Asahi to acquire Singapore’s Advend Systems . . .
In an attempt to expand its reach into Southeast Asia, Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings has announced it will acquire the Singapore-based vending machine operator Advend Systems by the end of March 2020. In July, Asahi Group grew its market holdings in the Asia Pacific region through the US$11-billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Australian assets, including Foster’s beer and Carlton and United Breweries. AB-InBev is best known for being the producer of Budweiser and BudLight.
Gourmet food a la vending machines . . .
Japan’s love affair with vending machines is contagious. Many tourists who visit the country marvel at the products available in these machines, from under-garments and neck ties to hamburgers and fresh fruit. Singapore is not far behind. Starting with hot sandwiches and pizzas to books and laundry services, the city’s vending machine culture is on the rise. Chef-in-Box Vendcafe, for instance, now offers a range of gourmet foods, snacks, and desserts to customers. The acquisition of Advend Systems will allow Asahi, the leading Japanese beverage company, to operate more than 10,000 vending machines in Singapore, as well as Malaysia.
Growing market . . .
To meet increasing consumer demand, the adoption of modern dispensing solutions has been growing across the Asia Pacific region. According to a growth forecast report by the Graphical Research team, the “intelligent vending machine market” in the Asia Pacific region will exceed US$10 billion by 2025. Vending machines are also starting to move away from cash and credit with the integration of smart technologies that allow users to pay via mobile applications. Also in the pipeline are facial-recognition systems and purchase history checks to confirm a customer’s identity before purchases are made.
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