Capital, Earnings & M&A
Vending Machines Poised to Take the Top Spot in 'Unmanned Retail'
Did you know that as early as the 1st century AD, the ancient Greek Heron's device for dispensing holy water is considered the world's earliest vending machine? Modern vending machines began in 1925 when the United States developed a machine to sell cigarettes, followed by various modern machines for stamps, tickets, and beverages. Today, vending machines cover a wide range of products, from drinks and snacks to adult products, fruits, and fresh food, with payment methods evolving from coins to bank cards, and now WeChat, Alipay, and Best Pay. In China, the market gap for vending machines is estimated at over one million units, and with the support of the Ministry of Commerce and the trend toward self-service, vending machines are set to thrive.
许景涵