Life-Changing Opportunity Provides Bright Future for Young Owner
When Keegan Mebert agreed to help run a friend’s vending business, he had no idea it was going to change his life. Mebert, then working as a warehouse manager, was intrigued enough to consider opening his own business. But before he took the leap, he prayed on it and then talked it over with his parents, who agreed to go in on the business with him.
In 2022, the family worked with Naturals2Go to start a vending business in Lowell, Mich. Today, Mebert owns and operates 40 combination vending machines and two coffee vending machines.
Naturals2Go is a leader in the unattended retail market and at the forefront of the healthy vending trend, providing snacks, treats and drinks. To date, the company has launched nearly 3,000 entrepreneurs including Mebert, and placed more than 22,000 machines across the United States.
Healthy Opportunity
The global vending machine market is estimated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% to reach almost $50 billion by 2035, according to Vending Times. Factors contributing to the growth include increasing customer demand for variety and convenience coupled with expanding cashless payment capabilities and consumers’ increased adoption of smart vending technology, according to the trade publication, which cited a report from Market Research Future.
Beverage vending machines account for the largest share of the market, while healthy snack vending is projected to be among the fastest-growing segments as consumers seek more nutritious options and convenient retail experiences, the research firm reported.
The demand makes Mebert confident he’ll attain his five-year plan to grow his combo vending machines by another 10 to 12 and then jump headfirst into the coffee space. “There is a place for everyone in this market and I don’t see vending going anywhere for quite a while,” he says. “The sky’s the limit.”
No Fees, No Strings, No Storefront
For first-timers or seasoned entrepreneurs interested in a quick launch opportunity, Naturals2Go’s “no fees, no strings, no storefront” business model is attractive.
Owners take complete control of their vending businesses, which can be run from anywhere with no storefront or staff. Naturals2Go provides a proven system and continuous technical and business support. Owners receive world-class equipment, onboarding and high-end corporate training and then grow at their own pace. The model is low-time commitment and highly scalable.
Naturals2Go flagship machines are the smartest entry point to the vending business. Operators then grow with smart coolers, coffee machines and other vending options.
The Family that Works Together
Working in a family business has risks and rewards. “You don’t always get to walk away from a conversation or have a manager take care of things when you’re working with family,” Mebert notes. What has helped is clearly defined roles and lots of communication.
Mebert’s father, who has a full-time job as a software manager, restocks machines at night, his mother is in charge of finance, accounting and product ordering, and his sister works part-time restocking. Mebert runs the analytics and the day-to-day refilling and machine maintenance. “We realized that we all have areas that we can care for best and honestly. They sorted themselves out over time,” he says.
On a typical day, after looking through customer requests, Mebert will visit seven to eight locations, fixing, cleaning and restocking machines while interacting with customers. Once home — his restocking center is in his family’s garage — he talks with his partners/parents to make sure the business is ready for the next day.
Built-In Flexibility
Mebert says the Naturals2Go model offered another benefit: a healthy work-life balance. The flexibility allows his mother to work while still caring full time for his three younger brothers who were adopted with various special needs. The vending business also provides a part-time job for his sister, who is preparing for cosmetology school.
“I get to see them every day and it continues to put a smile on my face even as I think about it,” he says.
Learn more about Naturals2Go.
