News & Media From Richard Slawsky

How AI is making vending smarter

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

While the vending industry has embraced technology for decades through cashless payments, telemetry and remote machine monitoring, AI is opening the door to a…

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TendedBar, WeVend partner to expand automated beverage service beyond stadiums

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Automated beverage technology company TendedBar is taking a step beyond its roots in stadiums and arenas through a partnership with unattended payments…

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As vending gets smarter, ADA compliance gets more complicated

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The evolution of vending technology is changing the conversation around ADA compliance. Touchscreens, mobile payments and more are becoming standard features…

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From restaurant grind to fresh vending finds

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

After years of operating a restaurant, Baltimore resident Jason Hrisanthacopoulos decided to leave behind the long hours and operational pressures of…

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Why mobile payments have become essential for modern vending operations

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The vending industry has undergone a major transformation over the past decade, evolving from a primarily cash-driven business into a technology-enabled…

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Redistricting ripple effects: How political map changes could impact vending

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Redistricting efforts underway across the country could create new regulatory and operational challenges for vending and convenience services operators.

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NAMA CEO Christine Cochran talks AI, placement strategies, industry consolidation

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Connect Media CEO Daniel Ceniceros spoke with NAMA CEO Christine Cochran at the recent NAMA show about competition from QSRs, the role of AI, evolving…

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Office comeback? What return-to-work means for vending sales

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The return to office work is helping the vending industry recover from the steep losses it suffered during the pandemic, but the rebound remains uneven.

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Ohio bill could help shape vending tax policies

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

A bill currently under consideration in the Ohio state legislature seeks to clarify tax policy regarding food purchased from a vending machine, and whether…

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Autonomous retail concept scales up at Circa Resort

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

VenHub Global Inc. and Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas are innovating on what may be the world's most advanced autonomous smart store installation.

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Vending as social infrastructure: Expanding access to essential goods

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The notion of vending machines delivering public services isn't new. Using those machines to deliver overdose-reversal medications has been expanding across…

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Healthy vending gets a boost: Farmer's Fridge, Weight Watchers team up for National Nutrition Month

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

A partnership between Farmer's Fridge and Weight Watchers underscores the trend of healthy vending and highlights how technology-enabled vending can help make…

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Expressions gift card kiosks bring personalization to retail gifting

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The Expressions Gift Card Kiosk offers a personalized greeting card with the option to include a digital gift card, all in a fraction of the space retailers…

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What makes the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show a must-attend event?

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show takes place December 14-16 in Miami Beach this year. Here are the many reasons to attend.

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USC student creates app to transform vending placement

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Deven Chitkara is attempting to modernize one of the most traditional sectors of unattended retail.

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Automated dining takes flight at Southwest Florida International Airport

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

For kiosk and vending machine vendors, the trend toward vending-operated food service represents potential for significant expansion. For foodservice brands…

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Hot meals are back in the [vending] box

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Hot food vending is no longer a novelty. It is a response to real market pressures and a sign that, once again, vending is pushing beyond its historical…

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Regulation creep: 5 policy issues vending operators should watch in 2026

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Taken individually, none of the policy issues is likely to upend the vending industry overnight. Taken together, though, they can reshape the economics of…

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Naloxone vending machines performing life-saving function

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

One of the fastest-growing vending applications today is in the public health space, with announcements of the deployment of naloxone-dispensing machines…

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Card processing fees pose a challenge to vending machine operators

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

With card acceptance becoming a near-necessity in vending due to declining cash usage, processing fees can put meaningful pressure on already thin margins.

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