Bolton College – Student Vending Solution

Modern vending provision for a further education college campus in Bolton

Results That Speak for Themselves

Average vending performance across campus locations

187

Vends/Machine/Week
Sold on average

100%

Student satisfaction
reported informally

Mineral Water 500ml£93
Coke Zero£84
Lucozade Sport 500ml£76
7UP No Added Sugar 500ml£69
Pepsi Max Cherry 500ml£55

To sellers per month -low & zero sugar drinks — wide choice of drinks to provide student satisfaction

The Objectives

  • Organisation: Bolton College
  • Sector: Further Education
  • Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester
  • Environment: Multi-building college campus with high student footfall

The Challenge

Bolton College undertook a review of its vending provision across two campus locations. The existing machines were a mixed set of unbranded units that were experiencing reliability issues and did not present a modern or appealing offer to students.


The college sought a refreshed solution that would provide a more attractive and reliable vending service while delivering improved commercial performance.

Procurement Requirements

  • Fully managed vending provision across multiple campus locations
  • Modern and visually appealing machines suitable for a student environment
  • Reliable equipment with minimal operational disruption
  • Strong commercial performance and improved revenue return
  • A broad product range suitable for a diverse student population

Why Livewell Was Selected

Livewell was selected following the tender process due to its ability to deliver a fully managed vending solution combining modern equipment, a broad branded product range, and cloud-based technology to optimise performance. The approach demonstrated how vending could enhance the student refreshment offer while also delivering improved commercial returns for the college

Solution Delivered

Service Scope

  • Installation and setup of vending stations
  • Ongoing replenishment of drink and snacks
  • Range management tailored to student demand
  • Monitoring machine performance and availability
  • Fault notification and resolution through remote monitoring
  • Provision of sales reporting for the college

Equipment and Technology

The vending solution included a range of modern branded machines designed to appeal to students and operate efficiently in high-usage environments.

  • Hydration Station vending machines for chilled drinks
  • Snack Station vending machines offering branded snacks
  • Touchscreen user interfaces
  • Contactless payment via card and smartphone
  • ‘Sure Vend’ technology to prevent payment without product delivery
  • Cloud-connected telemetry for machine monitoring

Operational Benefits

  • Reliable refreshment provision across multiple campus buildings
  • Optimised product availability through remote monitoring
  • Data-driven product ranging tailored to the location
  • Reduced machine downtime through automated alerts
  • Transparent sales data available for the client

Staff Outcomes and Feedback

“The machines look great, the different payment methods are ideal, and the sales are looking good.”

Angela Gilbert
Facilities & Health and Safety Manager
Bolton College

Key Benefits

Leading Edge Machines

Attractive Presentation

Increased Sales

Self Funding

Remote Stock Control

Considering vending or coffee solutions for your college campus?

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