her leadership, the company achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the groundbreaking Selfly Freezer in the Metaverse. Östman has skillfully shaped and boosted the visibility of key collaborations with renowned brands across various industries, and her strategic efforts have redefined vending into a sophisticated, proactive service that blends seamlessly into daily life. More than just a marketer, Östman and her team develop stories, collaborations and campaigns that inject excitement and convenience into the retail experience, ensuring that Selfly Store is celebrated for its compelling marketing and cutting-edge solutions. Her initiatives have transformed Selfly Store into an example of innovation, demonstrating that vending solutions can do much more than provide convenience – they can anticipate and satisfy consumer needs, offering timely and efficient access to goods with no waiting time and less food waste.
AMANDA PATEL
Amanda Patel is the owner and CFO of KNP Enterprises LLC. With a career spanning two decades, she has climbed the ladder of success and left an indelible mark in every role. Her belief in the value of every individual’s contribution, coupled with her commitment to excellence, sets her apart as a trailblazer. Her journey from the grassroots level to managerial positions underscores her unparalleled work ethic and determination. Patel’s journey reaches its pinnacle as she transitions into an entrepreneur, co-founding her own Biometric Smart Vending Machine company alongside her husband and business partner. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and industry insights, she is revolutionizing the convenience services landscape.
Barcel USA, LLC would like to congratulate Stephanie Beerman for being recognized as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women in the Industry recipient! Stephanie’s passion for working with customers, exceeding company expectations, and going above and beyond with everything she does makes this award well deserved! Congratulations on your accomplishment!
CAROLYN PEACOCK
Carolyn Peacock is lead senior small business solutions manager with Cantaloupe Inc. A former organizational accountant and QuickBooks ProAdvisor, she joined Cantaloupe Inc. after 17 years at Styer Associates, PC. Her meticulous attention to detail and fiscal precision elevated the financial health of her small-business clients. Now with Cantaloupe, Peacock brings her extensive small-business knowledge to a thriving consumer market. She attributes her success to her personal connection with smallbusiness owners, the quality of her products, and Cantaloupe’s strong brand recognition. Peacock’s client base continues to grow as she offers not only financial expertise but also guidance and support, recognizing that their success is her success. She was also awarded Inside Sales Representative of the Year in 2023.
STACI RYAN
DEBI HANSARD SEITER
Debi Hansard Seiter’s journey began at a very early age since her father, Larry Hansard, was one of the original employees of Coin Acceptors Inc. In the summer of 1977, she worked at CA’s Service Center in her junior/senior year of high school. After graduating, she began full time in the engineering print/file room. She ran blueprints, dealt with internal/external customers, and had clerical duties. After displaying excellent customer service skills, Seiter was promoted to a newly created position – sales coordinator over gaming/amusement, which evolved into vending as well. In April 2018, she lost her job when CA sold off the Coinco product line to SuzoHapp. With her take-charge attitude and professionalism while training SH’s people, she was not out of work for one second. “I’m very grateful to CA as well as PayComplete for taking a chance on me. The best thing about my position is the customers. They are the best, and I love everything vending!”
Staci Ryan is the founder and CEO of Convenience Brigade. Ryan is secondgeneration in the industry, having grown up and worked in the family vending business across three decades. She wanted to remain in the industry after her family sold the business in 2022. She began consulting for operators on special projects, primarily helping them optimize their Cantaloupe platforms. Convenience Brigade assists vending operators by teaching them how to extract data from Seed and turning it into actionable information that they can use to make intelligent business decisions. Convenience Brigade also aids with converting to Cantaloupe platforms, such as Seed Market and Seed Warehouse. Ryan’s team is second-to-none, consisting of long-time and well-known industry veterans, as well as military spouses. Ryan is a military spouse herself, and she currently lives at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with her husband and their two children.
LINDA SALDANA
Linda Saldana is the co-founder and CEO of Seventh Wave Refreshments. She joined the industry 12 years ago as a sales director at Southern Refreshment Service and fell in love with the industry. Seventh Wave Refreshments was established in 2020 with a mission to “Bring Joy to the Workplace” in the most unsettling time in refreshments. With a deep passion for the customers and a heart for innovation in the industry, Seventh Wave Refreshments has led a refreshment revolution in Atlanta – pioneering new ways of servicing and offering a white glove approach to hundreds of offices in just three years.
AMANDA-MARIE SPILCHEN
Amanda-Marie Spilchen has spent almost a decade in the convenience services industry and is currently the micro market specialist at The Pelican Group. As an early adopter of the micro market concept within the Canadian marketplace, she saw the opportunity to create exceptional client experiences right in their lunchrooms. By maximizing product selection, excellent pricing and ensuring merchandising standards, Spilchen has helped to create a nationwide micro market program that thousands of clients enjoy on a daily basis. By establishing supplier relationships, developing standardized processes and guides, Spilchen has been able to assist multiple operators expand into the world of micro markets thus growing the industry significantly.
AMBER STARR
Amber Starr brings over 15 years of experience at G & J Marketing and Sales, now serving as the national sales manager for hot beverage. In this pivotal role, Starr crafts and executes comprehensive sales strategies, nurtures key relationships, and drives sales growth for Nestle Coffee Partners Solutions Lab. Previously, as vice president of implementation, Starr showcased her collaborative prowess by spearheading the development of sales resources and streamlining processes. Her diverse background, including roles as interim controller and sales support manager, equips her with a deep understanding of company operations. Starr served on the 2016-17 NAMA ELN Steering Committee and currently serves on the NAMA board of directors. She has achieved CPSP and CPSL certifications and successfully finished the ACE Leadership Foundation program with NASP.
BONNIE TRUSH
Bonnie is co-founder and COO of Capital Provisions (CP), a roll-up of the vending industry in Southern California. She has cultivated a team of 50+ individuals – some recruited and some faced with the difficult prospect of integrating into a new team after their company was acquired by CP. Prior to CP, Trush co-founded a VMS, Vagabond. In doing so, she helped hundreds of small businesses become more profitable. She co-founded CP with the expectation that she could build a team that treats teammates, partners and vendors with the same loving care and passion as she did for her customers. Outside of work, Trush actively supports women and minorities as part of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Prior to joining the convenience services industry, she earned degrees from Brigham Young University and University of Phoenix before gaining extensive operational experience in the healthcare management and technology fields.
LAUREL WHITNEY
Laurel Whitney is co-founder of Push Beverages LLC, an Oklahoma-based beverage manufacturer offering over 30 different products within six distinct product lines distributed in 46 states nationwide. Since its inception in 2009, Whitney has overseen product development, operations, finance, logistics and production aspects of the business. Previously, she and her husband ran the largest independent vending company in New Jersey, sold in 2013. Drawing from that experience, Whitney’s goal is to help vending companies use Push Beverages as a tool for maintaining strong profit margins and a competitive edge in their market. She takes great pride in Push Beverages’ longevity within the vending and convenience space as a disrupter in the cold beverage category, long dominated by only two national brands. Her work with Push Beverages has also been recognized by ROI-NJ who named her a Women in Business Influencer, ACG-NJ for the Innovation and Corporate Growth Award and included her as a Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs.
BRENDA WILLIAMS
LYNN WINKLER
Lynn Winkler has been in the OCS industry since the early 1980s, first as an operator, and later in 1991, she started Holiday House Distributing, a unique place built by two very different individuals, who had an idea and made it into an incredible company. Winkler’s contribution in the building of the companies is organization. “I’ve learned over the years that you cannot teach someone how to do a job if you haven’t done it yourself. I’ve done every job from unloading trucks to packing orders. This experience allowed me to eliminate redundancy, explain necessity and streamline the flow of orders through our building through effective training.”
Brenda Williams joined 365 Retail Markets in 2019 as a senior manager of customer support with a team of 38 people. Since then, there has been tremendous growth for both the company and the support team. Williams was promoted to director of support in 2022, overseeing most brands within the 365 family and now heading a team of 150. With a mission to provide customers with a best-in-class experience, Williams has taken on the challenge of supporting a growing portfolio of solutions, understanding that the support experience can be a differentiating factor for customers in their choice of whom they do business with. Williams is especially proud of the leadership team they have built and the team of agents in place to ensure success for 365 customers and the company. The team has improved the customer experience by reducing response and resolution times, improving the quality of delivery, and offering expanded coverage hours and multiple channels to access support anytime, anywhere.
2023 FULL RECOVERY:
ByMollyRogers, Editor-in-Chief
The vending and micro market industry climbs 20% in total revenue, surpassing pre-pandemic mark.
CHART 2: Operator sales
FOR THE CONVENIENCE
services industry, a longawaited full recovery from the pandemic has nally been reached, and operators are feeling some relief a er vending and workplace refreshments took its biggest hit in 2020. Since then, it has been a slow, steady pace of recovery. In 2022, revenue was almost 89% of 2019’s benchmark high of $24.20 billion. In 2023, vending and micro market sales climbed 20% – from $21.7 billion to $26.04 billion, surpassing 2019’s revenue.
Many operators said they experienced growth of locations due to workers returning to the o ce, as well as revenue gains from new accounts, increasing prices, adding new services for existing customers, increasing higher quality products and implementing new equipment and technology –while dealing with the current challenges of in ation, labor shortages and shrinkage.
NEW OPERATORS AND GROWTH OF VENDING
e convenience services industry is also witnessing an in ux of new vending operators, helping the growth of vending machines in 2023. Vending also increased in blue-collar locations, which can be attributed to the historically low unemployment rate for manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Operators had an estimated 2.2 million vending machines on location, an increase of 7% from 2022.
MICRO MARKET LOCATIONS SOAR IN 2023
e growth of micro markets and the conversion from vending has contributed to the number of micro
CHART 3A: Machines by location
3C:
Offices
Retail sites
Hotels/motels
Elementary, middle, high schools
Hospitals, nursing homes
Universities, colleges
Correctional facilities
Military bases
CHART 3B: Number of locations served
CHART 4A:
CHART 4B:
CHART 4C:
1,740,604
2,059,612
2,203,784
Ice Cream
24%
of operators said they acquired business in 2023.
7%
CHART 5A: Technology rankings, averaged
● G reat Investment - ROI
● Don't use it/like it
market locations for 2023 – up to 42,900 from 30,386 the previous year – a 41% increase. Operators reported that micro market sales increased due to adding new business, improved product o erings, use of technology and more workers returning to o ces. New technology has also helped operators gain better operational e ciency.
O ce locations made up 26.1%, and manufacturing made up 33%. Micro market locations at hotel/ motels, hospitals and universities all increased in 2023. Manufacturing and o ce locations combined continue to represent more than half of the convenience services demographic.
2023 also showed an 8.5% increase in the number of micro markets placed in locations with 50 to 100 employees.
ALL CATEGORIES UP
Product categories showed another year of improvement in 2023. Combined vending machine and micro market revenue gains were:
• Healthy items (including plant-based) up 21%.
• Food (sandwiches, salads, entrées) up 40%.
• Snacks (salted, bars, mixes, etc.) up 17%.
• Packaged cold drinks up 30%.
• Candy (chocolate and non-chocolate) up 16%.
• Confections (pastries, cookies, etc.) up 14%.
• Ice cream up 12%.
• Frozen food/meals up 10%.
• Hot drinks (vended co ee, tea, cocoa, etc.) up 28%.
Packaged cold beverages continued to hold the highest rank among the convenience product categories last year,
68%
of survey participants said 90%-100% of their machines were equipped to accept cashless payments in 2023.
91% said they divested part of their business.
of survey participants said cashless payment technology is a great investment.
CHART 5B: Vending data collection trends
● Telemeter or cashless device remotely/using the cloud
● Manual process (such as paper and pencil) on location
● Handheld device on location
● Smartphone or tablet (Apple or Android) on location
CHART 5C: Vending management systems
● Use a VMS ● Don't use a VMS
CHART 6:
Best-selling better-for-you products in micro markets ● Cold beverages
generating 20% of revenue, or $5.3 billion. Combined vending and micro market sales for snacks, confections and candy generated $8.14 billion, the largest market share of convenience services.
Ice cream, frozen products and hot drinks also saw an increase in 2023.
BETTER-FOR-YOU, HEALTHY AND FRESH FOOD OPTIONS
CHART 7B:
CHART 7A: Vended share of sales by product category
For the healthy product category including plant-based products, sales in the combined vended and micro market segment increased to $2.4 billion. For the food product category, combined vended and micro market sales increased to $2.45 billion. Frozen food/meals combined sales for vending and micro market were $0.3 billion in 2023.
Operators said that their ability to o er a wide range of better-for-you snacks, high-quality fresh food and healthy options have helped increase their overall sales. When asked what is their bestselling better-for-you product in micro markets, 28% of respondents said nuts/trail mix, 24% said energy bars, 20% said fresh food, followed by fruit snacks, baked salty snacks and jerky snacks (8%), and cereal bars (4%). Nearly 95% of operators said they o er healthy products in their vending machines and micro markets.
OPERATION SNAPSHOT
Most of this year’s survey participants de ned their businesses as full-line operations providing vending machines, micro markets and o ce co ee service. About 9% were traditional full-line vending operations without
CHART 7C:
Cereal bars
Jerky snacks Baked salty snacks
micro markets, while about 7% operate micro markets only. About 6% said they were bottlers. Most of this year’s survey participants (55%) said they operated between one and 10 routes, 25% operated 11-20 routes, 10% operated 21 to 50 routes, and 10% operated over 50 routes.
About 91% of operators said the number of micro market locations they served increased in 2023, and 70% of combined vending and micro market operators said that the number of locations they served increased in 2023.
TECHNOLOGY PLAYS A KEY ROLE
Operators continue to streamline their business with the use of technology, contributing to the growth of their 2023 revenue. e number of operators who use a vending management system (VMS) increased from 77% last year to 81% in 2023.
Methodology
Data in Automatic Merchandiser’s State of the Industry report are compiled from a survey sent to operators in the spring. It collects responses from vending and micro market providers, as well as snack and soda operations. The State of the Industry report looks at performance results in major product categories.
A large jump in operators said they use cashless payment devices (91%), up from 80% in 2022. About 68% of survey participants said 90% to 100% of their machines were equipped to accept cashless payments in 2023. About 69% said prekitting is also a great investment, followed by LED lights (53%), remote monitoring (49%), warehouse pick-to-light system (42%), QR codes on machines (35%) and video screens (30%).
CONCLUSION
Most vending and micro market operators are optimistic that the industry will continue to thrive – even during ever-changing market conditions and workplace environments. Embracing new technology, products and solutions that help meet customers’ demands will contribute to the further growth of the convenience services industry. ■
innovation & technology
While most of the industry buzz these days is about vending and micro market advancements, the OCS business has seen plenty of innovation over the years, and the trend toward technology is accelerating.
By Bob Tullio, Contributing Editor
A There is no shortage of innovation & technology in the OCS space
FTER 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS, MISSOURIbased Newco Enterprises is an iconic name in the co ee service industry and a leading manufacturer of co ee brewing equipment. Joe Webster, the company founder and CEO, does not consider himself an innovator or technological leader. What his company has done over the years is signi cant in both of those categories, propelling co ee service operators to success.
“We never thought of what we have been doing over the years as technological innovation,” said Webster. “We just knew that we needed to develop customized equipment that would help our customers grow. We listened to our customers. If they were the locomotive, we thought of ourselves as the caboose.”
A er introducing Newco drip brewers in the 1970s, an early innovation was the development of batch brewing to accommodate the needs of a location that required two pots of co ee at once during break time. “ en we developed what we called a ‘new tap,’ a container that replaced the glass pot and had a spigot on it, and it held a gallon of co ee instead of a half-gallon,” Webster said. “Our innovation came from the operators who were asking for solutions that would generate more sales.”
Additional innovations followed over the years, including thermal pot brewers and low-pro le brewers that could accommodate low cabinet heights in modern o ce kitchens. Today, Webster said Newco is focusing
on self-cleaning equipment, bean-to-cup brewers, liquid co ee and pods.
“O ces today don’t have the sta to make co ee as part of their job or even to clean the equipment,” he continued. “We have to focus on nding solutions that work around that issue, which is why liquid co ee is becoming more popular, especially as the quality of the co ee has increased.”
FOCUSING ON CONNECTIVITY
In addition to self-cleaning equipment, Newco is currently focused on machine connectivity technology. “We need to be able to answer questions about usage and service calls. Are we able to reset the machine and x it that easily without sending out a technician? We are going to see more and more of that communication technology going forward. It is a really good thing because it also gives the operator insight into the patterns of consumption in the workplace,” Webster said.
SINGLE-CUP INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Based in Michigan, de Jong Duke, founded in 1897, has been a leader in the single-cup co ee arena since the 1970s. Its newest single-cup brewer, the Lua machine, was a big hit with operators at the 2024 NAMA Show, o ering both chilled and sparkling water. is built-in feature is a great alternative to other water dispensers, where space limitations can be an issue.
According to William Duprey, vice president of sales at de Jong Duke, the company is focused on innovation and technology from a number of directions, including an
improved brewing mechanism, an easier service menu on the machines for customizing drink options, the menu layout and for receiving machine alerts.
In addition, de Jong Duke’s ConnectMe technology, created by its own in-house programmers and development team, allows operators to communicate with machines from a smartphone or a laptop, was introduced in 2013.
According to product manager Karen Borucki, the capabilities and usage of the software has advanced in the past two years.
“By having ConnectMe, operators can organize their business remotely, pushing software updates and recipe files, and then also managing any type of images or video uploads to the machines if they choose to do that, as well as pulling reports,” she said. “This allows the operator to function proactively, instead of waiting for the end user to call them, so they’re able to reduce their service calls and address them immediately. Within ConnectMe, we even have built in communication with machine parts. So, operators can take that proactive approach by finding out what spare parts they might need in the field and have the repair completed in a single service call.”
Borucki said that AI is already playing a role at de Jong Duke, and it will become increasingly important in the future. “Adaptive energy saver is a feature on our machines that is using a smart scheduler for the energy save mode. It learns the behavior of a machine on location. Every 12 weeks, we’re able to update that information,” she said, adding that AI will bring machine by machine predictive product ordering into play in the future. ■
Exhibitors
at the 2024 NAMA
By Molly Rogers, Editor-in-Chief
TShow
showcased the latest innovations in hot food vending technology.
HE HOT FOOD VENDING
machine industry is set to reach approximately $4.8 million in 2024 for the U.S. and Canada, according to a report by Future Market Insights, and it has the potential to progress a CAGR of 6.60% through 2034. By the end of the forecast period, this valuation is slated to surpass $9.1 million. e report notes that recent advancements in food dispensing systems have changed the way people see food vending machines, gaining considerable consumer appreciation, especially in urban areas. is emergence of hot food vending machines was also evident at the 2024 NAMA Show – with plenty of buzz from attendees about the latest technology featured within Imagination Way.
“It’s always great to see the new technologies that are driving the convenience industry at the NAMA Show,” said Benoit Herve, founder and CEO of LBX Food Robotics. “We had a front row seat with Bake Xpress as part of Imagination Way, and we were pleased to see that the quality of food our machine can bake along with its customization options continue to excite our target customers. e most exciting trend we are seeing is how folks are combining next-generation machines to create full-service solutions. We have customers that have paired Bake Xpress with a robotic co ee barista for an automated co eeshop or use Fastcorp’s age-verification technology to add alcohol vending so they can offer beer and pizza, for example. Imagination Way was a great collaborative example of how machines can be combined in this way.”
Another innovator that’s advancing the convenience services industry is RoboBurger, which was also featured in Imagination Way. RoboBurger is a fully autonomous robotic burger machine built with a grill, toaster and condiment dispenser to provide 24/7 access to freshly grilled burgers. RoboBurger can cook a burger in four to ve minutes, and it uses premium ingredients.
“RoboBurger’s launch at NAMA generated tremendous interest
and excitement, especially from unattended retail operators adding RoboBurger as their hot grill option,” said Audley Wilson, CEO of RoboBurger Enterprises Inc. “We are expanding into more o ces and colleges and are looking forward to scaling into convenience stores, airports, and more locations across the USA and beyond.”
Within Imagination Way, Micromart also showcased its hot food capability with the Micromart Cooking Tower. Using induction technology, Micromart Smart Cookers evenly heat meals, delivering restaurant-quality results. Customers are o ered a wide selection of meals securely sealed and heated in aluminum trays –without mess, smell or splatter. And the intuitive touchscreen interface
RoboBurger at the NAMA Show
of the Micromart Cooking Tower provides customer transparency on nutrition, allergens and real-time heating status.
“ e Micromart Cooking Tower received immense interest at this year’s NAMA Show, re ecting the growing demand for hot food solutions in micro markets,” said Yang Yu, co-founder and CEO of Micromart. “Having successfully heated over 300,000 meals through our KitchenMate division in Toronto, we’re excited to o er the proven Micromart Cooking Tower to food service operators across the U.S. and Canada.”
Automated Retail Technologies (ART) also showcased its hot food robotic kiosk at its booth at the NAMA Show. Just Baked Smart Bistro kiosks can produce giant cinnamon rolls, White Castle Cheeseburger Sliders, bao buns, breakfast sandwiches and other options with a click of a button. Sodexo recently announced it has partnered with ART to deploy thousands of Just Baked kiosks across its network of healthcare,
education and corporate clients throughout the U.S. in a move aimed at rede ning hot food robotic technology.
“Our dedication to innovation in convenience, dining, and the broader
evolution of food hinges entirely on technological advancements,” Husein Kitabwalla, CEO, tech and services and food transformation, Sodexo North America, said in the announcement. “We’re excited to collaborate with ART and leverage their Just Baked Technology, further expanding our network of partners utilizing AI for food production and bringing our clients and consumers foods that transcend conventional norms.”
With increasing innovations to advance the technology, such as the integration of arti cial intelligence and machine learning, hot food vending is poised for continued growth, o ering these non-traditional solutions to vending and micro market operators. ■
Just Baked Smart Bistro
Sodexo
Micromart Cooking Tower
How Mike Jamison is transforming Middle Tennessee’s vending experience – one machine at a time.
By Adrienne Klein, Contributing Editor
THERE ARE GO-GETTERS AND THEN THERE’S MIKE JAMISON. MIKE IS A brand-new vending operator with a brand-new vending business. He purchased his first vending machine in November 2022 and placed it at his first location in October 2023. Despite his recent entrance into the vending world, Mike is thriving in Middle Tennessee by providing services in a vending desert with an emphasis on customer service, a focus on technology and a willingness to try new things.
All images courtesy of NewAge Vending
365 Retail Markets is proud to recognize Brenda Williams & Navreet Gill as being recipients of the Most Influential Women in Convenience Services award.
Great companies are built with great people, and we appreciate their contributions to 365 and our industry.
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FILLING A VENDING VOID
In 2022, Mike was at his full-time job when he noticed someone banging on the office vending machine. The product was not vending. This was only one of many negative experiences Mike has seen and experienced with vending machines. He was frustrated that the machine was outdated – it only accepted cash – and that some products were three months past their expiration date. But rather than continue to complain, Mike decided to do something about it and founded NewAge Vending.
Knowing nothing about vending when he decided to enter the industry, Mike put his head down and began researching as much information as he could. He knew he could provide a better vending experience in his area. He purchased a Vending Concepts VC 7210-22C Combo Machine that sat in his garage for nearly a year, during which time he began learning how to do his own marketing, how to build a website and strategies for landing locations. He received a Google career certificate in digital marketing and e-commerce and became a Meta certified digital marketing associate. He paid a graphic designer to create digital ads, which he began running on Facebook.
“I wanted to envision this business before I even got my boots on the ground,” said Mike.
In October 2023, Mike placed his first machine in its own standalone office location in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee. And business has continued to grow throughout the last year for NewAge Vending due to its offerings in the right location. “In this corridor south of Nashville, there’s a booming consumer market, but a vending desert,” he said. “One of my customers called a few other vending operators for service and never got a call back. Then, he saw one of my Facebook ads and that’s how I landed his business.”
Today, NewAge Vending has a five-location carwash, Camel Express, in Nashville and a five-location business campus managed by Cushman & Wakefield, and business is growing each day. “My first location is doing really well, and my other locations are growing steadily too, so I anticipate I’ll be able to leave my full-time job this year and make vending my full-time work.”
Operating out of his garage, Mike is the sole employee, but he recognizes that he is well on his way to growing out of that space. He is hoping to hire his first employee – a route driver – in the next 90 days. “That first hire is going to be incredibly important,” said Mike, “because I’m not trying to place a few vending machines for a side-gig. I’m trying to build a company. The first position of a route driver will give me most of my time back to put into other places to help grow the business.”
Mike Jamison placing a new vending machine in its first location.
The reimagined CTW creates a collaborative learning environment – that connects you with people and companies who understand the challenges your OCS business is facing.
IDEATE DELIVER ENVISION
Discover ideas that generate alternative solutions
Explore topics on how to execute and achieve results that are promised, expected or desired
Look to the future of OCS/pantry and design with deliberate consideration, reflection and discussion
FIRST-TIME NAMA SHOW EXPERIENCE
Mike participated in his firstever trade show this year, attending the NAMA Show in Dallas, May 7-9.
How was your first NAMA Show experience?
Mike: My first NAMA show experience was incredible and having my dad by my side made it even more special. My initial reaction was shock and awe due to the sheer size and scale of the event. There was so much to see and experience that it felt overwhelming, and I realized quickly that I wouldn’t be able to get through it all.
Exploring the advancements in the expo hall was fascinating, and I will continue to do that in the future. That’s where you get to see everything in action. This is also where you can try new products and there are a lot of them. The better-for-you sector is exploding, and the level of innovation and consumer-focused progress within the industry is astounding and inspiring.
What are some do’s and don’ts for you at future trade shows?
Mike: Meeting and engaging with individuals like Steve Orlando with Fixturelite, Moriah and the Cantaloupe team, and Sam Hagan with Quality Vending & Coffee Co. was incredibly valuable. These connections are so important for my growth and
TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED, CUSTOMER DRIVEN
success in the industry. On the other hand, I would not just walk around without a plan, which is what I did. While walking around proved somewhat valuable, the size of the show requires more planning. Next time, I’ll avoid trying to cover everything without a more structured approach.
What was most valuable to you as a small operator at the show?
Mike: The most valuable aspect of attending the show as a small
Mike considers himself a technology enthusiast and is committed to investing in technology to help launch NewAge Vending. In fact, the lack of technology on many vending machines is one reason he entered the industry. “You see these vending machines out there in very nice locations and they don’t have the ability to take card payment,” he said. “That makes no sense to me. We are in 2024! There’s so much money being lost with cash-only machines.”
Mike’s machines feature eye-catching touchscreens, which allow him to upload videos and sell advertising
operator was the opportunity to meet and engage with key industry figures, some of whom have achieved more than you can imagine and some who are right where you are.
The education sessions and the expo hall were beneficial, but the real value came from the connections I made with people who can help me achieve my goals. Setting up meetings and dinners with people I admire or look up to will be a priority for future shows.
to increase his revenue stream. Customers can place requests for products, as well as use most forms of payment including cash, card, Google Pay, Apple Pay and more. “I’m redefining the vending experience in my area because I’m creating one,” Mike said. “People don’t have a vending experience right now.” NewAge Vending machines have 10-inch, 21.5-inch and 49-inch touchscreen technology.
He is partnering with companies that are also focused on technology, specifically Cantaloupe, which has been empowering Mike and helping him grow. “I love that [Cantaloupe] is so technology focused because that is where I’m headed,” he said. Cantaloupe,
Mike Jamison, NewAge Vending, at the NAMA Show 2024
In the last six months, I’ve been surprised by how much people value the vending operator. I like taking the time to meet the people using my machines.”
– Mike Jamison, founder and CEO, NewAge Vending
which helps operators like Mike provide selfservice experiences to consumers, has been a valuable partnership for NewAge Vending. “They’ve been helping me with the technology side of the business, and they gave me a chance when no other companies did,” said Mike. “They give me confidence because we share the same vision of where this industry is heading in terms of technology.” Mike notes that it’s easier than ever before for the consumer to pick up a snack and walk out the door, as long as the operator is providing that type of experience.
One thing that has surprised Mike is how much he has enjoyed bringing joy to customers by providing that good vending experience. “I really, really love people and making people happy,” he said. “My customers have loved the new technology-centric vending machines, and I think it makes them feel like they are cared for.”
Mike realized early on that vending comes down to customer service. He puts himself in the consumer’s shoes and asks himself: What is it like for the customer to use this machine? NewAge Vending is so committed to providing a positive vending experience that Mike tailors each machine to its location.
“Other operators might call me nuts for doing that, but I see it as investing in that machine and making that machine the most efficient it can possibly be in that location,” he said. “If I have products that aren’t moving and someone comes in and wants something else, it’s worth a shot for me to offer it. I’ve been right more often than I’ve been wrong when it comes to making changes at the request of customers.”
Mike likes that his machines allow his customers to make product requests that come directly to him. “I want my customers to know they can request a product. Their requests come directly to me, so I’m able to get closer to the consumer than ever before from a vending machine, even though I’m not on-site.”
With a laugh, he adds that sometimes people have put ridiculous requests in, but points to a time a young customer visiting her mom at work put in a request for Takis, which Mike then added to the machine. “No one in the office ate Takis except for this young girl, but she was so excited when she saw them in the machine. I made her happy and she had a positive vending experience,” said Mike. “That’s cool and that’s all part of this.”
NewAge Vending’s best-selling drinks so far have been Dr Pepper and Coke, as well as Celsius energy drinks and protein shakes. As for food, Famous Amos Cookies and SunChips have been popular, as well as breakfast items including Pop-Tarts and muffins.
When Mike says he is redefining the vending experience in his area, he wants
A modern breakroom featuring a NewAge Vending machine alongside other refreshments.
it to be an actual experience for his customers. He wants them to know who their vendor is and that he’s accessible. “A lot of people I talk to don’t know where the vending machines came from or who operates the machines,” said Mike. “I think that kind of stuff really matters to them. In the last six months, I’ve been surprised by how much people value the vending operator. I like taking the time to meet the people using my machines.”
LOOKING FORWARD
Other consumer shopping experiences, such as mobile convenience stores and walkout technology, inspire Mike to try and provide a unique purchasing
Stocked shelves with a variety of beverages and snacks ready for vending.
experience for his customers. “I’m starting with vending machines because they aren’t going anywhere,” he says.
Eventually, he would like to offer micro markets and office coffee service (OCS) but notes that vending machines will always have a place. “You’re not always going to have the space for a large convenience store or even a micro market.” Vending machines, he believes, are only going to become more technologically advanced, which will give vending operators –and advertisers – the chance to get closer than ever before to their customers.
“I think [the vending experience] is already becoming more personalized, with people logging in and having smoother and faster transactions,” Mike said. “And vending machines as a whole are getting so much more diversified with what they can vend.”
In the coming months, Mike will need to address several challenges as his business grows. For instance, he anticipates needing to move into a bigger warehouse space, purchasing a company vehicle and hiring a route driver. Until Mike can hire his first employee, he plans to delegate many tasks to freelance employees.
Another challenge for him will be keeping up with inventory fluctuation – going from one vending machine to nine in the time span of a few weeks. Long term, however, he believes the biggest pressure will be convincing the decisionmakers in locations that doing something different is good for them, whether it’s adding a micro market or a
high-tech vending machine. “Most decision-makers, I’ve found, don’t care about vending,” he said. “For a lot of them, vending isn’t a priority.” Mike believes one of his main jobs will be convincing decision-makers that vending machines matter to their employees.
Mike is excited about his new start in the vending industry and has felt welcomed as a small operator. “Other operators might not think my approach is going to work, but so far, many have been receptive and open to helping me by answering questions,” he said. “That has been great.” ■
READY TO SELL YET?
Mike Ferguson has over 34+ years Vending & OCS industry experience, as an ex-operator and owner turned intermediary business broker to assist you in selling your business. I speak fluent Vending and Office Coffee.
Mike Jamison standing next to a recently unboxed NewAge vending machine.
SOCIAL HUBS
Costa Coffee partners with Delaware North to bring autonomous, #robotic #coffee technology to Austin Airport. bit.ly/4bGvYtL #unattendedretail
Airheads debuts first-of-its-kind underwater #vending machine that dispenses Airheads while submerged in a pool. bit.ly/3UPFCD5
365 Retail Markets adds PicoCooler Vision to smart solution portfolio. The largecapacity #smartcooler uses automatic product recognition to create a highly accurate and secure grab-and-go shopping experience. #technology #unattendedretail bit.ly/3Vbr4Pu
Waterdrop adds Alexandre Ruberti as general manager for the Americas. bit.ly/3y5Uw0v #sustainable #hydration
In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, podcast host Bob Tullio takes listeners right to the convention floor, with multiple operator interviews – for some, their first #NAMA Show – pertaining to the show vibe and the objectives that brought them to Dallas. bit.ly/3ULsC1o
