Vending machine operators seek new features to attract consumers in Japan

Japanese vending machine operators have recently been seeking new ways to expand their sales under the pressure of competition from convenience stores that offer an increasing variety of products.Japan has a staggeringly high density of vending machines on its streets -- about 4.9 million units nationwide, equivalent to more than one per person in countries such as Ireland or New Zealand. About half of these units sell beverages, and annual sales stood at nearly 5 trillion yen ($45 billion) at the end of 2016, according to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association.But the spread o…READ FULL ARTICLE