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Entry Deadline – Friday 27 February 2026

2026 Suppliers and Operators Entry Form
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  1. Please start by selecting from the dropdown menu the category you wish to enter/nominate.
  2. You can see all of the Categories and Criteria here
  3. Then use the ADD ANOTHER ENTRY button to add further entries or nominations.
  4. You may enter or nominate in the same category more than once.
  5. Once you have added information for all of the categories you wish to enter - click the NEXT button to add your details and submit your entries.

Entry 2026

Awarded to a product or service that enhances vending or automated retail performance.

Judging criteria:

  • Demonstrates measurable operational benefit (speed, efficiency, reliability)
  • Improves the user or operator experience
  • Evidence of customer satisfaction or proven results in real-world settings

Recognises brands delivering healthier choices without compromising taste.

Judging criteria:

  • Meets recognised nutritional standards (e.g., reduced sugar, calories, fat)
  • Strong consumer appeal and fit for vending/automated retail
  • Demonstrable uptake or growth in demand

Celebrates engineering or design breakthroughs in vending equipment.

Judging criteria:

  • Clear innovation that sets it apart from existing machines
  • Improved efficiency, usability, or maintenance
  • Evidence of performance — pilots, installs, customer feedback
For products introduced within the last 18 months.

Judging criteria:

  • Strong commercial impact or sales traction
  • Innovation in flavour, formulation, packaging or concept
  • Market fit for vending and/or automated retail
For payment solutions that enhance purchasing in unattended retail.

Judging criteria:

  • Convenience, speed, security and ease of integration
  • Increased transaction success rates or customer satisfaction
  • Supports multiple payment methods and/or cashless adoption

Rewards innovation that reduces environmental impact.

Judging criteria:

  • Use of sustainable packaging, materials, or ingredient sourcing
  • Demonstrable reduction in waste, energy or carbon footprint
  • Transparent sustainability claims

Celebrates standout snack or confectionery products.

Judging criteria:

  • Strong flavour and consumer appeal
  • Impact on revenue or category growth
  • Proven success in vending/automated retail channels

Recognises the best brand experience in automated hot beverage vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Taste consistency and beverage quality
  • Brand support, merchandising, and consumer engagement
  • Demonstrated sales growth or machine adoption
For brands performing strongly in automated retail and vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Market success and strong demand
  • Packaging suitability for vending
  • Product innovation (format, flavour, sustainability)
For water and flavoured water brands performing strongly in automated retail and vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Market success and strong demand
  • Packaging suitability for vending
  • Product innovation (format, flavour, sustainability)

For unattended retail concepts beyond traditional vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Innovative use of technology (vision systems, AI, smart retail)
  • Enhanced customer experience and efficient operation
  • Evidence of commercial performance

Celebrates fresh or chilled ready-to-eat products suitable for unattended retail.

Judging criteria:

  • Quality, taste, and safety (shelf-life suitability)
  • Operational ease — stocking, handling, waste reduction
  • Strong consumer uptake
For all vending paper cups currently available on the UK market.

Judging criteria:

  • Sustainability: Use of recycled/renewable materials, recyclability or compostability, and demonstrable waste or carbon reduction.
  • Performance: Durability, heat retention, leak resistance, and overall drink quality in vending applications.
  • Innovation: Design or manufacturing features that improve vending machine reliability, efficiency, and ease of operation.
Recognises a supplier who delivered exceptional value to the industry.

Judging criteria:

  • Overall product/service excellence
  • Customer support and reliability
  • Demonstrated industry impact and positive partnerships

For engineers who keep machines running smoothly.

Judging criteria:

  • Technical expertise and problem resolution
  • First-time fix rate or efficiency improvements
  • Customer feedback or testimonials
Celebrates family-run operators thriving in vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Values-driven leadership and teamwork
  • Sustainable business growth
  • Contribution to the industry/community

Recognises operators that invest in the growth and skills of their people.

Judging criteria:

  • Evidence of structured training or upskilling programmes
  • Demonstrable improvement in staff performance, retention, or career progression
  • Positive feedback from participants and clear alignment to business goals

For operators with a turnover of under £2 million

Judging criteria:

  • New technologies introduced
  • Training opportunities and staff benefits
  • Business performance and service excellence
  • Operational reliability and customer satisfaction
  • Demonstrated innovation or continuous improvement
  • Work in the community

For operators with a turnover of between £2 million and £5 million

Judging criteria:

  • New technologies introduced
  • Training opportunities and staff benefits
  • Business performance and service excellence
  • Operational reliability and customer satisfaction
  • Demonstrated innovation or continuous improvement
  • Work in the community

For operators with a turnover of over £5 million

Judging criteria:

  • New technologies introduced
  • Training opportunities and staff benefits
  • Business performance and service excellence
  • Operational reliability and customer satisfaction
  • Demonstrated innovation or continuous improvement
  • Work in the community
Top accolade from all operator submissions.

Judging criteria:

  • Outstanding performance across all judging categories
  • Proven leadership, reputation, and customer outcomes
  • Industry contribution and forward-thinking approach
For exceptional customer care and problem resolution by operators or suppliers. Teams or individuals qualify for this award.

Judging criteria:

  • Responsiveness and communication
  • Real examples/testimonials of service excellence
  • Measurable improvement to client relationships
Celebrates collaboration on a standout installation or initiative. Both operators or suppliers may enter.

Judging criteria:

  • Clear project goals and results achieved
  • Innovation in solution or execution
  • Positive impact on the client/customer experience
For effective communication that improves relationships or engagement by operators or suppliers.

Judging criteria:

  • Demonstrates a clear communication strategy using multiple channels (online and/or offline).
  • Shows effective promotion of a product, service or message through platforms such as websites, social media, newsletters, trade shows or direct engagement.
  • Provides evidence of positive impact — improved awareness, engagement, or customer response.
Recognises contributions to social impact or community causes by operators or suppliers.

Judging criteria:

  • Demonstrable benefit to a community or charitable cause
  • Employee involvement or company-led initiatives
  • Authentic, ongoing commitment

For individuals achieving outstanding sales success, for either operators or suppliers.

Judging criteria:

  • Sales performance against targets
  • Relationship-building and consultative approach
  • Customer testimonials or documented wins

For individuals who consistently go above and beyond.

Judging criteria:

  • Demonstrated problem-solving and dedication
  • Positive impact on colleagues or customers
  • Inspiring personal contribution
Recognises leadership, influence and contribution by women in vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Professional achievement and industry impact
  • Advocacy, mentoring, or championing others
  • Demonstrated leadership qualities
Recognises leadership, influence and contribution by women in vending.

Judging criteria:

  • Professional achievement and industry impact
  • Advocacy, mentoring, or championing others
  • Demonstrated leadership qualities
Celebrates two individuals (from a single or separate businesses/organisations) whose teamwork delivers exceptional results.

Judging criteria:

  • Evidence of effective collaboration and the impact on business performance
  • Demonstrated problem-solving, shared responsibility and strong communication
  • Evidence showing how the duo improves customer or operational outcomes
Recognises outstanding design in vending, micromarkets, autonomous retail units, or automated retail environments — where aesthetics, user experience and functionality come together to create a standout solution.

Judging criteria:

  • Delivers strong visual impact while enhancing the overall customer experience.
  • Demonstrates practical functionality — easy to use, refill, maintain and operate.
  • Shows commercial benefit through improved engagement, sales or customer satisfaction.

Honours an individual whose long-standing dedication, innovation and influence have made a lasting, positive impact on the vending and automated retail sector.

Judging criteria:

  • Demonstrated decades of meaningful contribution to the growth, professionalism and reputation of the industry.
  • Proven record of leadership, innovation or advocacy that has shaped industry standards or advanced best practice.
  • Widely recognised respect and influence within the sector, evidenced by mentorship, collaboration and long-term commitment.
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