Valora “brightens up journeys” wherever people are on the move. Vending machines enable the company to serve customers beyond the regular opening hours of its convenience formats and to remain present in less urban areas.
Thanks to the partnership with Boostbar, Valora will be able to focus even more strongly on its core business in the future. Valora will continue to manage assortment design and promotions itself, while Boostbar will take over the technical operation of the machines, provide the software and user interface, and ensure that the machines are regularly restocked.
Significant potential at petrol stations
The conversion to the system of Boostbar is also an important step for Valora with a view to the future: “We are pleased to have found a strong partner in Boostbar, with whom we can jointly achieve our goal of giving even more people access to our offering,” says Roger Vogt, CEO of Valora Retail and Food Service. “We see significant potential, particularly at service stations.” Several new locations at petrol stations are planned, especially with the long-standing partner volenergy. The concept will initially be introduced at service stations that currently do not have a shop, helping to close a gap in the food and snack offering for travellers.
The several hundred vending machines currently in operation are primarily located next to Valora outlets such as k kiosk and avec. The assortment includes snacks and beverages such as energy drinks, as well as selected non-food items: condoms and pregnancy tests, in particular, remain consistently popular.
Boostbar was founded in Zurich in 2020 with the aim of rethinking the classic vending machine. Today, the company operates and modernises vending machines and unmanned retail solutions in Switzerland – from its own technology and software through to ongoing operations. Boostbar is Switzerland’s fastest-growing vending provider. The underlying technology is offered internationally under the name Boost inc and is one of the leading solutions for unmanned retail.