Vending & OCS Nation Podcast19 Aug 2025

Smart stores are already having a big impact and it is just the beginning

Industry observers, including Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation Podcast host Bob Tullio, are wondering aloud what next year’s State of the Industry Report will reveal. Sales jumped 30% in the vending and micro market segment and smart markets were not even part of the equation. Next year’s numbers could be off the charts!

In Part II of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation Podcast, on the State of the Vending & Micro Market Industry - the conversation turns to what seems to be an inevitable subject these days - smart markets and their impact on the industry. It was a lively conversation full of outstanding insights taken from two webinars in July. Both webinars are available on demand. Some notable quotes from our guests: "There is a new wave of operators who are no longer looking at vending and micro markets – they are going straight to smart stores." Ben Thomas - Nayax "We need to change our mindset on pricing. We need to step out of that boomer bucket." Josh Rosenberg - Forward Thinkers "We’ve been installing smart stores like crazy in Fed Ex locations and to say they are doing well in sales is probably the biggest understatement I can make." Tony Danna - Cantaloupe Inc "If we have an empty cooler, that is basically a coffin with our logo on it. That user experience comes with committed service." Jon Holden – All Star Services, Inc. "Anyone who is willing to put in the work, the time the energy and the money can compete if they have the right tools in place." Natali Pupovac-Peters – Naturals2Go. "Looking ahead - I think smart markets will increase in a big way, there will be plenty more industry consolidation, vending will decline and new operators will continue to appear." Orrin Huebner - Consultant.

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