365 Retail Markets can now add vending management software to its portfolio, thanks to the acquisition of Sentry. The news comes five months after 365 announced the purchase of Spoonfed, a Glasgow-based company whose software is used by global contract caterers, restaurant chains and independent caterers.
Sentry is a complete vending machine and micromarket management platform that includes a full-featured web application as well as a driver and inventory management mobile app. Designed to enhance the capability of vending and micromarket businesses, Sentry’s robust capability will complement 365’s existing product offerings well. Its most notable features include intuitive planograms and optimized merchandising, routing, market maintenance and picking systems—all supported by a complete back-office system. The deal will add value to the company’s expanding suite of consumer-centric solutions.
‘Sentry is a perfect fit within our long-term strategy of turning the data from our vast point of sale fleet into actionable insights for our global customer base of over 2,000 operators’, said 365 Retail Markets CEO, Joe Hessling. ‘We’ll continue to invest in VMS and other data related technologies as the demand for self-service technology continues to rapidly expand. I would like to thank the teams at Sentry, 365 and our lead investor Providence Equity for their assistance in making this transaction a success. We intend to begin offering a 365 VMS product to the field within the summer of 2022.’
The acquisition empowers Sentry to realize its full potential while contributing to 365’s growth plans and larger product portfolio. 365 Retail markets will assume full ownership beginning May 6, 2022, thereby providing Sentry investors with an exit.
*Learn more about 365 Retail Markets on Planet Vending, HERE
