Micro Markets News & Media

Bucked Up tests automated retail store at Utah student housing complex

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

Bucked Up has launched an automated retail store inside the gym at Alpine Village, a student housing community in Provo, Utah, to test whether its sports…

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Intelligent vending machine market projected to reach $96B by 2033

September 18, 2026

The global intelligent vending machine market is projected to grow from $32.6 billion in 2026 to $96 billion by 2033, according to a Persistence Market…

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Leaner automated retail, part 2: Give the hardware a second life

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

For operators managing large fleets, one of the most practical sustainability strategies may be extending the useful life of equipment already on the balance…

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Essentials Station targets janitorial companies for automated retail expansion

September 14, 2026

Southern California-based automated retail company Essentials Station is targeting janitorial service companies and commercial cleaning contractors as…

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Perch Micro Markets launches smart-fridge service in north Atlanta

September 14, 2026

Perch Micro Markets has launched in Woodstock, Georgia, offering freestanding smart-fridge micro markets to apartment communities, gyms, hotels and offices…

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Oli Robotics targets 20K locations with robotic coffee shops

September 11, 2026

Oli Robotics has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered robotic coffee shop designed to serve specialty beverages in hotels, supermarkets, airports and…

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Automated food store opens in downtown East Lansing

September 11, 2026

Michigan vending operator VendHubb has opened a storefront containing 10 vending machines at 205 M.A.C. Ave. in downtown East Lansing, according to an East…

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Leaner automated retail, part 1: Cutting energy and unnecessary service miles

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

The sustainability conversation in automated retail should start somewhere practical: How can we operate the network with less waste?

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Custom Vending adds cryptocurrency payments to OMNI machines

September 8, 2026

Custom Vending has introduced cryptocurrency payment capabilities for its OMNI Series vending machines through a partnership with RiverArk, according to a…

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VenHub vending machine sells physical copies of Nipsey Hussle's posthumous album

September 4, 2026

VenHub has partnered with the estate of late rapper Nipsey Hussle to sell physical copies of his posthumous album "PROLIFIC" through the company's automated…

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Lavazza Professional to deploy 600-plus self-service coffee machines across UK

September 4, 2026

Lavazza Professional is rolling out more than 600 self-service coffee machines across Motor Fuel Group locations in the United Kingdom under a new partnership…

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The fresh food frontier, part 3: The cold chain becomes a data problem

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Fresh automated retail creates an unusual challenge. The store may be unattended, but the food cannot be unmanaged.

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Does AI really save time in vending operations?

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

For small vending operators, artificial intelligence's biggest benefit may not come from futuristic machines or complicated predictive models. It can be as…

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UK farmers turn to vending machines to address rural food deserts

September 2, 2026

A farming family in Herefordshire, England, is using vending machines to sell fresh milk and locally produced foods directly to consumers, a model they believe…

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The fresh food frontier, part 2: Fresh vs. frozen is an operating decision

by Ben Wheeler — Dir. of Business Dev. - Automated Retail, T-ROC

Once an operator decides to offer meals through automated retail, another question appears quickly: Fresh or frozen?

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Nayax to acquire IPS Group for $350M

August 26, 2026

Nayax Ltd. has agreed to acquire smart parking technology provider IPS Group Inc. from Windjammer Capital Investors for $350 million in cash, according to a…

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Retail automation market projected to reach $65.4B by 2033

August 26, 2026

The global retail automation market is expected to grow from $30 billion in 2026 to $65.4 billion by 2033, according to a report from Persistence Market…

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Cantaloupe to integrate Weweimi AI smart coolers with Seed platforms

August 24, 2026

Cantaloupe, a 365 Retail Markets company, has signed a services agreement with Weweimi (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd. to integrate and certify Weweimi's…

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Farmer's Fridge opens four kiosks at Houston airport

August 21, 2026

George Bush Intercontinental Airport has opened four Farmer's Fridge kiosks, according to the airport's Facebook page, expanding grab-and-go food options for…

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AI-powered convenience store opens in Georgia shopping center

August 21, 2026

The Pantry at the Bridges has opened at the Bridges at Jodeco shopping center in the Atlanta suburb of Stockbridge, Georgia, becoming Henry County's first…

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