Vending

Canadian engineering students develop technology, build vending business

Image provided by iStock.

January 16, 2023

Tommy Chan and Jason Yeung, systems design engineering students at the University of Waterloo, developed a vending business while students in 2010.

They acquired a machine for $400 and equipped it with telemetry-enabled remote monitoring that tracks inventory so they know when to refill the machine and alerts them to malfunctions. They got permission from the dean of engineering to install their machine on campus, according to a report in Waterloo News, a university publication.

Following graduation, they received a $60,000 fellowship from the university and received help from FedDev Ontario to expand the business.

Their company, Adaria, now has 1,800 machines across the Toronto and Hamilton area, including units at CN Tower, Pearson Airport and Canada's Wonderland.

The company is expanding into micro markets.