Cantaloupe expands presence in Latin America with self-service technology for micro markets

Cantaloupe Inc., a digital payments and software services company that provides end-to-end technology solutions for self-service commerce, is expanding its presence in Latin America with its self-service technology and management software for micro markets. One of Cantaloupe’s clients in the region, Feel Good Market, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, was the first to bring Cantaloupe’s micro market technology to the country.

“Our collaboration with Feel Good Market underscores Cantaloupe’s advantage to serving locations and customers with options that go beyond traditional vending,” Rogelio Morando, vice president and general manager of Cantaloupe Latin America, said in the announcement. “It’s exciting to see Latin America customers embrace the micro market concept as well – not only have they accepted it, but they are excited to see more self-service options come to their communities.” 

Feel Good Market began its relationship with Cantaloupe in 2021 as a customer of Three Square Market (32M), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cantaloupe. Recognizing the limitations of traditional vending machines in Panama – which predominantly accept only coins and bills and offered limited products – Feel Good Market seized the opportunity to offer a more convenient and modern solution. By introducing credit/debit card payment acceptance and offering an expanded assortment of food and beverage options, including fresh and frozen foods, Feel Good Market has transformed the way facilities and employees access meals and snacks during the workday. Today, the company operates 28 micro markets, with plans to expand to 30 markets by the end of December.

“When we started this business, there were challenges with workplace snacking experiences in Panama,” Aldo Tejada, founder of Feel Good Market, said in the announcement. “Our clients were bored with the traditional cafeteria and vending experiences and were hungry for another option. That’s when we discovered micro markets. This allowed us to provide a modern solution that offered not only convenient and user-friendly technology but enabled us to individually customize each market to meet the unique needs of each client. ‘Feel Good Market’ isn’t just our company name, it’s our brand promise – it’s our commitment to everyone, from executives to employees, because when we deliver on integrity, trust, and quality, everyone feels good. Implementing the micro market concept by Cantaloupe has been pivotal to our business. Their support, from development work to payment solutions specific to our marketplace has been unparalleled.”

Feel Good Market, with Cantaloupe's support, has built a brand that offers convenience, quality and a seamless customer experience. With its purely cashless solution, Feel Good Market serves approximately 7,000 customers daily and generates two to three times what a traditional vending setup would at any of its locations, showcasing the potential of micro markets in the region.

“We started in the middle of the pandemic,” Tejada continued. “Customers wanted safe ways to get their food and beverage options with limited touch points or contact. The ability to pay with a credit card, the fingerprint reader and user-friendly kiosks were a big benefit for customers. We also appreciate the ability to offer a product assortment beyond what is typically found in a vending machine or cafeteria. Our customers love the ability to just shop, scan and pay. We know that micro markets are the wave of the future, and we are excited to be leading that charge with Cantaloupe in Panama.”

“This partnership is just the beginning,” Jeff Dumbrell, chief revenue officer with Cantaloupe, added in the announcement. “As we continue to expand in Latin America, we are excited to have more success stories like Feel Good Market.”

Cantaloupe will be showcasing its self-service products and services in Latin America at a Cantaloupe LIVE event in Mexico on December 5, 2023. Retail operators, vending providers and anyone who wants to learn more about micro markets and experience Cantaloupe’s innovative self-service solutions are encouraged to attend and can reserve a spot by registering at https://go.cantaloupe.com/Cantaloupe-Live-Mexico-23.html.