Trade vending machines: crash in office coffee and new markets
Cologne – the number of vending machines remains constant: although corona has hit snack and coffee machine manufacturers hard, the number of machines is not shrinking, according to the BDV industry association.
Round 610.000 units are used throughout germany, even if there are certain shifts, because the pandemic, with increasing home office numbers and less mobility, has stirred up the industry.
in 2020, sales were reported to have slumped by around 20 percent to 2.53 billion euros. Nearly 500 million sales were lost because office coffee machines came to a standstill and snack machines at train stations were less frequented. In the meantime, however, the industry has stabilized and even sees a slight increase in sales for 2021 – also because prices have been increased in some cases.
upheavals also offer opportunities
Although the industry has already begun to adapt to the changed conditions brought about by corona, many changes will not reach the general public until 2022. BDV managing director aris kaschefi expects operators to "increase the diversity of the range and make other structural changes". Because the upheavals caused by the pandemic also offer opportunities for the industry.
Among these new gaps created by corona is catering to employees in smaller offices. Where canteens are no longer viable, vending machine concepts with chilled fresh products such as salads, sandwiches or ready-made meals that only need to be heated up could be used, according to the BDV. This is more expensive because of the greater effort involved, but it offers a wide range of possibilities for the product – including reusable packaging. Here, the association expects business to roughly double. ÄAccording to BDV, similar concepts are also possible in hotels.
Wider assortment
The expansion in the assortment can even go further. In some offices abroad, ready-to-eat meals are also offered for the family to take home, according to the association. It may save you shopping after hours.
And corona has torn a completely different gap that the vending industry is increasingly filling: according to the BDV, vending machines are also a good way to manage materials dispensed by companies – from work gloves to screwdrivers to writing pads – without any risk of infection. In this case, the goods are no longer sold, but the device including maintenance is rented – if desired, including the return of the issued materials.
Still a rather small field, they say. But overall, the industry is quite confident. We see great potential, also because vending machines proved to be reliable sellers during the Corona crisis. The industry is also benefiting from newly created industrial space for transport and production, says kaschefi. "This results in new potential places to put the brioche buns."