Setting up a vending machine can be a lucrative business. If you’re someone who is looking to set up this relatively passive income venture, wherever that may be, you’re going to need to stock it full of candy. But what with I hear you cry. Well, today, I’m going to give you some advice by showing you all about the best candy you should be looking to sell.
So, what is the best candy for vending machines? The best candy for vending machines are those that are highly desirable, fit the slots, and can be purchased in bulk for increased profit margins. However, you should be sure to offer a wide variety of candy. That way, you increase the chances of every passer-by finding something they want and becoming a customer.
That’s a bit vague, right?
You want specific examples of things to stock and sell.
So let’s delve into some, shall we?
Contents
Best Candy For Vending Machines
So, you are going to have to make some big decisions about what candy you put in your vending machine.
We’ll talk a bit about the type of candy you should put in your vending machine later.
For now, here is my top 5 list to get you going!
Snickers
One of the most popular chocolate bars across the globe for several decades now, Snickers combines caramel, peanuts, and chocolate.
You can bet that quite a few customers will be inserting their cash into your vending machine for at least one of these.
A safe bet, for sure, when looking to make plenty of sales.
Even your vending machine will be happy to host these chocolate bars. If you don’t, you might find it shouting ‘Get some nuts!’ at you in a Mr. T voice.
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Starbursts
If you’ve read any of my other articles, you’ll know that I love Starbursts.
In fact, I have said on many occasions that they are my favorite candy of all time.
That’s right. Starbursts are my ‘GOAT,’ (Greatest’s of All Time) as the kids say.
Created by The Wrigley Company, Starbursts are a delicious snack.
I’m sure every person who passes your vending machine will consider buying a pack.
Each pack offers a diverse range of wrapped chewy delights with vibrant flavors so powerfully tasty that even your vending machine might be able to enjoy them.
- Contains thirty six (36) 2.07-ounce packs of STARBURST Original Fruit Chews Candy
- Product Note: Exposure to heat or sunlight may lead to melting/damage of product. Hence customers are expected to be available during the product delivery
- STARBURST can be enjoyed alone or as a burst of juicy flavor added to your favorite recipes.
- Add an unexplainably juicy treat to your party, around your house—or stash a few for snacking later.
- The strawberry, cherry, orange, and lemon flavors that started it all.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Another nutty candy here. Funnily enough, many of the most popular candies are, in fact, ones with nuts in them.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are exactly that.
They are nutty-based, and they are immensely popular.
Anyone whose eye is not caught by a pack of these sitting in a vending machine is probably nuts themself!
So deliciously unique, I’d get started on buying a bulk order now!
- Contains thirty-six (36) 1.5-ounce packs of REESE'S Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Candy
- Enjoy REESE'S peanut butter covered in creamy milk chocolate for when you need a big, bold and delicious snack at sporting events, game nights, parties or the movies
- Includes 36 individually wrapped, kosher and gluten free peanut butter chocolate candies
- Use REESE'S candy for filling birthday gift bags and school lunch boxes or bridal and baby shower candy dishes
- Share the unforgettable combination of milk chocolate and rich peanut butter cups when you need a sweet Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day or Easter candy
Milky Way
This wonderfully tasty chocolate bar, which seems to have been around forever, combines nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate.
It is this fantastic combination that is the foundation of Milky Way’s success.
If you stock a load of Milky Ways into your vending machine, then it won’t be long before they are all gone!
- Contains one (1) 36-count box of 1.84-ounce MILKY WAY Milk Chocolate Singles Size Candy Bars
- Item ships with cool packs (Not available on Fresh)
- These candy bars are great for gift baskets or passing out on Halloween
- Stock the office pantry with 36 individually wrapped, full-size MILKY WAY Milk Chocolate Bars
- Full-size MILKY WAY Candy Bars are great for keeping in your desk to brighten your afternoon
Butterfinger
The final candy on today’s top 5 list is Butterfinger.
Its crispy peanut butter center is covered in chocolate that will stimulate the taste buds of your customers so much they might buy another one.
So make sure you’ve got a constant supply to your vending machine so that it is never dry of Butterfinger’s presence.
- UNWRAP DELICIOUSNESS: Butterfinger delivers the taste you know and love with these individually wrapped, full sized, peanut-buttery, chocolatey bars
- THE TASTE YOU LOVE: Perfectly irresistible, our Butterfinger Full Size candy bars have the same crispety, crunchety, peanut-buttery taste you know and love just for you
- ANYTIME IS THE RIGHT TIME: Wherever you go, these delicious Full Size bars make the perfect treat for yourself, a backpack snack or even a sweet gaming go-to candy
- CARE TO SHARE: Grab these shareable, peanut-buttery, chocolatey bars and treat yourself, friends, family or coworkers to a treat that can't be beat
- HALLOWEEN CANDY: Level up your spooky season with delicious trick-or-treat candy
What Candy Sells Best In Vending Machines?
The candy that sells best in vending machines is the candy that people want! It may be difficult to find elsewhere or just in high demand due to the flavor it provides.
If you’re stocking a load of candy that no one wants to buy, then your vending machine isn’t going to bring in a lot of income, is it?
That’s while you have noticed that the running theme in my top 5 list was that they were all candies that were incredibly popular and successful in the market.
If you’re stocking famous candies that people love, then you’re going to make sales.
That being said, that doesn’t just mean you should stock the single most popular candy.
After all, not everyone loves everything. So some people may be disappointed by the lack of options in your vending machine.
So, candy popularity is important, but you also need variety. And lots of it.
So make sure you’re stocking different popular candy brands to cater to all tastes of your potential customers.
Remember also that people who use vending machines are often after a snack.
A quick snack, in fact.
So they want something that isn’t too big. That’s why candy bars are a perfect size.
Remember that some customers do prefer a healthy snack bar instead.
So you could try to accommodate these customers by stocking healthy snack bars in an amount that is proportionate to the demand.
Ultimately, you need to stock your vending machine with the candy people are buying. This means buying popular brands, but it also will involve researching market trends.
How Much Candy Do You Need For A Vending Machine?
You’ll need enough candy to fill it, of course. How much that depends on the size and capacity of your vending machine.
On average, a vending machine can bring in $35 a week.
However, if your vending machine is located somewhere where there are a lot of customers passing through, then it could make $400 plus.
But that is only possible on one condition: you keep it well stocked all the time.
But how much candy you will need to consistently be well stocked will depend on which vending machine you buy.
Let’s take a look at 2 example machines made by Seaga Envision.
The first model we’re looking at is the ENV5C which is a refrigerated vending machine that can hold both drinks and snacks.
This vending machine can hold a total of 375 drinks and snacks. So that gives you an idea of how much candy you would need to keep it stocked.
The other model we’re looking at is the ENV5S. This holds a total of 547 snacks. Again, you have a clear idea of how much candy you’d need to stock in that one.
How you decide to stock it in terms of how many rows each candy gets is up to you.
Remember, variety is key, so don’t overstock it with one particular candy.
What Candy To Avoid Putting In A Vending Machine?
You should avoid putting candy in the vending machine that isn’t going to sell and also that which isn’t wrapped.
It’s pretty common sense this stuff. If a particular candy isn’t popular or successful in the market, then don’t put it in your vending machine.
If you do, you’re not going to be consistently selling candy, and you’ll also end up with loads of stock going to waste when no one buys it.
The results are not good either way.
So only stock candy that sells!
Secondly, you want the candy to be germ-free. That means it must come in packaging.
No loose candy!
No normal customer wants to buy a piece of candy from a machine where it’s been out in the open collecting germs and dust.
Even when the customer has keyed in the code of the candy, it’s got to make its way to them without any packaging. It’s just not hygienic.
So avoid less popular candies and only buy those that have packaging.
What Should You Put In A Vending Machine Besides Candy?
There are plenty of other snacks as well as drinks that you can put in a vending machine. As long as they’re popular and wrapped, then that’s all that counts.
Let’s delve into some of the other categories of vending machine snacks!
Drinks
Those who purchase from a vending machine want a tasty snack.
So you can bet that they’ll probably want a tasty drink as well, like a soda.
Approximately 31% of vending machine sales are drinks.
Popular vending machine drinks include water, Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Gatorade, and Mountain Dew.
Whatever you decide to sell, keep it varied and keep it popular.
Other Snacks
There are plenty of other snacks that will sell well in your vending machine.
Just like candy, these snacks will need to be wrapped so that they are protected from germs.
Otherwise, customers will find a different machine to use.
Some examples of popular vending machine snacks include nuts, pop-tarps, beef jerky, pretzels, cookies, chewing gum, cereal bars, and chips.
Finally
Vending machines are a hefty investment to make.
That being said, they can generate a substantial amount of income if the right measures are put in place.
The measures start with having your vending machine placed in a great location where lots of people access it.
And these measures finish by ensuring you are stocking the most profitable candy.
If it ain’t popular, don’t stock it.
If it ain’t wrapped, don’t stock it.
Otherwise, you’re good to go!
Hello, I’m Matthew, a candy expert and enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the candy industry. My passion for candy started at a very young age. Since then, I have worked in numerous, large candy stores, and have been fortunate enough to try out hundreds of brands of candies, different types and flavors. In addition to my work, I enjoy sharing my extensive knowledge with others, and decided to create Sugar Stand in order to do so. My mission is to make the world a sweeter place, one candy at a time.