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…

Case Study: How Fast4shop reshapes the pharmacy visit

Behind the scenes, Fast4shop delivers real-time, unit-level inventory and expiry-date visibility, helping pharmacies protect margins and keep essential…

Presented by Zebra Technologies

Evolvending partners with Farmer's Fridge on airport foodservice

May 21, 2026

Evolvending is partnering with Farmer's Fridge to expand fresh-food offerings at airport locations, according to a LinkedIn post by Evolvending CEO Valentina…

Wales farm used vending to expand local food access

May 21, 2026

Rhug Estate, an organic estate and farm business located near Corwen in North Wales in the U.K. has introduced self-service vending machines and parcel…

Modern vending's smart alternatives

by Dale Laszig — Founder, DSL Direct LLC

Modern vending is expanding, bringing new opportunities for consumers, business owners, operators and investors alike. Successful operators are combining…

Smoodi expands healthcare deployments

May 8, 2026

Automated smoothie machine developer smoodi has deployed six of its machines at Baptist Hospital of Miami and West Kendall Baptist Hospital as part of its…

365 Markets must sell Three Square Market ahead of Cantaloupe buy

May 6, 2026

The Federal Trade Commission is requiring 365 Retail Markets to divest micromarket retail technology provider Three Square Market as a condition of its planned…

Tuckshop grows to 21 locations

May 1, 2026

Tuckshop, a startup founded in Huntley, England, is expanding its footprint with two locations in Gloucester, bringing its total to 21 sites across…

Michigan pols seek to clamp down on junk food vending in schools

April 23, 2026

Michigan lawmakers are proposing a ban on the sale and distribution of candy and sugary drinks in schools as part of the state's 2026-27 School Aid budget…

US Navy ship intros fresh food vending machine

April 22, 2026

The U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay introduced a fresh fruit and vegetable vending machine during a grand opening event held on its…

Meet at The NAMA Show 2026

SandStar is here for you! Looking forward to seeing you at the NAMA Show 2026!April 22 - 24, Los Angels. Booth 1667 & 1767

Ramen vending machine opens at Penn State

April 3, 2026

An autonomous ramen vending machine offering hot meals on demand has opened at the University of Pennsylvania, offering a new late-night dining option for…

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…

North Carolina college offering healthy meals via vending

March 3, 2026

North Carolina's Robeson Community College has introduced a new healthy food option for students and staff with the installation of an a la carte-style…

From Vending Machines to Autonomous Retail: The Evolution of Grab‑and‑Go Shopping

Retail convenience has always been driven by speed. Customers prefer shopping experiences that save time and require minimal effort. Over the years, retail…

SandStar VRK AI Vending Machine Fact Sheet

SandStar’s VRK AI Vending Machine (30,000+ sold across 30 countries, trusted by 25 Fortune 500 firms) embodies “Real AI. Real Easy” with its “Any Product…

Presented by SandStar

Dutch vegetable breeder unveils veggie vending

February 19, 2026

Dutch plant breeder Rijk Zwaan has developed a vending machine concept designed to encourage young people to eat more fresh vegetables. The machine dispenses…

Why Smart Coolers and Vending Kiosks Are Becoming the New “Mini Stores”

If you’ve noticed more vending-style setups in offices, apartments, hospitals, or even airports lately — you’re not imagining it. Retail is shifting fast, and…

SandStar TASTE AI Vending - CVM

SandStar’s TASTE AI Vending: A smart, elegant AI-powered retail terminal (30,000+ sold across 30 countries, trusted by 25 Fortune 500 firms). It offers 3 size…

Presented by SandStar

The Retail Nomad explores the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show

Nick Harbaugh (aka "The Retail Nomad") takes viewers inside the recent Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show in Tampa.