The annual NAMA OneShow held this year in Chicago, IL, from April 12 to 15 brought together members of the vending, micro market and OCS industry for a week of educational instruction, new products and key trends moving the industry forward. According to LyNae Schleyer, NAMA’s Vice President of Events, more than 4,300 attendees and 288 exhibiting companies convened at McCormick Place where solutions centered around vending, micro market and OCS growth were in abundance.
On the show floor, exhibitors showed off new technologies and products to enhance the vending, OCS and micro market experience for both operators and consumers. There were a number of new entrants into the micro market space, including companies offering a tablet or iPad in lieu of a larger kiosk. A full-sized Avanti micro market was placed at the entrance of the OneShow show floor for attendees to utilize (see page 37 for photo). Technologies to drive efficiency in an operation’s backend vied for attendee attention, with new and existing VMS providers promoting how these systems can benefit operators. One thing was clear, however; implementation of the VMS can’t be the goal. Instead, operators should first decide on a course of action and then select the system that most closely matches their criteria and helps attain the overall goals. Operators shared their advice to interview the different technology companies before investing in a system, in order to determine the best solution for your operation.
The topic of better-for-you snacks was prominent at this year’s show as well, from the educational sessions to new product offerings from manufacturers.
The OCS area of the trade show showcased new, sleek bean-to-cup machines and other single serve brewers with touchscreens and espresso-based drink offerings. Several manufacturers showcased their latest cold brew coffees as well, illustrating the growing interest for non-traditional coffees.
