Vending Machines

Vending Machine Trends 2023

Interested in what vending machine technology advancements to expect in 2023? Check out this guide on what’s hot right now in the vending machine game!

Multi-vend

In the past, vending machines only allowed you to select one product at a time. Thanks to the latest innovations in vending solutions, users can now use a touch screen to select up to four products in their cart. This technology also allows users to make a single payment when purchasing from a vending machine. Top Vending offers the CV 4000 Combination vending machine for rental or outright purchase.

Locker technology

The latest trend is the introduction of vending machine lockers which allow businesses to vend oversized, combination, or fragile items. The display window with LED lighting enhances the appearance of the product enticing customers to select the product.

Microwave module

An exciting development in the vending machine space is microwave modules which allow users to select frozen or pre-prepared meals. The vending machine is equipped with the latest technology to communicate with the microwave module the recommended cooking time of the meal that has been selected from the vending machine. Top Vending offers the Vision Gourmet vending machine for hire or purchase.

Versatile vending solutions

Vending machine options have become increasingly vast over the past couple of years. In 2022, Top Vending saw an increase in versatile products offered in vending machines. Such as feminine hygiene products in vending machines for women at mining and construction sites. Top Vending foresees the versatility of vending solutions continuing into 2023 and we are excited to see what these include.

From the vending machine trends highlighted above, it’s clear to see that innovation will take the industry to greater heights in the immediate and foreseeable future.  Convenience through innovation is being pushed to new levels as the focus is no longer just on the easy access purchase, but on the positive impact, it makes through the experience of the consumer.

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Water Dispensers

COVID-secure water dispenser options

COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa have relaxed in recent months and we have seen an influx of people returning to the office. However, according to the health minister, there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases in four provinces since 26 October 2022 and the numbers continue to rise. This highlights the importance of keeping safe, especially in high-volume areas.

Understanding the need to provide water dispenser solutions that eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Top Coolers introduced a range of COVID-secure water dispenser rental or purchase options to assist offices, hospitals, gyms, and restaurants. Official tests were conducted by Dr Gerba and his team from the University of Arizona who set out to prove the effectiveness of Firewall® technology against COVID-19. Results can be viewed on Waterlogic’s website.

“Delivering unsurpassed water quality, hygiene and security to our customers has always been an important business imperative for us,” explains Shane Terblanche, Manager-Technical Production and Operations at Top Coolers. “It is for this reason that we partnered with long-standing supplier, Waterlogic whose hygiene-first approach is underpinned by their patented technology, ensuring every drop of water from one of their Firewall® dispenses is free from bacteria and viruses.

Waterlogic’s patented Firewall® technology has long been recognised for its ability to purify water up to 99.99% virus-free and 99.9999% bacteria-free. Firewall® was later rigorously tested against the human form of COVID-19.

“Top Coolers is the exclusive supplier of Waterlogic products in South Africa and we are proud to offer our customers the world’s most certified water dispenser options. This emphasises our commitment to continue offering our customers solutions that address their needs and objectives,” concludes Terblanche.

To find out more about our COVID-secure dispensers, get in touch today. T: 011 699 7800

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Coffee Vending

Coffee Vending Machines

For many of us, the thought of going through a day without a cup of coffee is unthinkable. For some, it is virtually impossible to get their workday started without a cup. Easy access to a variety of coffee options throughout the day makes a demanding business day more bearable. This kind of convenience and variety is made possible through trusted, industry-leading coffee vending machine rentals and purchase experts at Top Vending.

Top Vending provides coffee vending solutions and hot beverage vending machine solutions to cater to the needs of businesses small and large. We also provide flexibility to businesses in need of quality vending solutions through rental or sales options. Coffee vending machine Rental and sales options include maintenance, competitive pricing and guaranteed professional service.

A range of coffee vending machines are on offer to meet the requirements of a variety of business staff compliments:

Zen Hot Beverage Range

The Zen is suitable for a staff complement of up to 80 and is available in two models – Bean-to-cup and Instant. The Zen has a selection of 10 different drink options and 4 pre-selections. These units are available in table-top and freestanding options.

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Zensia Hot Beverage Machine

The larger Zensia machine is suitable for a staff complement of up to 200 and offers a complete range of hot beverages including fresh brew tea, instant coffee, and hot chocolate. With a selection of 10 different drink options and 4 pre-selections, the Zensia caters to a larger staff complement with a greater selection to suit varying preferences.

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Vending Machines

Vending Machines Increases Productivity

From the time we wake up during the working week, our focus is on preparing for, getting to, and working from the office. It’s little wonder that the morale of staff is largely dependent on the way they feel about their office environment and the conveniences afforded to them to make the workday more bearable and enjoyable.

The vending machine has been around for a long time and has become more and more of a regular fixture in many public spaces. The office has benefitted from the presence of vending machines as it has changed the behaviour and time management of people within the workplace. We realise how convenient a vending machine is and it would be hard to find anyone who would dispute its advantages. Let’s consider for a moment the real benefits that the workplace can gain from having a vending machine. More specifically, let’s consider the increase in productivity because of having a vending machine in the office.

Time-Saving

Every day, the employees take several minutes to prepare a beverage. This time can be cut down significantly with the use of vending machine solutions as they usually take around 20 seconds to dispense a drink. Employees will be back at their desks in no time, happily continuing their work, with a beverage in hand.

Convenience

One of the most obvious and appreciated benefits of having a vending machine rental in the office is that refreshments are easily accessible. By having access to refreshments a few steps away from the workstation, employees have no need to travel elsewhere and lose out on valuable working time. When the pressure is on and deadlines are fast approaching, quick and easy access to refreshments means staff can work through lunch times to keep the momentum going. Employees would naturally find it easier to remain onsite.

Employee Satisfaction

The selection of beverages and snacks on offer cater to the needs of a wide range of people. We understand that our work environment is filled with people of different backgrounds, ages, and preferences. The easily accessible, wide selection of items on offer from a vending machine is bound to appeal to just about everyone in one way or another. The mere presence of the vending machine tells employees that their convenience is considered and the time it saves them is appreciated.

Low Maintenance / No Overhead Costs

Vending machines require no extra effort on the part of employees as nobody must be physically present to provide a service. Once the machine is installed, the responsibility rests with the vending solution provider to ensure that machines are maintained and stocked for the benefit of employees. There are no additional people required to make hot beverages and wash up afterwards. All of this leads to money saved and increased productivity.


Top Vending provides coffee vending solutions to cater to the needs of businesses small and large. It also provides flexibility to businesses in need of quality vending solutions through rental or sales options. It has a large national footprint, with branches in Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban, and selected service partners in secondary cities. For further detail and guidance on coffee vending machine solutions, turn to the trusted, industry-leading coffee vending machines of Top Vending.

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Vending Machines

The Demand for Healthy Vending Machines is Growing

Vending machines just keep getting better and better. This is evident when you look at how far the vending machine business has come since the days of inserting wrinkly notes or dirty coins into a dodgy slot and then waiting with bated breath until you saw your selection drop into the dispenser tray.

But just look how much things have changed! Now you even get machines that accept credit and debit cards.  The choice of what they offer to customers is continually growing and improving. The food and beverage choices consumers must choose from have been upgraded too. Vending machines have become a lot smarter. They’ve recognised the need to provide food and drink choices based on new emerging trends in the market.

An interesting movement we’ve seen is a growing demand for healthier options. People are expecting to see fresh and nutritious snacks available in vending machines, in addition to traditional snacks.

Far from the usual offerings of sugary, salty, carb-loaded, and carbonated options, vending machines are catering for food and beverage preferences like paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free options too.

With the rise of obesity, cancer and other serious illnesses, consumers are far more aware of what food they’re consuming. While the demand for the convenience of vending machines and their traditional snacks remains high, consumers are expecting to find healthy options in the vending machines too, alongside crisps and chocolates.

This includes still water and non-flavoured sparkling water (in addition to sugary cokes and fruit juices), and unsalted nuts and dried fruit (as a substitute to crisps).

There’s also a big rage when it comes to ‘Banting’ (High Fat, Low Carb diets) and many consumers hope to find items like protein bars and protein shakes in vending machines. A perfect place to have this is at Gym where you have a captured audience.

Consumers head to vending machines for a variety of reasons. Most vending solutions exist to satisfy hunger or cravings for snacks and beverages. This normally occurs when customers are working long hours or they work in an area where they don’t have access to many shops, or in a hospital where they can’t leave the premises for long, to name a few examples.  Vending machines offer consumers a quick convenient fix for hunger pangs or sluggish activity by offering energy-boosting refreshments. The scope of the use and demand for vending machines is widening as advancements in machine technology improves.

Vending machine rentals and sales offer an extremely viable business opportunity and if they are stocked with the right items in the right locations, you can’t really go wrong. 

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Vending Machines

The Vending Machine Concept Still Going Strong in SA

The vending machine business has proven to be a lucrative business avenue for over 100 years and continues to be so. Vending machines are a perfect business opportunity if you’re looking to start your own business, or you’re trying to set up a second income, vending solutions are an excellent option and are quite affordable and they can be hired or purchased to suit your business model. It’s popular with business owners because of its low start-up and low overhead costs. And fortunately, it’s still popular with its customer base too. It also lends itself to growth, as you can start with one, use the profit from the first one to buy the next, and build your business from there.

Like all businesses, having the right product in the right location in your vending machine will automatically generate a rewarding return on investment.

There are numerous benefits to owning vending machines and they are in demand now, more than ever. In South Africa, it is no longer just a cash business, users can now pay with their debit or credit card, putting the money straight into the owner’s bank account.

Whether you get a vending machine on hire or purchase it, location and foot traffic is the most important factor. The profitability of the business is going to rest predominantly on foot traffic.

Historically, the best locations for vending machines are places where the customer might not easily have access to a shop or convenience store … maybe because of the location or perhaps the hours they require a ‘snack’ are outside normal store hours. The most popular places are factories (which could be isolated from shops), hospitals (where employees are working late hours or visitors are waiting at all hours of the night), schools (where children aren’t allowed to leave the property) or offices (simply for convenience).

It is a wise business tactic to put a vending machine onsite. This reduces the amount of absenteeism as employees don’t have to nip out to go to the shops during working hours.

According to the Vending Association of South Africa, “Approximately 10% of all the people on a site will use a vending machine.”

Your next most important factor will be what products you put inside the machine.

While South African vending machines are still not as bizarre as other countries, they are progressing quite quickly with what they have to offer. Customers have grown accustomed to finding vending machines in a whole host of locations, but also, the variety of what the vending machines offer has grown so much too. Traditionally, vending machines would be filled with all the ‘guilty pleasure’ snacks like chocolates, crisps, and sweets. With a new health-conscious target market emerging, you can find some vending machines containing health snacks like raw nuts, dried fruit and lean biltong. This is a clever tactic and ensures you’re catering for the masses.

By following the hard and fast rules of owning a vending machine (location and product variety), you can’t really go wrong.

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Vending Machines

What Is a Vending Machine?

It may well sound like a silly question, but the truth is that there are so very many kinds of vending machines and vending solutions on the market. If you really think about it, there are heaps of machines that we may not have previously seen as vending machines. So, what is a vending machine you ask? In its simplest form, a vending machine is a self-service machine which dispenses merchandise after the insertion of money or a tap of a card on the machine.

Dispensing an Item

The most common vending machines dispense fast-moving consumer goods. Cold drinks and snacks; all with the advantage of long shelf lives can provide consumers with instant gratification through vending machines. Undoubtedly the biggest perk of vending machines is their ability to provide goods at all hours without needing a human to operate them. Late at night and early in the morning, vending machines are the heroes of the snack world.

Dispensing a service

Stepping into the realm of services, you may struggle to remember what it is a machine can do for you. The most classic example – is a parking metre. In exchange for a coin or the tap of a debit or credit card, you are given time. While the original parking metres may no longer exist, its newer upgraded version exists in and around paid parking in almost every mall. They sell not only time but also shade and security for your car.

Another service provided by a vending machine of sorts, which has also become a fossil of the modern world, is a phone booth. You may not remember when last you saw one, but they used to be commonplace.

Dispensing songs – the jukebox. Recently revived and spotted in the odd pub or pool hall, the modern jukebox has thousands of songs, often anything you can think of. In addition to the touch screen and easy operation, these machines provide an atmosphere.

Different, but still the same.

You may have never considered it to be a vending machine, but if you think about it an ATM is likely to be among the most widely utilised vending machines in modern society. Dispensing cash to users, an ATM is far more complicated than the average snack dispenser, but it still automatically dispenses goods (in this, case money) to users.

Vending Culture

Japan is widely seen as a vending machine society. Almost everything you can think of is available from a vending machine. It makes sense, in densely populated cities where people are always pressed for time, why wouldn’t you want to buy fresh lettuce without even having to greet a cashier?

As time passes vending machines make more and more sense. What the supplier saves in running costs can be passed on to the consumer. Vending machines don’t require full-time staff, but they can operate full-time. They require little space, and they can be placed almost anywhere. If you would like to find out more about owning a vending machine or renting one, feel free to contact us for more information!

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Vending Machines

The Weirdest Vending Machines in The World

Whether you’ve seen one or not, there are so many weird vending machines out there. While South Africa seems to be lagging in the weirdest vending machine department (maybe our needs are just more practical), countries like Japan and the Netherlands are making up for us. The low running costs coupled with the 24/7 running time have turned vending machines into the modern equivalent of fruit trees with low-hanging fruit… albeit very strange low-hanging fruit.

5. Food So Fresh It’s Still Growing

When you’re looking for fresh food at 11 pm, surprisingly there are options! Eggs? Yup, there’s an egg vending machine. Fresh veggies? Yup, there’s a vending machine stocked with vegetables. Lettuce? One of the weirdest vending machines is stocked with lettuce which is so fresh it’s literally still growing! That’s a pretty good alternative to junk food… although how does one even begin to say no to crisps at 11 pm?

4. Rent-a-bike

Being the bicycle-friendly country it is, the Netherlands is home to millions of bicycles as well as bicycle riders. The love of cycling as a mode of transport began with increased traffic but turned into a health and eco-conscious way of life. On that note, they are renowned for weird Netherlanders, vending machines that dispense bikes to sell and rent them out. It’s not only among the weirdest vending machines, but it’s also really helpful for tourists!

3. It’s Aliiiiiive!

This one is admittedly cruel but appears commonplace regardless. Moving on from fresh lettuce is live crabs and even live lobsters! The idea is that they are fresh on your plate and fresher tastes better, but this may well be a step too far. While the lobsters at least have the advantage of living their last moments out submerged in water, in a large fish tank come vending machine… the crabs. Well. They are packaged in a small plastic pouch constricting their pincers and legs, and this vending machine looks exactly like any other vending machine. Poor little crabby!

2. Hot, hot, hot

Hot food wins hands down, maybe not for being weird, but it wins simply based on utter awesomeness! The first vending machine serving pizza arrived in Europe in about 2012, it boasts a 3-minute preparation time and a hygienic human-free process. Changing the vending machine game forever, the pizza vending machine provided the catalyst for all manner of hot food to be served up by our robotic buddies. Noodles, sizzling burgers, tacos, hot chips, and mash even are all now accepted fruits of the vending community.

The Weirdest Vending Machines in The World

1. Gold

Yes, you read right; actual gold. Of course, we can all relate to needing food on the go, but gold? Really? Yup, some people just need gold available 24/7 and surprisingly those people are generally smart-with-their money investors. With gold set to be a safe bet when it comes to investing, this vending machine has been successful so far. It updates its prices every ten minutes according to global rates and even comes secure with reinforced beams and an alarm system. I doubt you would see one of those in downtown Jo’burg, but they are gaining popularity around the world in the wealthier districts.

Forget the weirdest vending machines, when it comes to the more practical types of vending machines, Top Vending is a leader in the field. Snack and can vending machines, hot beverage solutions and water dispenser options are our focus. If you would like to find out more about owning a vending machine or renting one, feel free to contact us for more information!

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The Cashless Vending Revolution

The reason vending machines appeal to so many of us is because of the convenience it offers at all hours of the day.  Vending machines are strategically placed in areas where consumers need quick and easy access to a product at the right time.  All that’s required is some cash or a card to purchase exactly what’s needed.  Can it get more convenient than that? It appears there’s a trend that’s increasing in popularity that will take vending machine convenience to the next level.

In a digital era, more and more we find that our transactions are less cash focused.  Many people find the hassle and risk of carrying lots of cash inconvenient and choose to make payments through digital channels instead.  In the minds of many, vending machines and cash go hand in hand.  Well, some revolutionary cashless vending machines are on the increase and as this practice increases, our perceptions of vending machines may change forever.

We’ve mentioned the hassle and risk of carrying cash.  As consumers become wearier in having cash on hand, vending machines end up losing out on sales.  Cashless forms of payment are a no-brainer to make it easier for consumers and help vending machine operators become more profitable.

Consumers are given more convenience and flexibility to use any form of payment at vending locations and vending machine operators are guaranteed a steady flow of sales.  The options of debit and credit card purchases have now become a reality and in areas where this innovation has been implemented sales are up and consumer satisfaction is too.  The era of the smart vending machine has arrived.

Through some market research carried out by Pepsi, it estimates that by 2018 approximately 2 million smart vending machines will exist in the U.S. To boost sales, vending companies are installing new
machines that accept credit cards and mobile payments and feature digital screens, video cameras, and smartphone charging stations.  Professor Michael Kasavana of Michigan State University who studies self-service technology says, “Machines that accept plastic can lift sales 25% to 30%.  Revenue per transaction can rise 15 – 20% when the machines can prompt consumers to buy a Snickers bar along with their bag of Doritos”.

The vending machine has been around for a very long time.  The popularity of the concept remains, but the features and sophistication of the machines change with the times.  We are now in a period where hard cash is not ideal for consumers to carry around.  As other areas of our lives move toward a more integrated digital environment, vending machines seem to be following the trend.  It’s only a matter of time before this becomes “the new normal”.  The methods of payment may change, but vending machines are here to stay.

Top Vending provides coffee vending solutions to cater to the needs of businesses small and large. It also
provides flexibility to businesses in need of quality vending solutions through rental or sales options.
Rental and sales options include maintenance, competitive pricing, and guaranteed professional service.  Professional service includes the added benefit of operational services, ensuring that the task of keeping machines stocked is taken care of.  For further detail and guidance on coffee vending solutions, turn to the trusted, industry-leading coffee vending machines of Top Vending.

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How to Start a Vending Machine Business

Have you ever wondered how to start a vending machine business? The chances are, if you want to start the kind of business that will allow you to be in several places at once, you have thought about starting a vending machine business of your own. With so many pros to this kind of business, it’s actually hard to think of reasons not to start a vending machine business.

The Pros

Other than being able to make sales without having to hire staff 24/7, without renting an entire shop or requiring large start-up costs, vending machines also provide a fast return on investment. Every time you restock your vending machine, you also collect the cash your machine has made.

So now that you know you want to start a vending machine business, all you need is to know how to…

The Right Vending Machine Supplier

Find a reputable vending machine company which you can rent or buy your vending machine from. While there are a bunch of vending machine suppliers out there, it’s best not to rush into deciding. Make sure your chosen supplier can accommodate your needs, they should be happy to always provide support, assistance in the maintenance of the vending machines, and assistance with installation. The best companies are backed by VASA (the vending machine association of South Africa).

Rent or Own?

You can buy your vending machine outright, or you can rent the unit. Choose a vending machine supplier that has a solid history of renting vending machines as well as s solid service history. Beware of committing to a rental agreement with a company without a solid service history. Imagine being stuck in a 36-month vending machine rental contract, and the vending machine is not working and is poorly serviced.

The Right Location

Once you have secured your vending solution, you need to find a place to put it. This can be tricky, but it helps if you offer the hosting company or business 10% to 15% of your turnover. Over and above getting other businesses on board, you need to make sure your vending machine is going to be in a high-traffic area, otherwise, it just won’t be noticed, and you won’t sell the stock.

The best spots are:

  • Entrances
  • Exits
  • Lunchrooms
  • Near other vending machines
  • Waiting rooms
  • Factories
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Universities
  • Gyms

The Stock

It goes without saying that people can’t buy what you don’t have. If your vending machine is empty or low on stock, you will lose out on sales. What’s equally important is knowing what your customers want to buy, it would be silly to stock your vending machine full of products that people aren’t buying.

Continual Maintenance

Nothing is more annoying than a vending machine that swallows your money! If you don’t ensure that the machine is maintained, this is exactly what will happen, and your customers just won’t return. Also, a machine that’s out of order can’t make any money so your investment will literally be gathering dust.

Now that you know exactly how to start a vending machine business, feel free to contact us. We can offer you advice, and guidance and help you start your own vending machine business. Your future in the vending industry awaits!

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