What’s new and exciting in your category?
Beverage dispensers are increasingly leveraging [artificial intelligence] and machine learning to analyze customer preferences, forecast demand and optimize inventory management. These advancements enable operators to streamline their operations while offering a more personalized experience for consumers. Additionally, many establishments now provide the option for customers to place orders through mobile apps and conveniently pick them up at a dispenser, eliminating the need to wait in line—an essential feature for today’s on-the-go consumer.
What do you love about your category?
Dispensed beverages provide the perfect mix of convenience, creativity and customization. Whether it’s the excitement crafting your perfect drink with a soda machine or bean-to-cup coffee dispensers that brew exactly to your liking, there’s truly no end to the customization we can provide. The emergence of health-conscious options like organic sodas, refreshers and milk alternatives to traditional creamers help the variety and innovation in the dispensed beverage world really cater to all kinds of tastes and preferences. I love that there are options out there to suit the needs of all our guests and being a key stakeholder in the selection/creation process that brings these to life in our stores!
What trends are you watching?
Those that are really a progression of trends over the past years. Refreshers are at the top of the list as these can be the easiest to customize to provide something for even the most discerning of guests. Flavor trends and seasonality really give us the opportunity to keep things fresh and exciting. Next would be nostalgia. While new and exciting is fun, there is still something to be said for offering flavors that evoke good memories. Organic sodas are quickly becoming a guest favorite across many channels as well.
What products performed well in the past year?
Our offering of organic sodas. The adoption of these by our guests has proven to be a key contributor to our category growth. This is something we are watching closely and could potentially expand on soon. Also, with our custom Vera tea line on our fountain units, with flavors like Peach and Strawberry Hibiscus green tea, we have something for any pallet.
What are your goals/most looking forward to in 2025?
I’m particularly excited about exploring more LTOs for refreshers and frozen beverages, which will help position dispensed beverage as a key driver of our overall sales growth. Additionally, I’m eager to launch our new coffee program this year.
What are the biggest challenges?
First would be maintaining consistency at store level. Ensuring every drink dispensed meets the same quality and taste standard can be difficult, especially in high-traffic environments. Variability in ingredients, machine malfunctions or inconsistent settings can lead to a less-than-ideal experience. As our business scales, this is of the utmost importance.
Second would maintaining margins: Balancing the demand for high-quality ingredients, advanced technology and sustainable practices with profitability presents a significant challenge.