The UK vending and automated retail industry is evolving rapidly; in fact, the UK’s unattended retail market – covering vending, micro-markets, OCS, coffee-to-go and other automated formats – is now worth over £3.6billion annually and continues to grow steadily with a 13% uplift in product revenue from 2023-2024 (according to AVA 2024 Census).

This strong growth has been driven by increased product revenue, a shift towards healthier and more convenient options and the adoption of smart vending technologies, and it’s meeting growing consumer demand for convenience, cashless transactions and premium products.

Introducing our new vending partner: Amplifi x Regency

At Regency, we are now supporting members as they introduce vending and unattended retail solutions into their businesses. We’re delighted to have recently added a vending partner to our supplier network, and by working with Amplifi, we're able to go beyond traditional vending offering a range of market-leading solutions, including smart fridges and markets, hot lockers, digital vending, beverage solutions and kiosks.

The vending machines available are smart, connected devices with real-time reporting to ensure that the right products are always in the right place at the right time 24/7—without over-stocking or waste.

This innovative, data-led approach delivers multiple benefits including:

• Better forecasting – anticipate demand and keep products available
• Lower waste – improve sustainability and reduce cost
• Simplified contracts – manage multiple sites through a single supplier relationship
• Reduced labour – 24-hour product availability, without the need for staffing.

A focus on coffee

Coffee is one of the strongest performing categories in unattended retail with over 80% of vended items being coffee / coffee-related beverages (according to AVA 2023).

Through our partnership with Amplifi, we can offer your customers high-quality, ethically sourced coffee experiences on-site, tapping into the rising consumer demand for convenience, quality and consistency – and what’s more, it’s always available.

National coverage with local knowledge

Amplifi is designed to make life easier for multi-site operators and organisations with complex site portfolios. Amplifi has been formed by bringing together some of the most respected vending and smart retail operators in the country, including Excel Vending in Scotland, Vending Enterprises in the East Midlands, Hallmark Vending in London and the Southeast, and Mother Digital Vending also covering London.

The deep understanding of local markets, combined with decades of operational expertise, gives Amplifi the unique ability to offer clients a seamless blend of national capability and regional insight.

With more acquisitions set to complete in the coming months, Amplifi’s regional reach and expertise will only continue to grow.

In short, Amplifi delivers the reliability, efficiency, and insight of a national network while retaining the personal service of a local operator – helping businesses get more value, more consistency, and better outcomes from their vending and automated retail strategies.

For further information or to discuss what smart retail could do for your business, please contact your Regency procurement manager.