Vending moves in-house 26/05/2026 This week, we bring the University’s Vending Service in-house for the first time, in several decades, from the previous contractor — creating a service that is more sustainable, more responsive and far better connected to the wider University experience and community. Our new machines are not simply replacements. They are part of a wider transformation of how we intend to support campus life so is the beginning of a new journey. Each machine will eventually be individually wrapped in a design to reflect its location and surroundings, taking visual inspiration from the spaces and communities they serve, by our talented in-house designers. The more eager eyed will notice that every machine is named after a different tree species. That is intentional. As part of this project, the service will help support tree planting initiatives across campus, by our colleagues in Grounds — connecting everyday food and drink purchases with the continued enhancement of our green spaces and biodiversity. The machines themselves are highly energy efficient, significantly reducing power consumption compared with traditional vending equipment – we have carefully selected equipment, for example the outdoor machines, are designed for outdoor use, dispensing the need for unsightly cages and weatherproofing, custom painted in Olive Green. The indoor machines use touchscreens rather than glass, so more products can be fitted inside and are rated as chilled machines suitable for sandwiches etc. Sustainability has been central to the project from the beginning, not just in terms of energy use, but also in how we manage stock, reduce waste and improve product availability, integrating into our Digital Dining platform. This means machines can be monitored live for stock levels and performance, allowing our teams to respond more quickly and ensure products remain available when and where they are needed. It also creates exciting opportunities for the future, including smarter ranging, fresh and chilled products available 24/7 and improved customer insight. Eventually, we hope to integrate into our Meal Plan and forthcoming Campus Cash payment systems. Initially, the product range will closely mirror the existing offer to ensure continuity for customers. However, this is only the starting point. Over time, the range will evolve significantly, including an expanded fresh food offer alongside new products shaped by customer feedback, buying patterns and campus needs. We are delivering this project through a strategic partnership approach. Working closely with our colleagues in University Estates, we have rethinked where vending should sit within the campus environment and how it can better support student and staff life. Placement, accessibility, aesthetics and operational efficiency have all been carefully considered as part of the rollout. Most importantly, this is a service designed to evolve with the University community and as with all other services, our ‘shareholders’ are our community, and any profit is ploughed back into what we and the University do. Suggestions for future locations, research, products and improvements are very welcome, and we look forward to continuing to shape the service together over the months ahead. The machine locations are; Campuses Library – Main Lobby SportsPark – Entrance London Road – Student Common Room L14 Edith Morley/Whiteknights House (external, opposite Security) Food Sciences/Health and Life Sciences (external) Agricultural/Meteorology (external, underpass) SportsPark 3G Pitches (external, near Pavilion) Greenlands (opposite Bar) Halls Benyon (external, Common Room) St. Patricks (external, New Court Undercroft) Stenton (external, Energy Centre in Quad) Windsor (external, opposite Reception) MacKinder (external, near Windsor) Wessex (main lobby) Wantage (external, New Court Stairwell) Bridges (external, Reception Building) St Georges (external, Substation Building near Elmhurst Road gate) Palmer (external, Main Entrance) Chancellors Way (external, Bus Stop)