The U.S. vending market is comprised of three major components: vending machine service operators, equipment manufacturers, and the suppliers of food, drink, and other merchandise for these businesses. Among the most popular suppliers are Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Masterfoods USA (Mars), and Hershey, representing the well-known brand names sold in vending machines today. Separately, there are distributors, brokers, and consultants that contribute to U.S. vending operations.

The U.S. vending market is comprised of three major components: vending machine service operators, equipment manufacturers, and the suppliers of food, drink, and other merchandise for these businesses. Among the most popular suppliers are Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Masterfoods USA (Mars), and Hershey, representing the well-known brand names sold in vending machines today. Separately, there are distributors, brokers, and consultants that contribute to U.S. vending operations.

Veteran operators recall the traditional category make-up in the vending business, known as the Four C’s: cup soda, coffee, candy, and cigarettes. However, the industry has experienced significant shifts due to changing consumer tastes and lifestyles. The new Four C’s are cold drinks, cold foods, candy, and coffee. The U.S. vending business also includes a wide variety of sundries and other non-perishable items.

This report covers the gamut of U.S. vending products with primary concentration in the following areas: cold drinks, hot drinks, candy, snack foods, and prepared foods. Cigarette vending--once a pillar of the business, now severely curbed by legislation--is also included in this report.

Among the key issues covered in this report are the importance of employment to vending sales, product development in bulk vending and snacking habits of the American consumer. Original consumer research examines attitudes and behavior by age, gender, ethnicity and income, and a six-year trend analysis predicts future growth.

A number of U.S. reports covering related sectors have been published, are planned, or are in preparation, including:

Kids Snacking, U.S. Report, August 2003

Healthy Snacking, U.S. Report, July 2003

Salty Snacks, U.S. Report, March 2003

Carbonated Soft Drinks, U.S. Report, February 2003

Fruit Juice & Juice Drinks, U.S. Report, February 2003

Coffee, U.S. Report, January 2003

Sugar Confectionery, U.S. Report, January 2002

Beverages: Volume 1--The Consumer, U.S. Report, July 2002

Beverages: Volume 2--The Marketplace, U.S. Report, July 2002

Chocolate Confectionery , U.S. Report, October 2001