Published • 15 Sep 2026
Traditional vending machines have long carried the stigma of being a “last resort” for food and beverage options, with limited choice and at times outdated user experience. Behaviour and attitudes from consumers are changing and there is an increased need for alternative methods to buy fresh, healthy food in the workplace.
As prices continue to rise operators have spotted a gap and been innovative enough to rethink their approach to vending services in the workplace. Micro markets have quickly become impactful solutions. Flexibility, choice and availability of products tailored to the needs of consumers has been a key driver of increased usage and a different way of providing food & beverage at work. The client and operator both benefit from the impact of reduced costs and increased revenues. It is abundantly clear that micro markets are the next big thing in food and beverage options at work.
Connect Vending has embraced this shift by collaborating with 365 Retail Markets to modernise their business approach with micro markets. Connect Vending now appeals to a broader audience whilst simultaneously expanding their business and increasing their sale revenue.
“Employees now expect the same variety they would find on the high street,” says Elyas Coutts, Chief Executive Officer at Connect Vending. “Micro markets deliver that variety in a way traditional machines cannot, from fresh meals, healthier snacks, and dietary-specific options.”
Micro markets present niche opportunities
Micro markets can be configured to meet the client’s unique needs and offers long-term benefits by ensuring that each installation fits the environment it serves. Coutts notes that there are three perspectives to consider when adding a micro market to a vending fleet:
- For operators: these solutions extend the flexibility of their reach, enabling them to place products in both familiar and entirely new locations.
- For clients: micro markets replicate the high street retail experience inside the workplace achieving a balance of consumer appeal, practicality and commercial benefit that traditional vending struggles to match.
- For consumers: the advantage is immediate. Everything they might leave the workplace to find is now available onsite, encouraging them to remain in the office and enhancing their overall working experience. Convenience has become a central driver of satisfaction.
How 365 Retail Markets' payment system drives sales
The success of Connect Vending's micro market strategy hinges significantly on the advanced point-of-sale technology provided by 365 Retail Markets. The 365 tills offer a sophisticated yet intuitive checkout experience that fundamentally transforms how consumers interact with workplace food solutions.
The 365 contactless payment system enables Connect Vending to implement dynamic merchandising strategies that were previously impossible with traditional vending machines. Through the intelligent interface, operators can promote meal deals and offer time-sensitive promotions directly at the point of purchase. The 365Pay app is also used as a tool in Connect Vending’s merchandising strategy through sending product or discount alerts directly to the consumers mobile, and by offering the consumer a 5% discount when they pay via the app.
Charlotte Purnell, Marketing Manager at Connect Vending, explains: "The 365 tills are game changers for our micro market operations. Not only does the touchscreen influence make the checkout process seamless but it also gives us the tools to influence purchasing behaviour.”
The data analytics capabilities built into the 365 payment kiosk, and the 365Pay app, provide Connect Vending with invaluable insights into consumer preferences and purchasing patterns. This intelligence allows operators to optimise product mix, adjust pricing strategies, and identify which promotional tactics deliver the strongest returns. The result is a continuously improving retail environment that responds to customer demand.
The cashless payment functionality of 365 tills addresses modern consumer expectations while streamlining operations. Supporting multiple payment methods including contactless cards, mobile wallets, and account-based purchasing via the 365Pay app, the system removes the friction from the transaction process. This convenience factor alone has proven to increase transaction frequency and average spend.
Micro markets pay for themselves
For Connect Vending, the decision to focus on micro markets equipped with 365 payment technology just made sense. While vending machines have gained renewed visibility on social media platforms such as TikTok, often being portrayed as a quick and easy way of getting passive income, the reality within closed loop sites is different. Consumers in these workplaces are no longer as engaged with traditional vending formats and are gravitating towards micro markets, which provide the freshness and variety they now expect.
Connect Vending describes the financial impact of this shift as "exponential." A traditional vending machine might generate around £20 per day, whereas a micro market equipped with 365 till technology will generate at least £150 per day or more. The sophisticated checkout experience and promotional capabilities of the 365 cashless payment system directly contribute to higher transaction values and increased customer engagement.
Operational efficiency also plays a major role. According to Purnell, "the ongoing maintenance and rental costs of a vending machine can really add up, but an engaging micro market with 365 technology can pay for itself in a matter of months." The 365 system's remote monitoring capabilities allow Connect Vending to monitor sales, assist when reviewing product success and minimise waste. The remote monitoring capabilities not only make micro markets more profitable, but also more scalable across diverse environments.
Future outlook for micro markets and 365 technology
Elyas Coutts sees significant growth ahead for the future of micro markets powered by advanced till technology. "The market has now passed its initial learning curve in the UK, and growth is beginning to trend exponentially," he explains. The scale of potential growth becomes especially clear when comparing the UK to the USA. In the USA, more than 48,000 micro markets serve a population of approximately 350 million, equating to roughly one micro market for every 7,300 people. If applied proportionally to the UK's population of around 65 million, this would suggest a potential for nearly 9,000 micro markets nationwide. The UK currently has approximately 1,500 micro markets, highlighting the vast number of opportunities available nationwide.
Although early uptake in the UK was slow, largely due to concerns around open-access retail and security, the landscape has shifted. Improved technology like the 365 Retail Market cashless payment kiosks enhanced security features and changing workplace expectations have accelerated the evolution dramatically.
This combination of creativity, advanced point-of-sale technology and a solutions-focused mindset, strengthened by Connect Vending's collaboration with 365 Retail Markets, has allowed the company to expand its business, increase revenue and offer clients a more modern, engaging workplace food solution. The 365 tills serve as the cornerstone of this transformation, enabling Connect Vending to deliver a retail experience that meets contemporary consumer expectations while driving substantial commercial returns.