Temple University to provide emergency contraceptives via vending

February 27, 2026

Temple University students now have access to a vending machine that dispenses emergency contraception pills, according to the campus publication Temple…

Winery installs art vending machine to enhance visitor experience

February 26, 2026

Presqu'ile Winery, in California's Santa Maria Valley, has expanded its art programming by installing an Inciardi Mini Print Vending Machine in its tasting…

Iconic British phone boxes to become vending machines

February 26, 2026

Plans submitted to the Canterbury City Council in the county of Kent, England, propose repurposing two iconic red phone boxes into a vending machine and a grab…

Madrid Metro continues modernization project

February 25, 2026

Madrid regional authorities have launched the second phase of a technology modernization program for the metro network, a rapid transit system serving the…

Italian food vending takes hold in San Francisco

February 24, 2026

A vending machine offering fresh, handmade Italian food has debuted in San Francisco, stocked with items such as pasta, sauces, garlic bread, meatballs and…

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

SandStar Unveils the VRK, the New Home for the World’s Most Ambitious Vending Operators

The AI-Powered vending machine brings Four-camera protection, Dual-sensor lock security, and a self-learning engine to the retail floor—all backed by an…

AI vending not yet ready for prime time, tests reveal

February 23, 2026

Researchers at the AI firm Anthropic recently conducted an experiment called Project Vend to test the capabilities of its AI model, Claude, which quickly…

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…

NYC deploying vending machines for new fare system

February 20, 2026

New vending machines for the OMNY fare system in New York City are set to arrive soon at Jamaica Station for the JFK AirTrain, marking another step in the…

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…

Florida airport unveils vending-based dining concept

February 18, 2026

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is undergoing a major transformation marked by large-scale construction and phased upgrades across the…

How self-service operators win by automating through curation

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

Josh Rosenberg, founder of Forward Thinkers, outlines challenges the self-service and automation industry and what operators need to do to overcome those…

Tennessee lawmakers push for free feminine hygiene vending machines in schools

February 17, 2026

Tennessee lawmakers are advancing legislation to launch a pilot program for free feminine hygiene vending machines in public schools.

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…

Five Star completes Krodel buy

February 13, 2026

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Five Star Breaktime Solutions has completed its acquisition of the vending and coffee operations of Jasper, Ind.-based Krodel Vending.

Underwear vending machine goes viral

February 12, 2026

A vending machine selling underwear inside a Delhi Metro station in India has sparked widespread amusement online. The appearance of underwear vending machines…

What we learned at the Automated Retail and Kiosk Innovation Show

As automation moves deeper into physical environments, companies need to plan early for installation, maintenance, repair, and ongoing upgrades across their…

Can retrofitting save classic vending?

by Dale Laszig — Founder, DSL Direct LLC

What may finally push classic vending machines toward extinction isn’t wear and tear, but the industry’s shift from analog to digital technology.