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Vending Machine Operators in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matthew Buchko Matthew Buchko New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 45421

Revenue

$8.6bn

2024

$8.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

52,540

Businesses

17,728

Wages

$X.Xbn

Vending Machine Operators in the US industry analysis

Vending machine operators stock and maintain vending machines that sell everything from snacks and soft drinks to technology and hand sanitizer. Because of the breadth of products sold in these machines, operators derive their demand from numerous markets, which limits volatility to a degree. Despite a rapid recovery in 2021, the losses from the pandemic disruptions have proven too significant to overcome. Consumer behavior has been altered and customers have become less willing to pay the premium for food and beverages from vending machines. Revenue for vending machine operators is expected to slump at a CAGR of 2.6% to $8.6 billion through the end of 2024, with a dip of 0.4% in 2024. However, growth in the prices of vending machine products has helped fuel a slight uptick in profit.

Trends and Insights

  • Growing health consciousness is at odds with several products common in vending machines. It also gives operators an opportunity to capitalize on a renewed demand for healthy foods.
  • Rising health consciousness among consumers has decreased demand for soft drinks and candy. Conversely, healthy snacks have become a much more common product in vending machines and are offered more extensively than in previous years.
  • Vending machines draw more business to locations with more consumers. The Southeast is a massive downstream market for operators because of the high concentration of the population.
  • Consolidation among upstream suppliers makes vendor concentration difficult. Vendors will always be beholden to their suppliers’ price and supply changes.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The industry is still reeling from the pandemic

  • As the pandemic swept through the US, most offices, schools, universities and in-person events had to close down. Foot traffic around vending machines dropped and revenue plummeted. It has remained below pre-pandemic levels through the end of 2024.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Vending Machine Operators in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Rising health consciousness across the nation limits growth

  • Many of the vending machine business comes from sales of snacks, candy and soft drinks. As information has become more widely accepted regarding the dangers of overconsumption of soft drinks and highly processed foods, consumers have gradually begun switching their preferences.

Biggest companies in the Vending Machine Operators in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Compass Group Plc
222.6
19.0
8.5
Aramark Corp
111.3
9.5
8.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Vending Machine Operators in the US
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Candy, Food and snacks and Hot beverages and other products. Candy is the largest segment of the Vending Machine Operators in the US.

Trends and Insights

Return to regular routines and in-person events boosted demand for food and snacks

  • This segment includes chips, nuts and seeds, cookies, crackers and pastries. Vending machines that carry these products are located in business offices and schools, on college campuses and at larger-scale in-person events like conferences.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Vending machine operators provide and service automated machines that sell merchandise – primarily snack foods and soft drinks but also cigarettes, ice cream, newspapers and other goods. This industry does not include revenue from soft drink producers that operate their own vending machines.

What's included in this industry?

Retail sale of cold beverages via vending machinesRetail sale of hot beverages and other products via vending machinesRetail sale of food and snacks via vending machinesRetail sale of candy via vending machines

Companies

Compass Group PlcAramark Corp

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CONVENIENCE STOREFRANCHISEREMOTE MONITORING SYSTEMMICROMARKET

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 45421 - Vending Machine Operators in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Growing health consciousness is at odds with several products common in vending machines. It also gives operators an opportunity to capitalize on a renewed demand for healthy...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Rising health consciousness among consumers has decreased demand for soft drinks and candy. Conversely, healthy snacks have become a much more common product in vending machi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Vending machines draw more business to locations with more consumers. The Southeast is a massive downstream market for operators because of the high concentration of the popu...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Consolidation among upstream suppliers makes vendor concentration difficult. Vendors will always be beholden to their suppliers’ price and supply changes.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Specialization and regionally specific companies cause major players to be fragmented. No operator claims more than 5.0% of the market and many companies have a large presenc...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Compass Group Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Aramark Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Compass Group Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Aramark Corp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Operators face varying levels of regulation across states. Some states require operators to obtain a license, while others, like Ohio, don't.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wages can threaten profit during times of uncertainty. One reason is that upkeep, transportation and maintenance still have to be carried out.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States is $8.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in 2024?

There are 17,728 businesses in the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Vending Machine Operators in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Vending Machine Operators market in United States are Compass Group Plc and Aramark Corp

What does the Vending Machine Operators in the US in United States include?

Retail sale of cold beverages via vending machines and Retail sale of hot beverages and other products via vending machines are part of the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Vending Machine Operators in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Compass Group Plc.

How competitive is the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Vending Machine Operators in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Arcade, Food & Entertainment Complexes in the US
  • Street Vendors in the US
  • Fast Food Restaurants in the US

Complementors

  • Soda Production in the US
  • Bottled Water Production in the US
  • Juice Production in the US

International industries

  • Street Vendors in Canada
  • Soft Drink and Pre-Packaged Food Wholesaling in Australia
  • Soft Drink and Pre-Packaged Food Wholesaling in New Zealand

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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