33%
28.3%
9%
15.9%
58%
55.8%
No
change
Reduced
Added
Other
Management
Administration
Warehouse
Repair
Delivery
Sales
17.6%
36.2%
28%
10.5%
26.6%
18.8%
50%
11.7%
23.4%
13.4%
26.6%
N/A
9.6%
61.7%
Other
Management
Administration
Warehouse
Repair
Delivery
Sales
17.5%
12%
30.1%
44%
8.7%
24%
13.6%
32%
17.5%
44%
11.7%
28%
N/A
0%
CHART 3A: MACHINES
BY LOCATION
● Manufacturing
● Offices
● Hotels/motels
● Restaurants,
bars, clubs
● Retail sites
● Hospitals,
nursing homes
● Universities,
colleges
● Elementary,
middle, high
schools
● Military bases
● Correctional
facilities
● Other
CHART 3B: NUMBER OF
LOCATIONS SERVED IN 2015
COMPARED TO 2014
● Increase
● Remained the same
● Decreased
CHART 4:
STAFFING CHANGES, 2-YEAR REVIEW
● 2014 ● 2015
CHART 4C:
AREAS WHERE STAFF WAS
REDUCED, 2-YEAR REVIEW
● 2014 ● 2015
CHART 4B:
AREAS WHERE STAFF WAS
ADDED, 2-YEAR REVIEW
● 2014 ● 2015
9.6%
9.7%
8.7%
10%
6.8%
13.1%
18.4%
5.6%
4.7%
7.3%
6.6%
2015
the highest revenue-providing service
segment after vending machines.
It's not surprising that micro mar-
kets have been doing so well. Many
of the challenges vending has and is
currently facing don't exist with a
micro market. One example is that
many consumers no longer value con-
venience as they once did. Instead,
having grown up with restaurants
and convenience stores on every
corner, they like product variety, and
trendy items as well as saving time.
A vending machine's limited choices
can't compete, especially now that
healthier items are being required in
many places, taking up real estate in
the already limited vending machine.
The open concept of micro market
shelving allows additional product
choices, better meeting the expec-
tations and needs of the consumer.
Micro markets also come with an
inventory management system, which
makes determining proftable prod-
ucts easier from day one. Despite the
benefts of micro markets, the segment
is not without challenges. Managing
the increased number of SKUs in the
warehouse, hiring the right staff to
analyze reports and making changes
in the markets is challenging, as well
as training or hiring the right type
of driver to best service the market.
Plus, locations are much more indi-
vidualized when shopping a market.
32.2%
49.8%
18.1%
2015
NUMBER OF
LOCATIONS
SERVED
has increased
since 2014.
*Other includes micro market related staff, marketing professionals, cleaning staff, kitchen and tech
June/July 2016 VendingMarketWatch.com Automatic Merchandiser 23
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY