NAMA OneShow
showcases trends
he 2015 NAMA OneShow in Las
Vegas, NV, was record-breaking,
according to Chairman Pete Tul-
lio. With 263 exhibitors, 75 of those
attending for the frst time, this year's
expo for vending, micro markets and
offce coffee service (OCS) offered a
tremendous array of solutions cen-
tered on the core business aspects of
the future.
Technology integration was one
focus of the show. Operators talked
candidly about the necessity of add-
ing technology not only to accept
whatever payment the consumer
has, but also to manage the opera-
tion. Vending management systems
(VMS) are no longer 'nice-to-haves',
but instead have become 'need-to-
haves.' The ability to both visit a
machine only when necessary and
prekit products for the route driver,
are allowing tremendous growth
and unparalleled control over the
business by the operator. Suppliers
presented systems to meet this oppor-
tunity with more sophisticated and
robust features.
Technology innovation in the
form of mobile payments and pro-
motional offers within vending apps
was another area that increased. Sup-
pliers pushed the boundaries of the
traditional vending offers and pay-
ment models, making it more similar
to retail with the same digital adver-
tising and consumer packaged goods
rebates other segments enjoy.
T
There were also more micro
market suppliers who entered the
space in 2015, many focusing on the
healthy selection side of the micro
market business.
The busy OCS area of the trade-
show foor illustrated the outstand-
ing increases in the coffee segment.
In fact, single-cup options launched
by smaller roasters was at an all time
high at the OneShow.
28 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com May 2015
Carla Balakgie, CEO of NAMA, had a
technology-focused message in her
opening remarks to OneShow attendees.
"Keeping up with technology is today's
cost of doing business," she said. "Every
deferred opportunity puts you further
behind the competition."
263 exhibitors shared the latest technologies and hottest products on the largest show floor in the history of the OneShow.
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