Last week, I walked the floor of the National Automatic Merchandising Association in Las Vegas with a sense of déjà vu and pride. Vending and automated food delivery has come a long way, but one thing stood out: some of the "latest innovations" on display felt strikingly familiar.
Twenty years ago, I stepped into this industry not just as an entrepreneur, but as an evangelist. Back then, trying to convince people to eat hot food from a vending machine was borderline heresy. We weren’t just introducing a product, we were shifting mindsets, educating and paving the way for a future that is here today. It was uncharted territory. There was no Instagram reel to go viral, no TikTok chef influencer to sing our praises. It was boots-on-the-ground marketing, relentless taste tests, and a product that had to prove itself. Every. Single. Vend.
We did something revolutionary: my company developed proprietary technology that could take food from frozen to hot in under 60 seconds - and no, it wasn’t a microwave. We were featured on CNBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Food Network, the cover of Vending Times and more for that innovation. Looking back now, standing at NAMA 2025, I can honestly say: that same machine could still turn heads on the showroom floor today. After all, we coined the term 'Automated Diner.'
That’s not just nostalgia talking. That’s the gap I see - the opportunity. Because while hardware has gotten sleeker and UI has improved, (plus robots and AI have entered the chat), true innovation - the kind that transforms consumer behavior - is still rare. And it’s needed now more than ever.
But make no mistake - there were gems of genius at the show. I saw passionate, young engineers bringing fresh thinking to niche markets. Products with purpose. Delivery systems that were imaginative and bold. Like my product of the past, these weren’t just vending machines, they were micro-experiences, designed by creators who understand that convenience, precision, and UX matter more than ever. And that’s where I see the future.
Over the past two decades, I’ve had the honor of working with startups and public companies alike, helping launch, market, and scale products across industries. From my headquarters in New York to my sister offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, I’ve been in the trenches - strategizing, building infrastructure, and executing visions with clients from around the world. But no matter how far I traveled or what markets I touched, the vending space always held a soft spot in my heart. It was my first love (and first success).
So yes, I may be a little grayer than the guy who showed up on the scene years ago (cue this classic clip for a laugh). But I’ve traded that youth for something far more valuable: experience, perspective, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom that only comes from building, and rebuilding, from scratch.
I’m reentering this industry not to reminisce, but to reimagine. To mentor and partner with the next generation of builders. To bring the kind of real innovation, not buzzwords, that creates new habits, not just new machines.
The world is ready for the ultimate vending experience. And I’m ready to help deliver it.
Stay tuned.
