Vending is a bigger part of UK life than most people realise. Millions of drinks, snacks and meals are bought from machines every day, in offices, factories, hospitals, stations and gyms.

This guide brings together the latest UK vending statistics operators and buyers need, from market size and machine numbers to cashless payments, revenue per machine and product trends. Most figures come from the Automatic Vending Association (AVA) census, the industry’s main data source.

UK vending statistics: 10 key facts

1. The sector generated £3.78 billion in 2025.
2. Revenue grew 3.3% in 2025 and is 5% above 2019.
3. Product revenue reached £2.28 billion, up 6.8%.
4. 95% of pay-vend machines have cashless technology.
5. 84% of transactions on cashless-enabled machines are cashless.
6. Mobile payments make up 62% of cashless purchases, up from 8% in 2017.
7. Cashless users spend twice as much per transaction as coin users.
8. Cold drinks revenue grew 15.4% in 2025.
9. Standalone smart fridges grew around 50% to 2,850 units.
10. 90% of operators expect the market to grow in 2026.

Figures for 2025 come from the Vending International report on the AVA 2025 Census. Earlier figures come from previous AVA census reports and the AVA’s published industry data.

UK vending market size

The headline UK vending statistics on market size depend on what is counted. Recent AVA reports cover vending, office coffee services and automated retail together.

Measure	Figure
Total sector revenue, 2025	£3.78bn
Traditional vending plus office coffee, 2025	£3.13bn
Product revenue, 2025	£2.28bn (+6.8%)
Total vending and office coffee revenue, 2024	£3.01bn
Coffee-to-go revenue, 2025	£645m

Older figures, such as the £1.5 billion turnover often quoted, measured vending alone. The newer, wider measure explains why the headline numbers have grown so much. When you compare UK vending statistics sources publish, always check what each figure includes.

How many vending machines are in the UK?

The AVA’s census, one of the most quoted UK vending statistics sources, put the UK machine population at around 420,600, selling around 6 billion items a year. That works out at roughly one machine for every 160 people.

The mix has changed since then. Cashless machines, smart fridges, micro-markets and coffee-to-go units have grown fastest, while older coin-only machines have been replaced.

Format	UK units, 2025
Coffee-to-go machines	33,200
Standalone smart fridges	2,850 (up ~50% in a year)
Micro-market installations	785

UK vending statistics over time

Looking at UK vending statistics over several years shows how the industry has recovered and changed shape since the pandemic.

Year	Key figure
2019	Around 420,600 machines; about £1.5bn vending turnover
2024	£3.01bn vending and office coffee revenue; 90% cashless fitment
2025	£3.78bn sector revenue including automated retail; 95% cashless fitment

The jump from £1.5bn to £3.78bn is partly a change in what is measured, since newer reports include office coffee services and automated retail. Even so, product revenue in 2025 was nearly 10% above pre-pandemic levels, so the growth is real.

Smart fridges and micro-markets

Some of the most striking UK vending statistics concern new formats. Standalone smart fridges grew by around 50% in a single year to 2,850 units, and there were 785 micro-market installations in 2025.

Smart fridges unlock with a card or app and charge for what you take, which suits fresh food. Micro-markets are small self-service shops, usually in larger workplaces.

Both show how vending is moving towards bigger ranges and better food. Our guide to the fresh food vending machine covers the food side.

The rise of mobile payments

Mobile payments tell one of the clearest stories in UK vending statistics. In 2017, mobile wallets made up just 8% of cashless vending purchases. By 2025, they made up 62%.

In 2024, on one major payment network, mobile accounted for 57% of cashless transactions, contactless cards 38% and chip-and-PIN just 5%. Customers now expect to tap a phone or watch, so a machine without card payment misses most of its potential sales.

What UK vending statistics say about prices

Average prices vary a lot by product type. The AVA’s figures show a traditional vending hot drink sells for around £0.56 on average, while a coffee-to-go drink averages £2.89.

Cashless customers also spend twice as much per transaction as coin users. Together, these UK vending statistics suggest customers will pay more for quality and convenience. Our guide to vending machine cost UK explains how to price your range and machine budget.

How UK vending statistics are collected

Most UK vending statistics come from the AVA census, an annual survey of operators and suppliers. The AVA’s members account for around 80% of UK vending turnover, so the census gives a strong picture of the market.

Payment networks and telemetry providers also publish data on transactions. Figures from different sources can differ because they measure different things, so always check the year, the scope and the source before you rely on a number.

Market research firms also publish UK vending forecasts, but their estimates often vary widely because each uses its own definitions. For decisions about your own machines, the AVA census and your own sales data are usually the most reliable guides. Telemetry gives you your own statistics, machine by machine, which matter more than any national average.

UK vending statistics for small operators

Industry-wide numbers can feel remote if you run a handful of machines. But several UK vending statistics translate directly into decisions for small operators.

• Cashless is essential: with 84% of transactions cashless, coin-only machines are at a big disadvantage.
• Combos earn more: combi machines average £7,612 a year, ahead of snack-only machines at £5,139.
• Food is growing: food revenue grew 28% in 2024 and 12.2% in 2025.
• Workplaces dominate: 61% of placements are business and industry sites.

For a first machine, our snack machine buying guide and pick of cheap vending machines under £1,000 are good starting points.

UK vending statistics: cashless payments

Payment is where UK vending statistics show the biggest change. Coin-only machines are now the exception.

Measure	Figure
Pay-vend machines with cashless technology, 2025	95%
Pay-vend machines with cashless technology, 2024	90%
Cashless-only machines, 2024	More than 20%
Cashless share of transactions, 2025	84%
Mobile share of cashless purchases, 2025	62% (8% in 2017)
Cashless vs coin spend per transaction	Twice as much

For operators, the message is clear: card and phone payment lift sales. With Irelley, card payment with telemetry costs £10 a month plus 2% per transaction. Our vending machine contactless payment UK guide explains how it works.

Revenue per machine

Revenue per machine is one of the most useful UK vending statistics, and it varies widely by type. These AVA figures for 2024 are among the most useful UK vending statistics buyers can use when choosing a machine.

Machine type	Average annual revenue, 2024
Coffee-to-go	£21,664
Combi (snacks and drinks)	£7,612
Food drum	£7,591
Free-standing hot drinks	£7,143
Cold drinks	£5,639
Dedicated snack	£5,139

These are averages across the industry. Your own results depend on location, footfall, prices and range. Our guide to how much vending machines make UK explains how to estimate yours.

Product trends

UK vending statistics show all main product categories grew in 2025, with cold drinks and food leading.

Category	Revenue growth, 2025
Cold drinks	+15.4%
Food	+12.2%
Snacks	+5.7%
Hot beverages	+4.1%

In 2024, food grew 28% from a lower base, snacks 14.8%, cold drinks 14.5% and hot drinks 11.9%. Food’s rapid growth reflects demand for proper meals at work. Our guides to food vending machines and the best snacks for vending machines explain what to stock.

Hot drinks statistics

Hot drinks remain a huge part of UK vending statistics. The AVA says machines serve around 8 million cups of coffee and 2 million cups of tea every day.

Coffee-to-go machines generated £645 million in 2025, with an average selling price of £2.89, compared with £0.56 for a traditional vending hot drink. Over 40% of new tabletop machines use fresh milk systems.

Where vending machines are placed

UK vending statistics show business and industry sites, such as offices, factories and warehouses, account for around 61% of placements, according to the AVA. Across Europe, workplaces account for about 70% of placements, down from around 80% before the pandemic.

That makes workplaces the backbone of UK vending. Our guides to vending machines for offices and vending machines for warehouses cover the biggest markets.

UK vending statistics: health and sustainability

• 80% of cold drinks sold through vending meet low-sugar standards.
• Plastic cups have been almost eliminated from hot drinks machines.
• Cashless and telemetry cut unnecessary restocking trips.

Two changes are due in 2027. A ban on selling high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s in England, including through vending machines, is planned from April, subject to Parliamentary approval.

The deposit return scheme for drinks containers starts in October 2027. Our guide to reverse vending machines UK explains the scheme.

Data and telemetry

UK vending statistics also show that almost 70% of machines now have their sales data collected by telemetry or handheld downloads, according to the AVA 2024 census. Data helps operators restock only when needed and spot slow sellers.

Our guide to vending machine telemetry explains how it works for small operators as well as large ones.

Jobs and the wider industry

The AVA says the UK vending industry directly employs over 15,000 people, and its members represent around 80% of UK vending turnover. Operators range from sole traders with a handful of machines to national companies.

UK vending statistics also show operators are optimistic. Average operator revenue grew 7% in 2025, and 90% expect the market to grow in 2026.

UK vs Europe

Measure	Europe
Machines	About 5 million
Annual vends	About 5 billion
Industry revenue	About €26.4bn
Cashless penetration	About 85%

These UK vending statistics put the UK ahead of the European average on cashless fitment, with 95% of pay-vend machines able to take cards or phones.

5 UK vending statistics that surprise people

1. Coffee-to-go machines average over £21,000 a year each, almost three times a typical snack machine.
2. Mobile payments grew from 8% to 62% of cashless purchases in eight years.
3. Machines serve around 8 million cups of coffee and 2 million cups of tea every day.
4. Over 20% of pay-vend machines were cashless-only by 2024.
5. 80% of vended cold drinks meet low-sugar standards.

These UK vending statistics show an industry that looks very different from the coin-operated machines many people picture.

Today’s machines take phones and cards, sell fresh food and premium coffee, and report their own sales. For anyone thinking of buying a machine, that means modern features are no longer optional extras. They are what customers expect, and what the best-performing machines in the UK vending statistics already have.

What UK vending statistics mean for site owners

If you manage an office, warehouse, gym or other site, UK vending statistics can help you decide whether to buy a machine or take a free one from an operator.

With combi machines averaging over £7,600 a year, a busy site may earn more by owning its machine and keeping the profit. A quieter site may prefer free placement, where an operator handles everything. Our guide to getting a free vending machine for your business compares both routes.

Where UK vending statistics are heading

The next set of UK vending statistics is likely to show more of the same trends: more cashless and mobile payments, more food and cold drinks, and more smart fridges and micro-markets.

• Growth: 90% of operators expect the market to grow in 2026.
• Regulation: the energy drinks rules and deposit return scheme will change drinks ranges from 2027.
• Technology: telemetry, touchscreens and app payments will keep spreading.
• Health: lower-sugar and healthier products will keep gaining share.

We’ll update this page as new UK vending statistics are published, so check back for the latest figures.

What the statistics mean for operators

• Go cashless: cashless users spend twice as much per transaction.
• Consider combos: combi machines average more than single-category machines.
• Add cold drinks and food: the fastest-growing categories.
• Target workplaces: they make up the majority of placements.
• Use telemetry: data-led restocking saves time and money.

Our guides on how to start a vending machine business UK and the vending machine industry trends UK turn these figures into a plan.

Machine types behind the numbers

UK vending statistics refer to several machine types. Knowing what each one is helps you read the figures correctly.

• Combi: snacks and drinks in one cabinet, popular in offices and smaller sites.
• Dedicated snack: crisps, chocolate and confectionery on spirals.
• Cold drinks: cans and bottles, often with glass fronts.
• Food drum: rotating compartments for sandwiches, meals and fresh food.
• Free-standing hot drinks: traditional coffee, tea and chocolate machines.
• Coffee-to-go: premium bean-to-cup machines in public places such as stations and forecourts.

Our guides to the drinks vending machine, premium gourmet coffee machine and food vending machines explain each type in more detail.

UK vending statistics at a glance

Statistic	Figure
Sector revenue, 2025	£3.78bn
Growth, 2025	+3.3%
Machines (AVA census)	~420,600
Cashless fitment	95%
Cashless transactions	84%
Mobile share of cashless	62%
Workplace placements	~61%
People employed	15,000+

Bookmark this table for a quick reference to the headline UK vending statistics.

Using UK vending statistics data wisely

UK vending statistics and industry averages are a starting point, not a forecast for one machine. A combi machine in a busy warehouse can beat the average many times over, while the same machine in a quiet office may fall well short.

Use the figures to choose the right machine type and payment setup, then judge each site on its own footfall and hours. Our vending machine profit calculator helps you test the numbers.

Ready to act on the numbers?

The UK vending statistics operators watch all point the same way: cashless, combo and food-led machines in busy workplaces perform best. Browse our vending machines for sale or contact our team for advice.

Every machine is tested before dispatch, delivered and installed free and covered by a 12-month warranty. Spread the cost with our payment plans: a 25% deposit, then up to 12 months at 0%.