Refreshment focuses on the water dispenser/cooler, office coffee service and vending sectors, while also taking an in-depth look into products for vending from bottled water and drinks, to snacks and confectionery. It also focuses on hydration, health and wellness, new technologies and environmental and social responsibility issues.
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As 2025 comes to a close, the most-read stories on Refreshment highlight the year’s biggest moves in coffee, vending, workplace hydration and food sectors. From innovative self-serve coffee systems and major acquisitions to sustainability milestones and new beverage facilities, these headlines showcase the trends, investments and leadership changes that shaped the industry. Here’s a look back at the news that defined the year.
Coffee Nation founder Scott Martin launches Unity Coffee in UK
Scott Martin, the entrepreneur behind Coffee Nation and Costa Express, returned to the UK coffee market with Unity Coffee, a self-serve coffee system built on a mobile-first FinTech platform.
Unity Coffee combines coffee, automation and app-based ordering to offer barista-style drinks at fairer prices. Martin said the coffee-to-go market has “let customers down for years” and added that Unity Coffee will deliver “exceptional coffee through smart technology, dynamic loyalty and instant rewards.”
The system offers speciality blends created by a Master Roaster and allows seamless ordering and payment through the Unity Coffee app. It integrates Swiss-engineered automation with digital media to provide consistent espresso, specialty coffee, matcha and hot chocolate, including dairy and plant-based options. The app also enables real-time promotions, personalised content and flexible pricing.
Quench rebrands to strengthen workplace water solutions
Quench has officially rebranded as Culligan Quench, reflecting its integration into the Culligan family over the past five years. This change aims to streamline its identity and offerings in the competitive workplace water solutions market.
According to the company, the rebranding is part of Culligan Quench's commitment to providing tailored solutions for businesses, including bottleless watercoolers, sparkling water dispensers, ice machines and coffee solutions.
The company says that it will continue to cater to the diverse needs of various workplaces, from small offices to large corporations.
Five Star expands reach with Wilmore Snack Sales acquisition
Five Star Breaktime Solutions has acquired the Canteen Vending Services franchise of Wilmore Snack Sales, expanding its reach into northern Louisiana and eastern Texas.
The company operated as a franchise under Canteen while remaining independently managed by owner Jimmy Wilmore. Under his leadership, Wilmore grew to operate more than 100 micro markets and 2,000 vending machines.
The acquisition will bring Five Star’s services to new locations, including Monroe, Ruston, Shreveport, and Natchitoches in Louisiana, as well as Longview, Nacogdoches and Marshall in Texas.
Prosus to acquire Just Eat in €4.3bn deal
Prosus, a global investment group, has reached a conditional agreement to acquire Just Eat Takeaway in an all-cash deal valued at €4.3 billion.
This move is set to establish the world's fourth largest food delivery group. Prosus is offering €20.30 per share for Just Eat Takeaway, which is 49% higher than its average trading price over the past three months as of 21 February 2025.
The acquisition is intended to enhance Just Eat’s market position in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Prosus plans to integrate AI-driven efficiencies to improve logistics and customer service.
CEE appoints former Starbucks VP Jeff Juneau as MD Americas
CEE, a Belgian cleantech company, is expanding its presence across the Americas with the goal of advancing net-zero manufacturing.
The company is partnering with US and Canadian industrial producers and manufacturers to develop scalable, fossil-free solutions aimed at accelerating the transition to sustainable, energy-efficient production in key industrial sectors.
As part of this expansion, CEE has appointed Jeff Juneau as managing director of Americas. Juneau, who has over 25 years of experience in the food, beverage and coffee industries, will lead the company’s efforts in the region.
He brings expertise in global engineering and construction initiatives and has previously served as VP of global engineering and supply chain at Starbucks from 2016-2024, where he contributed to the company’s worldwide expansion and innovation.
HelloFresh to invest $70m in AI-driven menu expansion
HelloFresh is investing $70 million in a major overhaul of its meal kit offerings, aiming to harness AI to drive customer retention and boost in-home dining, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The Berlin-based meal kit company will use the funds to more than double its weekly recipe selection in the US, its largest market, expanding from 45 meals to over 100.
The investment will also enhance the variety of premium ingredients such as grass-fed rib-eye steaks, triple the seafood options (at no extra cost) and increase portion sizes, responding directly to consumer demand for more variety and value amid rising food prices.
HelloFresh's group president, Assaf Ronen, told Bloomberg the move is designed to strengthen brand loyalty and attract customers who are dining out less due to inflation. “$70 million is a very large check,” Ronen said. “The more we invest in customers, the more they stay with us.”
Poppi faces backlash over influencer vending machine stunt
Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, is facing criticism following its recent marketing campaign involving branded vending machines gifted to influencers.
The stunt, which included sending full-sized machines stocked with their sodas to influencers in the lead-up to Super Bowl LIX, has sparked a backlash on social media, with fans questioning why such costly gesture was reserved for wealthy influencers instead of their broader customer base.
Many argue that Poppi’s decision to target affluent influencers with the vending machines was "out of touch" and missed the mark. "In this economy and political climate it’s sooooo out of touch … genuinely blown away on how this got approved," wrote another TikTok user.
Sodexo targets 50% food waste reduction by August 2025
In March, Sodexo UK & Ireland announced that it is on track to meet its food waste reduction goal of 50% by 2025, five years ahead of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.
This target is a key part of the company's sustainability strategy, contributing to its net zero roadmap for 2040.
The goal was initially set in 2017 as part of Sodexo's Better Tomorrow commitment. To reach it, the company has rolled out its WasteWatch programme across 530 sites in the UK and Ireland.
The programme captures food waste data, providing clear insights into the types and reasons for waste. This allows teams to implement operational and behavioural changes to eliminate avoidable food waste, whether it originates in the kitchen or is generated by consumers.
Nestlé opens $675m beverage facility in Glendale, Arizona
Nestlé USA has opened a new beverage factory and distribution centre in Glendale, Arizona, with an investment of $675 million.
The 630,000-square-foot facility will produce creamers for brands such as Coffee Mate, Natural Bliss and Starbucks, with potential to expand to other beverages in the future.
The new facility is part of Nestlé’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the US and meet the growing demand for coffee creamers, as more consumers incorporate them into their daily routines.
According to Nestlé, with more than 70% of coffee drinkers using creamers, the company is poised to capitalise on this trend. The facility is designed to be flexible, enabling Nestlé to adjust production based on evolving consumer preferences, seasonal shifts and emerging trends.
Selecta Group announces leadership transition amid strategic growth plans
In May, Selecta Group announced a significant change in its senior leadership.
Christian Schmitz stepped down as CEO, with Michael Rauch appointed as interim CEO. This transition came at a pivotal time for the company, which had recently completed a recapitalisation aimed at enhancing its growth trajectory.
Christian Schmitz led Selecta Group for five years, during which he oversaw a transformation that positioned the company as a key force in the competitive foodtech landscape.
In his statement, Schmitz expressed pride in the progress made and indicated that the current moment is ideal for new leadership to guide the company into its next phase. “With Selecta's recapitalisation agreed, I am confident that now is the ideal moment to entrust its next chapter of growth to new ownership,” he commented.
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