Rescuing Japan's Beverage Vending Machines from Falling Below 2 Million Units with Excitement and Anticipation: Launch of 'Gachaemon C (Collaboration)' – the Industry's First Vending Machine with Prize Rewards

SDRS Corporation (headquartered in Sumida-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masuya Mori) has developed 'Gachaemon C (Collaboration),' the industry's first vending machine that combines a beverage vending function with a prize-winning mechanism. This is a new addition to the 'Gachaemon' series, capable of dispensing variously shaped products at random.

When a consumer purchases their favorite drink, a digital roulette inside the machine starts spinning. If the numbers align and the customer wins, they can immediately turn a dedicated handle to dispense a mystery prize—an innovative feature that adds excitement to the vending experience.

The machine also supports prizes of various sizes.

By integrating prize distribution with entertainment value, this industry-first experiential vending machine aims to re-engage consumers and motivate them to purchase beverages from vending machines.

Development Background

According to data from the Beverage Research Institute, the number of beverage vending machines in Japan has been steadily declining since 2014, when there were 2.47 million units. By 2025, the number is projected to fall below 2 million, with no signs of this downward trend reversing. Rising prices, labor shortages for restocking, and increasing labor costs have led to significant changes in consumer behavior regarding vending machine purchases.

With over 60 years of history in vending machine manufacturing, our company has long supported daily life alongside Japan's urban landscapes. We have felt a strong sense of crisis over the decline of this vital infrastructure. Driven by the desire to 'reignite motivation for purchasing drinks from vending machines,' we developed this new machine by fusing everyday utility with the 'excitement and anticipation' (experiential value) of capsule toys—a rapidly growing market.

Three Key Features of 'Gachaemon C'

- Experience-Based Reward Triggered by Beverage Purchase

When a customer buys a drink, a digital lottery begins instantly. If they win, they turn a dedicated handle to claim their prize—an industry-first feature that transforms routine purchases into 'exciting, heart-pounding experiences.'

- Dedicated Handle: Delivering Fun Beyond the Product

The specially designed handle delivers tactile feedback and a satisfying 'click-click' sound, creating a sense of exhilaration that only comes from turning it by hand. This provides a multi-sensory experience centered on the joy of 'winning it yourself,' going beyond simply receiving a product.

- High Flexibility for Dispensing Various-Sized Items

Free from the constraints of traditional capsule toy dimensions, the machine can store and dispense a wide range of item sizes—such as box-shaped novelties, original promotional goods from beverage manufacturers, and various samples—directly as prizes.

By introducing this machine, businesses can create a completely new type of sales space that integrates customer attraction, entertainment, retail, and promotion.

SDRS Corporation will continue to actively address various challenges as a company that connects people, products, and the environment, providing new technologies and services to realize convenient and enriched lifestyles.

*1 As of May 2026, based on internal research.

*2 Winning probability can be set between 100% and 0.1%.

*3 Maximum approximate dimensions: thickness 110mm, depth 170mm, width 190mm. Actual capacity may vary depending on shape and material.