--- title: "Trending in Vending: 5 Noteworthy Stories December" description: As with every industry, there's always something changing in vending or news stories worth sharing. New products, technology, and strategies are always being tried and tested. Here are five noteworthy stories from the vending industry. image: https://blog.vendinggroup.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Woman%20use%20of%20soft%20drink%20vending%20system%20paying%20by%20cellphone.jpeg --- [![logo.png](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/site/logo/logo.png?width=80&height=65&name=logo.png "logo.png")](https://www.vendinggroup.com) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Vending_Group) [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vending-Group/174125279274403) [** ** ](https://plus.google.com/103512082635347214863) [Customer Service](https://www.vendinggroup.com/industry-leading-customer-service) ### *Office Vending Services | Beverage & Snack Machines* view our [service areas](https://www.vendinggroup.com/service-areas) # Learning ## Trending in Vending: 5 Noteworthy Stories December [fa icon="clock-o"] Dec 12, 2018 2:21:28 PM [fa icon="user"] [Vending Group](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/author/vending-group) [fa icon="folder-open'] [Vending Machines](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/vending-machines) ![Woman use of soft drink vending system paying by cellphone](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Woman%20use%20of%20soft%20drink%20vending%20system%20paying%20by%20cellphone.jpeg?width=1000&name=Woman%20use%20of%20soft%20drink%20vending%20system%20paying%20by%20cellphone.jpeg) As with every industry, there's always something changing in vending or news stories worth sharing. New products, technology, and strategies are always being tried and tested. Here are five noteworthy stories from the vending industry. --- We've discussed strange vending machines before on our blog, but this one might be our favorite. Students at Ohio State University (for a limited time) can purchase [bacon through a vending machine](https://www.delish.com/food-news/a25445037/bacon-vending-machine/). A [book vending machine](http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/elementary-school-installed-book-vending-machine) was installed in an elementary school in Buffalo, NY. Through a rewards system, students can earn tokens that allow them to select a book from the vending machine. Snack bar company KIND recently announced the introduction of low-calorie options. From Vending Market Watch: "The [100-calorie or less KIND Minis](https://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/products/news/12436544/kind-reinvents-reduced-portion-snack-category-with-national-rollout-of-kind-minis) aim to fill a need for people seeking on-the-go snacks that not only taste good but also offer balanced nutrition."  The story behind the 'Coca-Cola Santa' is an interesting one, and now you can purchase stamps with artist Haddon Sundblom's depiction of Santa Clause. The U.S. Postal Service [released a series of stamps ](https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/sundbloms-coca-cola-santa-gets-its-own-commemorative-stamp)featuring the iconic character. With the rise of La Croix as a market leader in the sparkling water category, Pepsi launched Bubly. [So far it's garnering a lot of attention](https://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/beverage/news/12436446/pepsicos-bubly-fountain-and-vending-machine-are-getting-attention), so much that the new brand is projected to reach $100 million in revenue in its inaugural year.    ## Frequently Asked Questions About Vending Stories ### What are some unique vending machines mentioned in recent vending stories? Recent vending stories highlight unique machines such as a bacon vending machine at Ohio State University and a book vending machine installed in an elementary school in Buffalo, NY, where students can redeem tokens for books. ### What new product options are vending companies introducing? Snack bar company KIND has introduced low-calorie options called KIND Minis, which are 100 calories or less, designed to offer balanced nutrition for on-the-go snacking. ### How is the vending industry incorporating popular culture in its offerings? The U.S. Postal Service released stamps featuring the iconic 'Coca-Cola Santa' created by artist Haddon Sundblom, showing how vending and related industries incorporate cultural icons. ### What new beverage brands are gaining attention in vending machines? Pepsi launched Bubly, a sparkling water brand competing with La Croix, which is gaining significant attention and is projected to reach $100 million in revenue in its first year. ### Why are these vending stories noteworthy for the industry? These stories showcase innovation in vending products and technology, highlighting new trends, unique vending concepts, and popular product launches that reflect changing consumer preferences. ### Where can I find more updates and news about vending industry trends? Updates and news about vending industry trends can be found on industry blogs like Vending Group's blog, which regularly shares noteworthy stories, new products, and technology developments. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Vending Group](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/site/logo/logo.png?width=100&height=100&name=logo.png) #### Written by [Vending Group](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/author/vending-group) ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Vending Management (98)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/vending-management) - [Vending Machines (91)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/vending-machines) - [Customer Experience (68)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/customer-experience) - [Products (49)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/products) - [Workplace (33)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/workplace) - [Hospitality (29)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/hospitality) - [Multifamily Housing (20)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/multifamily-housing) - [Logistics & Warehousing (13)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/logistics-warehousing) - [Procurement (12)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/procurement) - [Retail (12)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/retail) - [Coffee Vending (9)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/coffee-vending) - [Massage Chairs (4)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/massage-chairs) - [office water (4)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/office-water) - [micro-market (3)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/micro-market) - [Laundry (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/laundry) - [college (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/college) [see all](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/trending-in-vending-5-noteworthy-stories-december#) ### Categories - [Coffee Vending (9)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/coffee-vending) - [college (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/college) - [Customer Experience (68)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/customer-experience) - [Hospitality (29)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/hospitality) - [Laundry (1)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/laundry) - [Logistics & Warehousing (13)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/logistics-warehousing) - [Massage Chairs (4)](https://blog.vendinggroup.com/topic/massage-chairs) © 2012 - 2026 Vending Group, Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://blog.vendinggroup.com/trending-in-vending-5-noteworthy-stories-december#blogposting", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Vending Machines", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vending_machine" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Snack Bars", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snack_bar" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Beverage Industry", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_industry" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Coca-Cola Santa", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola_controversies#Santa_Claus" } ], "articleSection" : [ "Vending Industry News", "Product Innovation", "Vending Technology", "Beverage Brands", "Unique Vending Concepts" ], "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.vendinggroup.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Vending Group", "url" : "https://www.vendinggroup.com" }, "dateModified" : "2024-06-07T15:49:00-06:00", "datePublished" : "2018-12-12T13:21:28-06:00", "description" : "As with every industry, there's always something changing in vending or news stories worth sharing. 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