Smart vending, kiosks coming to Heathrow staff restaurants under Compass deal
Why this matters
- In large-scale facilities such as airports, employee dining is shifting toward frictionless retail. Kiosks plus smart vending support faster throughput in high volume workplaces.
- Smart vending reflects a broader move toward unattended, tech-enabled refreshment that can extend service beyond peak meal periods.
- Operators seeking access to large-scale facilities must be prepared to pivot their services to smart vending or kiosk ordering to cut wait times and expand access.
Under the agreement, Compass will provide food and beverage services for more than 80,000 airport employees and contractors working on the airport’s runway expansion project.
Renovation of the 11 Heathrow restaurants, expected to cost several million pounds, is scheduled to begin in April. Planned upgrades include smart vending and kiosk ordering, which Compass and Heathrow said is intended to create a smoother customer experience for employees.
Social at Heathrow will also support Heathrow’s Connecting People and Planet sustainability strategy. Projects include returnable and reusable cups for employees as well as a food waste management initiative.
The seven-year deal adds tech-enabled ordering and refreshment options aimed at a smoother, faster employee dining experience.
About the Author
Linda Becker
Editor-in-Chief
Linda Becker is editor-in-chief of Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com. She has more than 20 years of experience in B2B publishing, writing, editing and producing content for magazines, websites, webinars, podcasts, newsletters and eBooks, primarily for manufacturing and process engineering audiences. Since joining Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com, Linda has developed a new appreciation for the convenience services industry and the essential role it plays. She is dedicated to serving readers by covering the latest news in the vending, office coffee service and micro market industry. She can be reached at 262-203-9924 or [email protected].