If you have or are considering buying a refrigerated beverage vending machine, you will need to know the pros and cons of vending bottles and cans in your soda pop machine. Before we get into the details, let me just say that there are a lot of different styles of drink vending machines but most of them are capable of vending both cans and bottles of various sizes. What’s right for one location is not always right for another location but listed below are a few tips that will help you decide:
Advantages of Vending 12 oz. Cans
- Don’t Jam Up as easily as Bottles.
- Longer Shelf Life than Bottles
- Better Return on Investment
Advantages of Vending Bottles
- More Variety including water, juices, sports drinks, energy drinks
- Greater Profit per Vend
If you are in the vending business to make money, not just to provide your customers or employees with cheap drinks, then the question of greatest concern to you will be regarding the profit margins. Your cans will make a better Return on Investment (ROI) but they may not be the most profitable option for you. Let me explain: If a can costs you $0.28 cents and you sell it for $0.75, then you have a gross ROI of 267% and you will make a gross profit of $.047 on each vend.
Now if you buy a bottle for $0.68 and you sell it for $1.35, then you have a gross ROI of 200% which is less than your cans; however, your gross profit will be $0.67 for each vend which is much greater than the profit of each can.
As with most things in life, the best solution is to offer a compromise. You will have customers that will not be willing to spend the $1.35 for the bottled drink and they will need the cheaper option. Other customers will want the sports drinks or waters that are only available in the bottles. The best solution is to go with a soda vending machine that offers cans and bottles to maximize your options. Most of your Coke and Pepsi machines will accommodate bottles and cans. Most combo vending machines will also allow for cans and bottles. There are cheaper machines on the market that only accommodate cans but you will be better off if you spend the extra few bucks to have the greater selection.
