Soda Machines

Soda machines can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The most popular are the Coke or Pepsi branded machines. These machines generally have between 7-10 selections and can vend 12oz cans or 20oz bottles.

A new type of soda machine is called the Bottle Drop. These machines can vend 40 different types of beverages including a wide variety of non-carbonated beverages. The down-side to these machines is that they do not hold a large capacity of products like a regular stack vending machine.

Snack Machines

Snack machines are very popular. They carry between 30-45 selections. A good vend operator will work with you to determine the different types of products that will go into the machine. The machines are usually divided into six categories. Salty Snacks, Pastries, Gum / Mint., Candy, Cookies and Nuts.

There is a big push right now to offer healthier products out of vending machines. Vend Operators are making a big effort to have these types of products available to you and generally have a fairly wide selection of products including trail mixes, fruit snacks, baked chips and granola bars.

Fresh Food machines

Fresh Food Machines are quite expensive. A vend Operator will want to take a good look at your business before he installs this type of machine. This machine can offer a wide selection of refrigerated products including sandwiches, salads, fruit salads, yogurt and quick serve type meals. These products are all perishable, so the vend operator will not be happy if he has to throw food items away. Usually a vend operator will not install this type of equipment unless there are a large number of employees.

Frozen Food Machines

Frozen Food machines can carry a wide selection of quick serve meals including burritos, pizzas, Lean Cuisine type meals and even ice cream. Because the items are frozen, the vend operator will not have to throw products away if they are not eaten immediately. Once again the machines are extremely expensive so the vend operator will expect large numbers of employees or walk through traffic.

Coffee Machines

Because of the popularity of Starbucks, coffee machines have had to step it up. A new coffee machine can deliver a great tasting cup of coffee, including some upscale gourmet coffees such as capachino, hot chocolates and soups. Once again, this type of machine is expensive. Large numbers of employees buying from this machine is a necessity to help the vendor pay for the machine.

Machines with Credit Card Readers

Vending machines can be installed to accept both cash and credit cards.. These units are expensive to install and require the vend operator to pay a monthly monitoring fee. You see credit card readers at a lot of the larger locations like colleges and universities where the volume justifies the purchase of this type of equipment.

Wireless Monitoring of the Vending Machine

Cantaloupe systems in Berkeley California has developed a product called “Seed” which will provide the ability to monitor the machine through a cellular Internet connection. This will enable the vend operator to see what is in your vending machine while he's still in the warehouse. He can them make a decision on whether or not to send a driver to your location and which items need to be refilled. It can also track sales and commission payments.

This is relatively new technology but it's catching on quickly.