Recent Sales Scenario In Vending Business

The 2005 Automatic Merchandiser State of the Vending Industry Report reported that the vending industry witnessed its first sales gain since the recession that began in 2001.

With the slowly recovering economy, the vending industry’s total sales rose to $21.26 billion. This growth can be mainly attributed to higher product sales. Planet Antares vending operators were also faced with an increase in operating costs along with the increase in product prices.

According to a recent study, consumers are drinking more speciality coffee. The percentage of Americans who drink coffee daily is also going up. Other than the workplace, people are also going out to buy coffee. This is a great opportunity for coffee vending machine operators to grab a larger market share and increase sales and profits.

In the past few years, vending operators had to face the challenge of pulling equipment out of large traditional industrial accounts. This resulted in a fall of the manufacturing/warehouse/fabrication accounts below 30% of the total customers in the vending industry in 2004. Such shifts in the customer base indicate the changes witnessed in the nation’s workforce.

Moreover, many vending operators retreated from accounts in schools and correctional facilities. They realized that these accounts were based on commissions and must be periodically rebid.

In contrast, the school authorities consider vending machines as direct competition to their schools and not as support service. The nutritional restrictions also compromised the school accounts to a great extent. Planet Antares vending operators can tackle such situations by placing healthier food items in the vending machines.