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If you’re a vending machine business owner, you better get familiar with Soda machines (or Pop machines depending on where you’re from!). They’re the type of vending machine you’ll be dealing with the most. Sometimes, you’ll even encounter accounts that want ONLY soda machines in their establishment and nothing else.
While not necessarily as complicated as snack machines, there are still a number of factors to consider. From the types of drinks to the style of dispensing, there’s a machine for every location and it’s best to know which is most appropriate. Knowing your options will help you make the best choice for your locations while also saving you the most money over the long run.
In this article, we’ll cover soda machines in depth while also talking about the best brands to go for when looking to buy a soda machine for your business.
Soda vending machines work by dispensing carbonated drinks to customers at the push of a button. The machines can store and chill a variety of carbonated beverages, such as soda, energy drinks, and flavored water. When a customer inserts money into the machine and selects a drink, the machine dispenses the appropriate amount of the selected beverage into a cup or bottle.
Soda vending machines use a refrigeration system to keep the drinks cold. The refrigeration system consists of a compressor, condenser, and evaporator. The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas, which then flows through the condenser and evaporator, cooling the air inside the machine.
There are generally two types of soda machines:
Soda vending machines consist of several components that work together to dispense drinks to customers. Because every brand and machine style have varying parts to them from motors to shims to robot parts, we can’t name every one of them.
However, here are some of the key components you’ll find in every soda vending machine:
Even though investing in a soda vending machine is inevitable when you’re doing full-line vending, you may be wondering what benefits it can offer. Here are a few reasons why using soda vending machines can be advantageous:
One of the primary benefits of using soda vending machines is convenience. With a soda vending machine, you can provide your customers or employees with quick and easy access to their favorite beverages without them having to leave the premises. This can be especially beneficial in areas where there are no nearby stores and even when there are, unless there’s a major price discrepancy, people will still come to your machine instead.
Another advantage of using soda vending machines is the variety of drinks you can offer to customers. With a soda vending machine, you can offer a wide selection of beverages, including soda, juice, energy drinks, and more. This variety can help to satisfy the diverse tastes of your customers or employees and increase the chances of making a sale.
Soda machines can be extremely durable in comparison to their snack machine counterparts. They can dispense hundreds and sometimes even thousands of drinks while needing little maintenance besides cleaning. The only problem is that when a major repair IS needed, it’ll often be something that puts the whole machine out of service.
Soda machines can generate a lot of revenue for your business. Even if people don’t want snacks, they will want drinks sooner or later. As a result, soda machines tend to generate more sales than snack machines. The profit margin on drinks is also considerably higher than the profit margin on most snacks.
Overall, using soda vending machines can be a great way to provide convenient and varied beverage options to your customers or employees while also generating additional revenue for your business.
When choosing a soda vending machine, there are several factors to consider. Here are some of the most important ones:
The capacity of a vending machine refers to how many cans or bottles it can hold at once. If you're placing the machine in a high-traffic area, you'll want to choose a machine with a larger capacity so you don't have to restock it as often. On the other hand, if you're placing the machine in a smaller space, a smaller capacity machine may be more appropriate.
Energy efficiency is an important consideration when choosing a vending machine. A more energy-efficient machine will save you money on your electricity bill over time. Look for machines with Energy Star certification, which means they meet energy efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Whether you’re paying for the electricity or the account is, an efficient machine is a major asset.
Whether or not to use a glassfront style soda machine is going to depend on the type of location you’re placing it in. Generally, glassfronts are used in high end locations where aesthetics play a role. Hospitals, Luxury Condominiums, Hotels, Office buildings, Malls, and schools will often work best with glassfronts. On the other hand, truck stops, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and senior homes usually work best with the conventional, stack style soda machines.
Maintenance and repair are important considerations when choosing a drink vending machine. Look for machines that are not only easy to repair, but have interchangeable parts. This will save you time and money in the long run.
When it comes to soda machine brands, there are a lot on the market to choose from. However, there are 3 brands that the industry considers to be staples when it comes to soda machines. Those 3 brands are Vendo, Dixie Narco, and Royal Vendors.
Dixie Narco has a reputation for being “the Cadillac of vending machines”, and it’s a well deserved title. Founded in 1967, their machines are the workhorses of the vending world, the ones that stand strong even when faced with the chaos of high-traffic locations.
In fact, their machines are so durable that you can still find many of their older models in various locations even though the company was acquired by Crane back in 2006.
Dixie Narco’s stack style vending machines are a staple in the industry, but they’re not stuck in the past. They also went on to embrace modernity by releasing Glassfront versions of their soda machines with the same level of reliability.
Despite being considered a retired company, Dixie Narco is still Lucky Vending’s preferred brand for drink machines. With the level of reliability and affordability they provide, you can never go wrong with them.
Vendo is another brand that’s at the tip of the spear when it comes to drink machines. With roots tracing back to the 1930s, these folks have been shaping the vending game for generations.
Vendo isn't just about history, though – they're all about blending tradition with innovation. From classic soda dispensers to cutting-edge automated wonders that cater to modern needs, Vendo's got it figured out.
As Dixie Narco’s signature models continue to go out of service for good, we find ourselves looking more and more into Vendo machines.
Between user-friendliness and durability, if you're looking for a brand that's steeped in history and isn't afraid to embrace the future, Vendo's your go-to choice.
Royal Vendors is another top-of-the-line brand when it comes to drink machines. With a reputation that spans beyond drink dispensing, they've made their mark with sleek designs that could easily double as modern art pieces.
But don't let the aesthetics fool you – Royal Vendors backs up their style with substance. They've got the tech game down, from touchscreens to cashless payments, all while being environmentally conscious. What truly stands out is their commitment to creating a vibe that's as sophisticated as it is tech-savvy.
Royal’s drink machines have personally helped us secure a big account. We got called to look at the state of the businesses vending situation at the time and the first thing we noticed was that they were using off-brand drink machines that barely worked and looked rough. We showed them one of the drink machines we had in stock at the time, a shiny 650 that would have been perfect for the big manufacturing plant. They were sold. Next thing we know we’re moving in and replacing the old vendor for a 500 person building!
If you're looking to make a statement in your vending area, Royal Vendors is the brand that seamlessly fuses elegance with innovation.
In summary:
We hope you found this guide helpful!
If you’re in Toronto or the surrounding area and would like vending machine services for your facility, click here to contact us.