By Jeff Adair, Editor
Micro markets are where the growth is in today’s refreshment services industry. But for many refreshment service operators, expanding into this highly capital-intensive technology can be fraught with uncertainties. After all, the technology is barely less than a decade old, and investing in it requires a fair amount of research for the average operator.
Bernick’s
, a full-service refreshment services company based in Waite Park, Minn., has focused on micro market opportunities in recent years and has studied the available micro market systems. Reed Stevens, the company’s director of vending, shared his insights with Vending Technology News on the key considerations for choosing a micro market supplier. Stevens noted that 60 to 70 percent of the company’s new business is for micro markets.
Cost is always an important factor when investing in any technology. Micro market kiosk costs can vary by a few thousand dollars, Stevens said, depending on the features. Hence, determining the features is one of the first considerations in choosing a micro market supplier.
For most operators, payment options are an important feature when choosing a micro market kiosk. Customers today want as many payment options as possible, such as cash, credit card, mobile payment or a proprietary, online payment account.
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Avanti Markets
, a micro market provider, is launching an innovative line of secure, unattended, self-service retail markets through an exclusive agreement with New Age Pavilions LLC, a provider of unattended retail technology.
“The Smart N Go secured and intelligent micro market solutions address the demand for secure, unattended, self-service refreshments in public and highly-transient locations where micro markets are not appropriate due to concerns about theft, but the operator wants to give their customer a much more expanded offering than traditional vending,” said Jim Brinton, CEO of Avanti Markets. “The need for calorie and nutritional disclosure is no longer required since the customer can read labeling before making a purchase.”
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Nayax
,
a provider of cashless payment solutions and management platforms for unattended retail, has received a Payment Institution (PI) license from the Bank of Lithuania. With the changes in license, Nayax will continue to provide money remittance services to customers in the EEA (European Economic Area) zone.
Nayax Europe UAB, a new entity in the European Market, will offer its services directly to more than 23 million enterprises across the entire EEA zone. Nayax Europe adheres to full GDPR and PSD2 compliancy. Nayax’s certifications include EMV level 1 + 2, PCI, to ensure satisfaction and trust to all its customers.
Nayax’s solution includes cashless payment devices and management systems for unattended retail industries, including OCS, vending, photo booths, self-serve kiosks, kiddie rides, laundromats and more.
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Swyft, Inc
.
, an automated retail technology provider, recently acquired Utique, Inc., a provider that brings 10 automated retail patents to Swyft. Terms of the cash and equity transaction were not revealed.
As part of the transaction, Utique’s CEO, Mara Segal, and CTO, Darrell Mockus, have joined Swyft’s strategic advisory board.
“Utique is a synergistic technology company that further adds functionality and efficiency into our automated retail product,” said Lincoln Smith, vice president of product and marketing at Swyft.
Utique won the “Best New Airport Retail Concept in North America” by Airports Council International, the “Gold Innovation Award for Best Store Design” by the National Automatic Merchandising Association, and was named to McKinsey & Company’s “Ones to Watch in Retail” report.
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By Karen Scott, Publisher
As we enter the second half of the year, the staff of
Vending Technology News
takes this opportunity to thank its readers and advertisers for its loyal support as the e-newsletter passes the two-year mark of its founding since its first issue on June 15, 2016.
The twice-monthly newsletter has posted some significant accomplishments in its second year, establishing a more loyal readership and advertising base. These accomplishments have encouraged the staff to invest in an even more engaging dialogue about the exciting world of vending technology.
VendingConnection.com
launched Vending Technology News after recognizing that technology, more than any other factor, has rejuvenated the refreshment services industry, and that vending operators must embrace technology to be successful.
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National Sales Director / Editor
Call 847-331-4256
Reach over 9,900+ vending professionals!
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Your are receiving this information because you have expressed interest in vending, office coffee and/or micro market convenience self-service industries. Sent to you by
VendingConnection
1-800-956-8363.
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