Vendex Midlands 2026, the UK’s leading exhibition dedicated to vending, unattended retail, and micro markets, will return to Arena MK on 25 March 2026, and is already 20% larger than last year’s Midlands show and 10% larger than the previously largest Vendex event held in November, driven by accelerating demand from new exhibitors.
The expanded floorplan reflects strong momentum across the unattended retail sector and increasing confidence from suppliers targeting the UK market. The growth brings additional stand space, a broader exhibitor mix, and a stronger overall showcase for operators, retailers, and buyers.
Vendex Midlands 2026 will welcome a significant increase in new and first-time exhibitors, including a growing number of international companies. Exhibitors from across Europe and beyond will present the latest innovations in vending technology, micro markets, smart refrigeration, payment systems, fresh food solutions, and connected retail platforms.
In addition to new product launches, many exhibitors will be offering unrepeatable, on-the-day-only show deals, available exclusively to visitors attending Vendex Midlands 2026. These time-limited offers are designed to reward in-person engagement and support faster commercial decision-making.
“The pace of new exhibitor demand has been exceptional,” said Mattthew Derry, director of Vendex. “It underlines Vendex’s position as a highly focused, commercial event where suppliers can meet serious operators and generate real business outcomes in a single day.”
The one-day exhibition is free to attend for business professionals and is designed to deliver maximum value in a short, efficient format. Visitors can expect hands-on demonstrations, direct access to decision-makers, and practical insight into how unattended retail is evolving across workplaces, travel hubs, healthcare, education, and retail environments.
Go to https://www.vend-ex.com/ to register.
Some exhibitor highlights…
EVOCA – Stand 35/36
The Evoca stand is the place to get hands-on with the Gaggia G-Line coffee machines said to ‘lead the way when you calculate the total cost of ownership.’
Gaggia G-Line is the Evoca Group product class which brings together all the company’s bean-to-cup, table top and superautomatic coffee machines under a single brand.
“When you think about it, it made perfect sense for us to gather together our entire coffee machine portfolio under a brand name that has a history and a legacy like no other”, said sales director Andrew Barrow. ‘‘Gaggia’ not only inspires confidence amongst coffee operators, but also it has a certain cachet with the general public, who relish the prospect of enjoying a genuine Italian coffee from a machine brand that has become synonyous with genuine Italian coffee!
“I’m looking forward to inviting people to experience the range at first hand. The line is designed specifically for professionals serving coffee in out of home locations. They’re really simple to use, making them the ideal choice for self-service operations of any size that want to offer consumers an unlimited menu of freshly ground coffee drinks – with the option of fresh or powdered milk.
“Last but not least, it’s important that customers are aware that the products are manufactured with a strong focus on sustainability. They are ‘A’ Rated for reduced energy consumption; a large proportion of the components are recyclable – and they boast a durability / life span that ensures they lead the way when you calculate the total cost of ownership.”
RADNOR HILLS – Stand 30
Soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills will be showcasing a new carbonated soft drink at this year’s Vendex Midlands, Milton Keynes. Radnor Spring offers four refreshing and fruity flavours of sparkling spring water with added B vitamins – and all low calorie. Flavours include: Black Cherry & Blackcurrant, Mango & Passion Fruit, Pineapple & Grapefruit and Strawberry & Raspberry.
The low-calorie range is suitable for vending and its 500ml bottles are 100% recyclable and made from 30% recycled plastic. Also on the stand at this year’s show will be Radnor Splash, the UK’s fastest growing flavoured water brand, which sells three products every second. Choose from six sugar-free fruity flavours: Orange and Passionfruit, Apple and Raspberry, Lemon and Lime, Strawberry, Forest Fruits and Watermelon.
Radnor Splash is available for vending in an on-the-go 500ml PET bottle with a sports cap.
Chris Sanders, sales & marketing director of Radnor Hills, said: “At Radnor Hills, we love to innovate so we’re delighted to be showcasing our best-selling Radnor Splash at Vendex Midlands as well as unveiling our exciting new soft drink – Radnor Spring.
“Radnor Spring extends our portfolio of soft drinks and offers our vending partners an exciting new product.
“We believe that it’s a perfect time to create our own juicy carbonated soft drink, bottled by us in our zero to landfill site in Wales, and that Radnor Spring enhances an already nostalgic Radnor basket of products.”
VMC – Stand 73
With over 30 years of experience in the payments sector, VMC has the capability to deliver a broad range of solutions across multiple hardware terminals, enabling operators to select the technology that best suits their individual requirements.
At Vendex Midlands, this will be reflected in the solutions on display, including VMC’s range of contactless payment terminals as well as EPoS solutions designed to support vending and unattended retail operations.
These include mobile payment terminals, pre-order kiosk, and VMC Flex, a powerful back-office platform that delivers functionality beyond the payment transaction, such as loyalty schemes, promotional tools and advanced reporting. Together, these solutions demonstrate how operators can gain greater control, visibility and flexibility across their entire estate.
