October-November 2021 - 6

EDITOR'S NOTE
Why Vending?
Technology will attract new blood to the industry
WHEN I JOINED AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISER 10 MONTHS
ago, I asked a new colleague, a seasoned vending industry veteran
himself, what will attract new people to this industry? And what
will motivate the heirs of family-owned independents to stay the
course and advance? Over the years I had become a little desensitized
to the industry's appeal by the hastening pace of mergers,
acquisitions and consolidation taking place among operating firms.
One of the things I admired about the vending business is
Nick Montano
Editor
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@vendingmarketwatch.com
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that almost anyone can enter it, at any age and with any amount
of money. These low entry barriers allowed someone with a van,
garage, some mechanical ability and modest capital for equipment
to get started. (Succeeding, of course, required an additional set of
tools and skills.)
My colleague's answer to my questions: " Technology. " Hmm...
I've heard this before. But this was coming from a guy, who's been
around long enough, who should be more anesthetized than I.
While I was hoping for another answer, it was the certainty in his
tone that struck me. But the technology inducement finally connected
with me after I had the honor of interviewing the management
team of Legend Food Service, a four-year-old convenience
services enterprise, for this issue's cover story.
Legend Food Service started with the acquisition of one of
It can be a
difficult and
complicated
process to start
(or restart)
a vending
business and
test new ideas. "
southern New England's largest independent vending operations.
Automated Services was founded in Milford, CT, in the early 1970s
by young and enterprising businessperson, too. After a modest
start, the full-line provider soon had the newest machines and
eventually ran fresh-food commissary, making it difficult for other
vendors to compete. He prized diversification; he had an impressive
equipment refurbishing center and at one time might have
been the nation's second-largest reseller of new and used pinball
machines. However, he did not take on the challenge of upgrading
his company's management processes, to take full advantage
of today's best-in-class information technologies - he knew that
would be a job for a new owner.
It can be a difficult and complicated process to start (or restart)
a vending business and test new ideas. But when you invest in the
right technology, you are almost guaranteed to grow and improve
your business, and to attract investors. Legend Food Service's first
task was to swathe Automated Services' routes with a VMS and
begin the move from vending machines to micro markets.
What's most heartening about Legend is its unshakable enthusiasm
for an industry that suffered devastating income losses in 2020
- more than 40% in vending and over 70% in office coffee service.
Surprisingly, the company's leadership team is most enthusiastic
about the future of office coffee service.
6 Automatic Merchandiser * October/November 2021
Editorial
Advisory
Board
Joe Hessling
365 Retail
Markets
Josh
Rosenberg
NAMA Board
Chair
John Reilly
Avanti Markets
Anant Agrawal
Cantaloupe
Systems
USA Technologies
Elyssa Steiner
Cantaloupe
Systems
USA Technologies
Carl Moser
Canteen
Corporate
Chuck Reed
Crane Payment
Innovations (CPI)
Cory Hewett
Gimme
Michael Miller
Mondelēz
International
Paresh Patel
PayRange
Jeff Deitchler
Prairie Fire
Coffee
Jim Carbone
Tradecraft
(retired)
Sandy
Thornton
VendEdge
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October-November 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October-November 2021
