One of the growing trends in food sales is the emergence of the micro market. A micro market is a miniature food store with a precise selection and self-checkout options for customers. It is like a shrunk-down supermarket and may offer refrigerated foods, drinks, and shelved foods, such as dry goods. Micro markets tend to focus on healthy choices, ease of use, and overall convenience.
Also found in micro markets is micro market vending. While the micro market can be considered a small grocery or convenience store, a micro market vending machine can also serve a specified role in these locations. A micro market focuses on food, quick lunches, and snacks, and a vending machine can help serve customers.
What Is Micro Market Vending?
Micro market vending is the use of vending services in a micro market to more easily serve customers and make overall market management and upkeep easier. Here are some ways a vending machine differs from other aspects of a micro market and cases where it is most useful.
- While many micro markets are more like food stands, vending machines are closed off — which can be more beneficial for certain food items. Open space may be more practical for such food as sandwiches, but a vending machine can work better for sealed items, such as canned drinks.
- Micro markets generally make use of tap payment systems. However, a vending machine can make use of a wider selection of payment choices, which can improve customer accessibility for paying for certain items.
- Vending machines are refrigerated and closed off. This can be very useful for certain perishable items.
- Vending machines are also restocked on a regular and predictable basis. This means they’re refilled regularly, and running out of popular items is rare.
- Vending machines are also useful for those items for which sales and coupons are not needed, and the prices are predictable. Items commonly purchased with coupons can be sold in the micro market itself on the open shelf space.
Final Thoughts
Micro markets are becoming more widespread, but are far from new. You’ve likely encountered a micro market before in such locations as airports, hotels, offices, government buildings, and similar places. The addition of micro market vending machines makes these locations more efficient and can expand overall product selection. The presence of a vending machine adds a wider selection of drinks, chilled items, and snacks. This makes the micro market more useful for customers.