The Micro Market: a brief history of Coinadrink’s pioneering innovation

Coinadrink Limited was the first UK operator to embrace the smart vending revolution with our Micro Market facility. Recognising where workplace refreshment solutions were heading over the coming years, we took inspiration from the American model and adapted it to our own vision through software and technology that has always been bespoke to our company.

This particular approach came from the idea many larger companies needed more than traditional vending but were being weighed down by the cost and rigid nature of catering companies.

Our idea was to strike a suitable middle ground that built on the unattended convenience of vending machines. By combining multiple offerings such as food, snacks and drinks into one grand, self-service convenience store, micro market vending meets the needs of particular workplaces far more than catering ever did.

Indeed, the Micro Market is extremely popular with businesses today, with more and more businesses jumping on board with what is a personalised workplace refreshment hub.

Whilst we continue to develop this service and stay ahead of our competitors, let’s explore how micromarkets are delivering unparalleled results to modern businesses every single day.

What exactly is Micro Market vending?

Imagine a miniature, high-tech supermarket in your workplace, with open shelving, self-service contactless payment kiosks and a bespoke design to finish. A 24/7 self-service canteen with an automated approach that employs user data to provide the service.

That’s it. That’s the Micro Market.

If it sounds overly simplified or too good to be true, that’s because when we pioneered the service in 2013, we wanted it to break new ground in vending while at the same time appealing to the everyday worker’s comfort, routine and satisfaction.

For larger businesses in particular, especially those whose sites are perhaps in remote locations, micromarkets cut out the need for staff to pop to the actual supermarket before work or over break time. A Micro Market is always open and always available, providing a modern approach to workplace refreshments with no operational burden for leaders.

Since the debut, we’ve installed more and more of these facilities up and down the West Midlands, and have continued to develop the technology behind it. This has even seen us introduce branch facilities, such as our own smart fridge.

Are Micro Markets better than vending machines?

Micro Markets are not designed to “replace” vending machines as such. Instead, they build on the benefits of traditional vending to appeal to larger companies with over 150 staff, that may require more than just vending.

They retain the unattended, self-service characteristics that have always made vending machines so appealing but deliver them in a personalised convenience store tailored to each client.

A micromarket generally offers more product choice and the ability for multiple people to browse at once.

How much space does a Micro Market need?

Not as much as you think. A bit of open space in a staff canteen or communal area is all that’s needed to experience modern day smart vending.

Sure, many of our customers have had their micromarkets designed as grand hubs positioned at the heart of equally grand breakout areas, offering fresh food, barista-style coffee, snacks, cold drinks and more, but we also have clients that have opted for more compact facilities.

Think just a couple of fridges for fresh food and a few rows of shelving for snacks.

Consider a Micro Market over traditional catering

A big appeal for businesses with shift patterns or flexible working hours is that the Micro Market has 24/7 accessibility. This ensures that staff are able to get their refreshments no matter when they work.

Additionally, the fact that replenishment and maintenance is done solely by us as part of the service means that there’s no need for catering staff to operate it. This results in a lower overhead, and a feeling of satisfaction that all the messy stuff is taken care of by us. This leaves you and your staff with a regularly maintained Micro Market full of nothing but the good stuff.

And speaking of what’s inside the Micro Market, the range of food and drink that we can provide is varied enough to ensure that everyone in the team has something to appeal to them. And yes, we do welcome requests.

A great way to boost employee wellbeing

Something that’s becoming clearer is that we’re all spending too much time at our desks. Breaks are needed, and it’s a good move to stand up and walk around every now and then, for multiple reasons.

A Micro Market encourages employees to take these breaks in a social environment with refreshments that’ll keep them going for the remainder of the work day.

Especially given that one of the features of our fully managed service behind it all is giving you the kind of refreshment options that you request. Fancy a fridge dedicated solely to healthy, fresh food options? Or a fridge full of spring/mineral water to quench thirst the right way? We’ll make it happen.

It’s simply a fact that when we eat and drink right, our bodies and minds reward us by excelling at the next task on our agenda.

What does Micro Market vending include?

We know that as great as technology can be, there’s always the possibility of downtime every now and again. And in those unsure moments, our only goal is to reach your site and smooth out the issue as quickly and deftly as possible. That’s why we guarantee a 2-hour response time to any service calls.

And we’re on hand from the very beginning, ensuring a proper installation that matches the bespoke design and requirements of your worksite. After that, we’re simply a phone call away from making a service visit to iron out any wrinkles in the otherwise premium vending service that your staff rely on.

Of course, our service is designed to be proactive, not reactive. A data-driven approach gives us a deeper look into the products that are being purchased the most, and this information is carefully monitored and reviewed by us in order to determine what we stock your micro market with.

Top-selling items can begin to take priority in the stocking list, as we’ll know that it’s what your staff are desiring the most. And on the flip side, items that aren’t moving much can be lessened or removed entirely if it’s not quite your cup of tea.

Either way, a simple beauty of having a Micro Market on-site is that your biggest problem… will be deciding which refreshment to have.

Your Micro Market isn’t far away…

At Coinadrink, we’re proud to offer a range of vending services to suit the different needs of businesses in the West Midlands area.

If you like the sound of the Micro Market and what it can offer your business and staff, then contact us today to start a conversation and we’ll see what we can do for you.

And if that’s not right for you then we have a variety of other options.

Drop us a message

Chat to us on 01922 640777