Products for vending machines are often the first thing on the mind when thinking about this form of business. After all, the choice of products is one of the key elements that influence sales results. It is also extremely important to match the products to the location of the machine. Customising the offer for shoppers is also an interesting topic. In this article, we discuss some of the issues you should consider if you are thinking of changing products or starting a vending adventure.
Products in vending machines
Thanks to the intensive development of the vending industry, not only the machines themselves but also the forms of payment (payment cards, Blik, NFC payments), sales in vending machines have been achieving astonishing results in recent years. Self-selling machines are growing in popularity and satisfaction with their use. The sales themselves and the demand for specific products depend primarily on the needs, the eating habits of the population and the current trends. Thus, with the growing interest in healthy lifestyles, as well as environmental protection, consumers are more willing to choose sugar-free, low-calorie, organic and "zero waste" products.
Snacks tailored to specific tastes, vegan, lactose-free and low-carbohydrate products, are therefore finding an increasingly wide audience. Alongside chocolate bars, healthier versions, bars and other fit snacks are among the most popular products. This is of great importance as we eat out more and more. Easy access to a wide variety of snacks, meals and drinks to suit our diet, tastes and lifestyle is one of the keys to success in the vending industry.
Will the popularity of the product guarantee a successful sale?
One of today's most popular products, or rather types of products, is of course coffee. The word appears on the lips or circulates in the thoughts of every adult. The convenience of a warm, preferably freshly ground coffee at school, at work or even in the doctor's queue, is something of a lifesaver on Monday mornings. This is why hot coffee drinks are very popular with shoppers. If you don't already have a coffee machine on offer, consider adding one to your snack machines; hot drinks and snacks or sandwiches like to sell together!
For the past few years, the well-known soft drink has continued to be the best-selling among chilled drinks. However, sugar-free and flavoured versions are also on the rise. Apart from fizzy drinks, energy drinks and iced tea are also popular. Snacks, both sweet (bars, biscuits) and salty (crisps, nuts), help to quickly satisfy smaller hunger pangs outside the home and are handy and easy to store.
What to look for when choosing products for the vending machine?
When looking for the best products, it is very important to observe trends in the food market or a specific group of people. They are the ones who will be using our vending machine. Consider the location of the vending machine to which you are choosing your range; different products will be sold in schools, where there are rules and standards to comply with, others in offices or airports.
Conclusion
Tailoring the offer to the needs, nature and preferences of the consumer is therefore of great importance. It is worth remembering that the popularity of a product does not prove its similar success in your vending machine. A successful product in one vending machine may not work in another location or with a different audience. Analyse sales at each vending machine so that you are aware of what is most popular at each location; use this insight for future orders and win the hearts of your customers. In this way, with shrewd and clever product management, you can be sure that not only will the customer using your vending machines be satisfied, but more importantly, your business will benefit.
