10 takeaways from Cantaloupe’s report on micropayments

A new report from Cantaloupe Inc. examines sales data from food and beverage vending machines, micro markets, and amusement and gaming centers to identify emerging trends. Key insights highlight the continued growth of micro markets, the impacts of smart markets, the dominance of mobile and contactless payments, and growing consumer comfort with higher ticket sizes.

Here are 10 quick takeaways from the 2025 Cantaloupe Micropayment Trends Report.

1. Upgrade legacy vending systems

Older vending machines that only accept cash are underperforming. The average cashless vending transaction was $2.24, compared to $1.78 for cash, representing a 37% increase. Retrofitting with cashless hardware quickly pays off.

2. Go fully cashless where possible

Already, 86.9% of U.S. point-of-sale transactions are cashless¹ as consumers become increasingly comfortable with such transactions. Some sectors of self-service retail, such as micro markets and smart stores, operate with minimal to no cash, with cashless transactions making up 96% and 100% of sales, respectively.

The vending sector is also increasingly cashless, with 71% of vending machine sales already cashless. Operators can increase sales by upgrading their machines to accept mobile wallets, cards and tap-to-pay options.

3. Capitalize on mobile wallet trends

Mobile payments grew over 300% in vending, according to the 2025 Cantaloupe Micropayment Trends Report. This reflects growing comfort with digital payments. For markets that support it, offering app-based loyalty rewards or promotions can drive increased sales.

4. Prioritize tap-to-pay features

Tap-to-pay accounted for 77% of all cashless vending sales in 2024. It’s not just convenient: it’s the consumer preference. Worldwide, half of all transactions are now made using contactless payment methods.² Upgrading payment hardware to accept NFC/contactless methods makes it possible to capture these sales.

5. Move on micro market growth

Micro markets are booming with 377 million transactions and a 28% growth in locations. Operators should consider adding or converting traditional vending setups into micro market formats.

6. Make smart investments in smart market technologies

Operators with smart cooler technology, including Cantaloupe’s Smart Stores, saw average ticket sizes of $4.25, nearly double that of vending machines ($2.11). Micro markets weren’t far behind at $2.67. Because smart markets and micro markets support higher-margin products, they can drive higher revenue per transaction.

Put another way: Because consumers are less price-sensitive when paying with cards and mobile wallets, and micro markets and smart markets are largely cashless, operators who capitalize on them can see higher average ticket sizes.

7. Consider hybrid retail models

The success of micro markets and smart markets such as Cantaloupe’s Smart Stores, creates opportunities for hybrid models that combine traditional retail with technology.

Consider whether combining vending, grab-and-go and unattended retail in the same location creates a more engaging experience.

8. Shift vending machine placement to high traffic, premium venues

As consumers become more accustomed to cashless spending, placing machines in upscale or high traffic locations can lead to higher ticket sizes and increased consumer willingness to pay.

9. Stock diversified products in markets

As consumers increasingly show they are willing to pay for convenience — think food delivery services — operators are finding convenience services opportunities in new locations. In apartment buildings and fitness centers, for instance, consumers want consumer goods such as fresh food, toilet paper, laundry detergent, protein powders or ear buds.

Sales data from the Cantaloupe Micropayment Trends Report indicate higher ticket sizes in smart markets and micro markets, suggesting that consumers are open to purchasing more than just snacks.

Use sales data to optimize stock and introduce premium, impulse or essential items to boost average spend. A broader product variety boosts basket size and consumer satisfaction.

10. Expect inflation-driven ticket growth to continue

In 2024, sales from food and beverage vending reached $3.5 billion, and for the first time, micro markets surpassed $1 billion in revenue.

Despite inflation, consumer spending increased. In vending, average ticket size rose 13% year over year. Keep prices competitive, but don’t fear modest increases. Convenience still wins.

Plan ahead for 2025 growth

According to the Cantaloupe Micropayment Trends Report, operators should prepare for expansion, especially in cashless infrastructure and smart technology.

Looking ahead, Cantaloupe forecasts:

8% growth for vending sales
40% growth for micro markets
39% growth for amusement and gaming

For operators, Cantaloupe says, the message is clear: innovate, expand into new self-service formats, and optimize operations for digital payments to drive growth.

1. Source: https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/cashless-statistics/
2. Source: https://www.pymnts.com/earnings/2022/mastercard-contactless-payments-now-50-percentglobal-in-person-transactions/