Automatic Merchandiser asked vending, micro market and OCS operators to vote for their most successful or most requested products and equipment that were introduced in 2021. This year’s runners-up in 11 categories are consistent with market trends for bolder flavors, smarter technology and premium ingredients.
Salted Snack
Deep River Snacks’ Zesty Lime kettle cooked chips feature bold lime flavor with a tangy crunch seasoned to perfection. Deep River products contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservative while being cooked only in sunflower oil.
Healthy
Available from Musselman’s, a leading brand in Knouse Foods’ farmers co-op, is apple sauce in cups and squeezable pouches sized for vending and micro markets.
Protein & Meat Snack
Baja Jerky’s Street Taco flavor ignites an explosion of fresh ingredients that will remind consumers of their favorite roadside stand. The new jerky replicates the flavor of an authentic taco.
Cold Beverage
RISE Brewing Co.’s new 32-oz. multi-serve cold brew coffee is brewed with organic coffee beans and purified water. It's creamy, naturally sweet and refreshingly smooth.
Equipment
Designed by experts in industrial automation, API Tech’s Smart Pizza Machine is a standalone vending machine that can hold 96 par-baked pizzas. Once a pizza is ordered either through a 24” touchscreen or the Smart Pizza App, the pizza gets a final cook using one of the two hearth ovens before being boxed up and dispensed.
Cookie & Pastry
Prairie City Bakery’s new Birthday Cake Ooey Gooey Butter Cake features the company’s classic layered butter cake flavored with vanilla and white chocolate. The vendible treat is packed with colorful confetti sprinkles throughout.
Candy
AWAKE Caffeinated Bits are ideal for that for that 3 p.m. slump. AWAKE chocolate-coated peanut bits are 150 calories per pouch and contain as much caffeine as a cup of joe without any artificial flavors or colors.
Food
J&J Snack Foods' Pretzel Fillers Individually Wrapped Stuffed Soft Pretzels, hand-twisted soft pretzels with craveable cheese fillings, are individually wrapped in microwavable, bakeable and TurboChef-able film. The easy grab-and-go product boasts a 1-year frozen shelf life and seven-day refrigerated shelf life after thaw.
Technology
Cantaloupe’s ePort Engage is the next-generation cashless reader. It enables retailers to accept nearly every form of cashless payment and offers a vibrant color touchscreen to draw in consumers and drive sales. This device has anti-tamper security and is PCI PTS 5.X certified.
OCS Product
New from Smile Beverage Werks, a Delaware public benefits corporation, is a compostable K-Cup style coffee pods for its own Smile Coffee Werks brand and private labels for retailers. The pods are compatible with the Keurig single-cup brewers office coffee service and home.
OCS Equipment & Systems
The Elkay Smartwell Countertop Beverage Dispenser is designed to fit under standard kitchenette cabinets, not taking up valuable floor space, while sitting perfectly next to other breakroom or lobby essentials.
Check out all of these products and more in the Product Guide at VendingMarketWatch.com/directory.
