Automatic Merchandiser serves the business management, marketing, technology and product information needs of its readers including vending operators, coffee service operators, product brokers, and product and equipment distributors in print.
Issue link: http://automaticmerchandiser.epubxp.com/i/491992
Customer engagement Mobile payment is slowly growing with consumers and vending won't be left behind in the mobile payment race. Mobile app and hardware PayRange was voted the best new product in the technology category. "We hear from our custom- ers that because our solution was devel- oped for operators by an operator, the simplicity and pric- ing is allowing them to offer a payment solution desired by consumers that works for them as well," said PayRange CEO and Founder Paresh Patel. "We're happy to play our part in ushering the vending indus- try into the mobile era." PayRange was announced at PYMNTS Innovation Project 2014, held at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. The PayRange sys- tem includes Blukey™ hardware, a mobile app and service. It also enables existing vending machines to accept mobile pay- ments simply and economically. "We're honored to have been voted by readers to be the no. 1 technology product of the year," said Patel. Not only is machine payment expanding, but con- sumer engagement with and at the vending machine is expanding, too. Crane's Merchant MEDIA was awarded the best new product in the equipment category. "Merchant MEDIA offers operators a breakthrough vending solution with integrated cashless, a 7-inch media screen and shopping cart features all designed to provide a game chang- ing consumer experience," said Steve Turner, vice president of snack, food and cold beverages at Crane Merchan- dising Systems. "Our MEDIA platform, which includes applications for custom storefront, digital product advertising, healthy solutions and Intelligent Store TM , attracts and engages consumers and has proven to drive same-store sales growth for operators." Food favor trends Biscomerica's Sun-Maid Blueberry with Greek Yogurt Chips Cookies was voted best new product in the cookie category. Bisco- merica expanded its licensing partnership with Sun-Maid Grow- ers by creating a vari- ation off of its line of Sun-Maid raisin cookies. Sun-Maid, a leader in the retail dried fruit category, introduced a unique, quality cookie recipe using Sun-Maid blueberry pieces combined with popular Greek yogurt chips at only 210 calories per pack and 0 grams Trans Fat. "Biscomerica is honored to receive the award for best product cookie category as it is voted on by the vend operators — a true testament that the product has been very well received by the vend industry consumer," said Kathy Product Name goes here Product Name goes here Product Name goes here Sun-Maid Blueberry with Greek Yogurt Chips Cookies by Biscomerica Cookie PayRange Technology Merchant MEDIA machine by Crane Equipment IN 2014, there was a move towards technology innovation and engagement. 46 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com April 2015 R E A D E R S ' C H O I C E A W A R D S 2 0 1 5