Coke Bottler to Roll Out Credit Card Vending Machines
By Seth Harbison
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, one of the largest bottlers in the Coca-Cola distribution network, announced last week its intention to roll out Coke vending machines that accept credit cards for payment, including MasterCard’s “contactless” PayPass credit cards. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Coca-Cola United will offer the new machines in multiple southern markets, including Coke’s home market of Atlanta.
In the past year a number of beverage bottlers have equipped their vending machines with credit card readers, and in each case have reported that sales in those vending machines have increased significantly.