MICRO MARKETS & NON FOOD VENDING A more flexible way to think about workplace catering
“It means businesses can offer much more choice without needing to run a fully staffed canteen. Fresh food, sandwiches, snacks, drinks and hot meal options can all be available throughout the day and, importantly for shift-based workplaces, outside traditional catering hours.” Technology is also changing what a micro market can look like.
Smart fridges and intelligent vending are starting to blur the lines between vending and self-service retail. Customers can get that more open, grab-and-go experience, while operators still have much better visibility over stock and sales. That data is becoming increasingly useful. Through telemetry and
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icro markets are continuing to grow because they give businesses a lot more flexibility than a traditional canteen. For many workplaces, the old model of a staffed canteen
is becoming harder to justify. People are working different hours, hybrid working has changed footfall and many businesses simply do not have the demand to support a full catering operation all day. That is where micro markets can work really well – a view shared
by Refreshment Systems which does not see a micro market as one fixed format. Company director Steve May believes the best ones usually combine a number of different elements depending on the site. That could include vending machines, smart fridges, coffee machines, microwaves and self-service retail units, all brought together into one refreshment area.
sales reporting, operators can see what is actually selling, when the busiest times are and where ranges need to change. It makes it much easier to reduce waste and make sure the space
is being used properly. Steve says: “For us, the key is not to look at a micro market as
simply a replacement for a canteen. It should start with how people actually use the site. A 24-hour manufacturing business will need something very different from an office with a large number of hybrid workers. “The real benefit for the end user is convenience and choice.
People can access food and drinks when it suits them, rather than working around set canteen opening times. “Ultimately, micro markets give businesses the opportunity to
create a refreshment offer that is much more flexible, more modern and much better suited to the way people work today.”
Creating new opportunities for retail Refrehment Systems director Steve May
says: “We saw that first-hand at the Retail Technology Show, where there was much interest in how automated retail could be used as part of a wider retail strategy.” He says the opportunity is not just about
selling a different product; it is about creating a more engaging point of sale. VendSmart vending machines can
Vending has moved a long way beyond snacks and drinks. What is exciting now is how automated retail can help brands create new sales opportunities, improve the point-of-sale experience and reach customers in different ways. Refreshment Systems’ answer to this is,
VendSmart which has been developed with the wider retail opportunity in mind. The technology was shortlisted for Most Disruptive Retail Technology at the 2026 Retail Systems Awards, demonstrating how closely vending is now starting to connect with the wider retail sector.
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be used for products such as clothing, merchandise, electronics, health and beauty items and premium goods. Large digital screens can then be used for advertising, product videos, promotions and cross- selling, helping brands create more of a ‘wow’ experience than people might traditionally associate with vending. There is also an opportunity around
product launches and testing. A brand could introduce a new product in selected locations, use the screen to promote and explain it, and then use live sales data to see how customers respond. It gives retailers another way to test demand and engage customers directly at the point of purchase. Security is another part of the conversation. With shoplifting continuing
to be a challenge across retail, automated retail can provide a more controlled way of selling higher-value or easily stolen products. Items remain secured within the machine or locker until the transaction is completed, helping protect stock while keeping the experience quick and convenient for the customer. VendSmart Lockers also more flexibility,
particularly for larger, higher-value and pre- ordered products, as well as click-and-collect. For Refreshment Systems, that is where non-food vending becomes exciting. Steve says: “It is not simply about
replacing traditional retail. It is about adding another retail channel — one that can improve security, create new points of sale, support product testing and give customers a more interactive, memorable experience.”
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