NRF Report: Costa targets rapid expansion with next-generation vending machine
Costa Coffee is set to dramatically expand its base of Costa Express vending machines throughout the UK and into overseas markets with the launch of the next generation of devices. By Glynn Davis in New York
Unveiled at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show in New York this week the CEM-200 vending machine was created for Costa by a group including Intel, Microsoft and embedded solutions provider Bsquare. It marks a major advance in the capability of such device’s.
Jim Slater, managing director of Costa Enterprises, says: “This new machine will enable us to enter new channels and markets overseas. There is a massive untapped market in commercial office space where they do not want a lumpy red box in the corner. There are literally thousands of such offices where no decent coffee is available.”
In contrast with the existing functional lumpy Costa Express boxes he says the new units are “gorgeous to look at with a very beautiful design” which he says makes them much more suited to smarter office environments and other more visually demanding public spaces.
Never Miss a Retail Update!However, Phil Buckley, general manager of Bsquare in the UK, says the “ground-breaking” machine is not just better looking but has been created to deliver an “assault on all five senses”. It consists of a large 27 inch touch-screen that displays multiple layers of HD video, which has as its background a bustling Italian cafe scene.
This is complimented by both 3D stereo sound with the soundtrack of a lively cafe and an in-built device that delivers a coffee aroma. Upon selection of the preferred coffee the customer can then watch an image of a cup being filled while their drink is actually being prepared.
Another innovation is a built-in camera that senses when a customer is approaching and based on their visuals decides which video footage to display. This is based on what drinks that customer demographic typically chooses and this will be reflected in the choice of coffees that are displayed most prominently on the screen.
The machine is connected to the cloud, which enables data to be collected in real-time to both inform when there are any problems with the unit and to also indicate when ingredients are running low.
“It’s a cloud-based enterprise solution, which enables us to see when the vending machine needs servicing and to ensure it is well maintained as well as sense any fault scenarios. And we’ll collect all the data and enable the senior team at Costa to see it,” explains Buckley.
You can hear from Berangere Bragard, Head of Sales Forecourts & Retail, Costa Coffee at the Retail Bulletin’s International Expansion Summit, 26th March 2013. The title of the presentation is:Retailer Case Study – Building strategic partnerships for international growth.
Click here for the full programme and registration.
