An unmanned store in your break room
Open shelving, glass coolers, fresh food, and a self-checkout kiosk. Roughly ten times the selection of a vending machine, with no employee running it.
What an operator installs
Open shelving
Racks of snacks, chips, candy, and shelf-stable meals people can pick up and inspect before buying — the part that drives the sales lift over a machine.
Coolers & freezers
Glass-door units for drinks, fresh sandwiches, salads, yogurt, fruit, and frozen entrees.
Self-checkout kiosk
Touchscreen terminal that scans items and takes card, mobile wallet, or a prepaid account. Optional payroll deduction at larger employers.
Coffee station
Most markets pair with bean-to-cup brewers so the break room becomes one destination.
Loss prevention
Cameras and kiosk-side monitoring. Shrink is real but low — operators price it in.
Restocking
Several visits a week including fresh-food rotation and date checks.
Micro market or vending machines?
The honest answer depends on headcount and whether your building is secure.
- Go micro market if you have 100+ people on site, controlled building access, and 150–300 sq ft to give up.
- Go vending machines if you are under 100 people, have public foot traffic, or only have a corner to spare.
- Go smart cooler if you want fresh food but do not have the headcount or the space for a full market.
Side by side
| Micro market | Vending | |
|---|---|---|
| Products | 300–500 | ~40 |
| Fresh food | Yes | Limited |
| Min. headcount | ~100 | ~40 |
| Space needed | 150–300 sq ft | ~9 sq ft |
| Secure access | Required | Not required |
| Cost to you | $0 | $0 |
Micro market questions
How many employees do I need for a micro market?
Most operators want at least 100 people on site. Some will go lower for 24-hour operations or buildings where several tenants share one break area.
Isn't an unmanned store going to get robbed?
Shrink exists but stays low in practice, generally in the low single digits as a percentage of sales. Cameras, kiosk monitoring, and the fact that everyone using it works there keep it manageable. Operators price this in — it is their risk, not yours.
How much space does a micro market take?
Plan on 150 to 300 square feet. That covers shelving, two to four cooler doors, and the kiosk with room to queue.
What does it cost my company?
Nothing at qualifying sites. The operator supplies the fixtures, kiosk, coolers, and product. You supply the space and power.
Can employees pay through payroll deduction?
Many kiosk platforms support it, and larger employers often use it. It needs coordination with your payroll team, so mention it early.
Own machines? We have locations waiting.
Businesses in your service area are asking for vending right now. Get their details the day they come in, and stop cold-calling for placements.