Research: The Vending Machine Market in Australia 2002-2004 (BIS Shrapnel)

Vending machines a $1bn a year retailing 'sleeper'.

"…Australia was likely to follow the US and Europe where large volumes of food, beverages and tobacco products were sold through (vending) machines." But compared to other parts of the world, Mr Beder said vending machines were under-utilised in Australia. "From some of the consulting interviews we've done, I believe our market is dwarfed by the US and the European markets," he said. "It's a lot more prevalent in those societies to have machines, and there's probably greater consumer awareness and incidence of usage as well." However, Mr Beder said the machines and the level of technology in Australia were the same as in other parts of the world. This indicated that vending machines had the potential to become a more significant retail channel.

Sourced from: Inside Retailing, 17 June 2002