Cold Drink Vending Machines
Cold drinks vending machines in the UK are a popular asset in many different environments including offices, leisure centres and train stations. They offer people any easy way to access a range of cooled drinks, which can create a much more pleasant working environment, especially in the summer months.
Cold drinks machines come in one of two forms, either glass fronted or closed fronted. Closed fronted machines are sometimes referred to as stack vending machines and tend to offer a lower cost and a greater capacity for holding drinks. However, these vending machines offer less choice and fewer products can be dispensed from these machines. Glass fronted machines have the advantage of offering a greater range of products and they typically generate a greater level of sales. Some research suggests purchases from glass fronted machines are up to sixty per cent higher than from closed fronted machines. However, these machines hold less products overall and their cost is typically higher than for closed fronted machines.
Leasing a Cold Drinks Vending Machine
Cold drinks vending machines can either be bought outright or leased from suppliers, with leases usually being either three or five years in length. The advantages of leasing a machine include a lower initial investment and the responsibility for maintenance usually remains with the supplier. If you are renting a cold drinks machine, some suppliers will allow you to stock it with drinks you have purchased yourself, whereas others will require you to purchase drinks from them. Leases can start from around seven or eight pounds a week for can or bottle machines such as the Vendo 189/5 or the Necta 276E. Vending machines which can dispense both bottles and cans tend to be more expensive, with prices starting from around ten or eleven pounds per week plus VAT. The latest vending machine models can cost up to twenty pounds per week to lease.
Buying a Vending Machine
To buy a vending machine usually costs upwards of six or seven hundred pounds for a new closed fronted model such as the Venda 544/8 which can hold over five hundred cans and almost three hundred bottles. To purchase a glass fronted machine such as the Necta DN3500 Aquafina, or the FAS 900 Bottle / Can Vending Machine can cost over two thousand pounds.
Many suppliers of cold drinks vending machines offer second hand models which can allow businesses to achieve a significant discount compared to new models. Suppliers often have different offers available such as online discounts, or free three month trials, so getting quotes from a number of companies will help you get the best deal for your business. If you choose to buy, you may also have to enter into a service contract with a supplier as repairing vending machines is a specialised skill.
Free Vending Machines
Some suppliers of vending machines offer free machines to your company. As the supplier will make their money from the number of drinks sold, you may have to agree to the machine achieving a minimum number of drink sales for the contract to be agreed. This type of supply contract works well in public spaces with high levels of footfall, such as schools, shopping centres or bus stations. Again, contacting a number of suppliers to discuss your requirements will help you find a free contract that matches your businesses needs.
