Vending in the UK was significantly disrupted by the global health crisis in 2020. As most vending machines are located in transportation hubs, shopping centres, workplace sites, or canteens, the mobility restrictions and stay-at-home message had a negative influence on sales.
As a response to the severe impact of the pandemic on operations in the UK hospitality sector, the government temporarily reduced the VAT these companies are required to pay from 20% to 5% in 2020. The same pressed rate was also applied to vending machines.
Changing consumer habits during the pandemic encouraged retailers to launch new concepts and innovative solutions, such as offering fully prepared and uncooked pizzas via vending machines. Pizza Rebellion first launched its unique vending machine in 2020, which was well received when foodservice establishments were forced to temporarily close.
Vending is projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels in value terms by 2023 (at constant 2021 prices). Some level of normalisation in terms of returning to school and to offices is expected over the coming years, which is likely to contribute to an increase in footfall.
The return to higher on-the-go purchases is expected to be a key driver of vending’s rapid recovery. The demand for on-the-go hot drinks historically boosted vending’s performance pre-pandemic.
The micro markets concept has not only been gaining in popularity in the UK in recent years, but provides vending machines with a growth opportunity over the forecast period. The micro market concept has traditionally been very popular in office environments, where vending machines tend to serve employees with snacks and beverages during the day.
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Vending
Vending means automatic retailing. It covers the sale of products and services at an unattended point of sale through a machine operated by introducing coins, bank notes, payment cards, tokens or other means of cashless payment. Sales figures cover vended products only, ie food, drink and other consumable goods such as vended tobacco, sanitary products and condoms. Services such as the public telephone, laundrette facilities, travel tickets, stamps, passport photographs, domestic energy supplies and business card creation are excluded. Coverage includes vending systems installed in public and semi-captive environments only. Hotels, transport networks, recreational centres, shopping centres/malls are included. Factories, offices, hospitals, prisons, schools and other captive environments are excluded.
See All of Our DefinitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Vending research and analysis database.
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