Installing one or more vending machines is becoming an increasingly popular option for many companies. Whether it is tea and coffee dispensers, or snacks and sweets, vending machines are far cheaper than running a canteen and saves the company a huge amount of money in time lost by staff making their own drinks during the course of a working day.

If you are thinking of installing vending machines, you will need to find a company who will either sell the machines to you, or operate them for you. Using a vending operator is usually the best course of action. All you have to do is site the machine; the vending operator will make sure that it is working, that it is refilled regularly and that it is mended if anything goes wrong. The vending machine remains the property of the operator, but the company receives a commission from the money made by the machine.

If you have decided to use a vending operator, then you need to find a reliable company. There are several things to consider:

How much experience does the company have?

How will you agree the prices to be charged for the vending goods?

How does the payments system work between you and the operator?

Can you agree a regular service agreement with the operator?

Do you have all the information you need about insurance and the Food Hygiene Regulations?

A good vending operator and vending company will make sure that all these points are covered, so that you can be sure the machine and its contents comply with the relevant legislation and that the machine will be kept refilled and in good working order.

No matter what type of business you are in, if you think you have a site that would benefit from one or more vending machines, then you should talk to some of the leading vending companies to see which option is best for your business, its staff and its customers.