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Every big number in this industry started as one machine in one break room.
That's worth remembering, because the big number just got bigger. The NAMA Foundation's 2024-25 industry census, built with Technomic, estimates U.S. convenience services revenue at $31.1 billion in 2025, up from $26.6 billion in 2023. That's about 8.1% growth a year, and the census projects roughly 6.5% a year from here across vending, micro markets, office coffee and pantry service.
The part of the report that matters for you
Three findings stand out if you're thinking about your first location, or your next ten.
Vending is still the biggest piece. It's the largest business line by revenue and by number of companies. You're not betting on a fad.
The lines are blurring. Operators now run vending, smart coolers and micro markets side by side and pick the format that fits the building. You don't have to choose one forever.
Clients are asking for better products. 65% of operators say clients want healthier options, and 59% see better-for-you products as a growth opportunity. That's an opening for anyone willing to stock a machine with care.
Growth doesn't mean easy
An industry growing 8% a year still has machines sitting half empty in break rooms right now. Dusty rows. Expired chips. A card reader that hasn't worked since spring.
That's not a sign the business is bad. It's a sign a lot of operators aren't treating it like a business. Every one of those machines is a building manager who'd happily take a call from someone who shows up, stocks it right and answers the phone.
You don't need to know everything to be that person. Most operators started without a route, without a supplier and without the answers. They just knew a few things you don't know yet, and they made the first call.
What this means for you
The market is big enough that you don't need to win it. You need one good location: a building with people in it all day, hours that run past 5 pm, and nothing better to buy within a short walk.
Then a second one. That's how the $31 billion got built.
If you want to see how the numbers look by format and region, the State of Vending 2026 report breaks it down. If you're weighing a smart cooler against a classic machine, start with micro markets vs vending machines.
— The VendBuddy Team
