Your first vending planogram: what to stock & where to put it
Which products deserve a spot? Which shelves work hardest? Start with the patterns in our machine data.
Jason YuuVend Insights5 min read + product reference
Single-door layouts only. Totals on the right show each layer's share of whole-machine sales. Tap to enlarge.
Getting ready to set up your first planogram—or improve the one you already have? We analyzed our machines' sales data over the past year and found insights into which products sell and how to organize them. The single-door heatmap uses a recent sales window to make the placement patterns easy to compare.
Here are three places to start: shelf position, best-selling products, and a category mix that fits your location.
01 / Read the shelf
The left side stands out.
More sales share sits toward the left on several shelves.
In this single-door view, darker bands often sit toward the left. It is a useful place to start a placement test.
Compare the layer totals. Layers 3 and 5 tie for the largest share at 17.0% each. Layer 2 reaches 15.9%, slightly ahead of layer 1 at 15.5%. The shares use whole-machine sales, so the totals can be compared across layers; unmapped sales sit outside the colored shelves.
Think about the reach. If layer 2 sits around a typical adult's arm height, it may be an easy place to grab a product. That is a practical reason to test it, although layer 2 is not the overall winner in this chart.
Think about the door. On machines whose doors open from left to right, the left side may be easier to notice or reach first. That could help explain the leftward pattern. Door direction and shopper movements were not verified in this analysis, so product mix and stock availability may also contribute.
Try this: swap comparable products between left and right positions. Keep price, capacity, and stock availability steady, then reverse the positions over a comparable selling window. Compare sales and gross profit per in-stock day before changing the whole machine.
02 / Protect the winners
Familiar favorites. A strong protein showing. Convenient meals.
Explore the leading recorded listings by units sold in each category. Open a category for every product, its observed sale price, and where to find reference bulk packs.
Reading the prices: Observed sale per item is historical sales subtotal divided by quantity, not a recommended price or a tax-inclusive quote. Supplier prices below are references retained from the source review, not live offers. Check current availability, exact SKU, pack size, shipping, and fees before ordering.
Top 10 drinks+
Protein drinks, zero-sugar soda, and energy drinks feature among the leaders.
Rank / product listingObserved sale / itemBulk sourcing reference
01
FairLife nutrition plan 340ml
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$4.65
Sam's Club ↗$21.28 / 12 bottlesApprox. $1.77 per packaged item
Sales name omits flavor. The purchase link is a chocolate reference pack; confirm the exact SKU. Promotional listing; regular displayed pack price $26.78. Reference sales listing: Fairlife Chocolate 30g 340ml. Verify UPC.
Public price not exposed. Supplier specifies refrigerated storage; verify the exact plate assortment.
09
Duchess Honey Buns
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$1.81
Sam's Club ↗$7.18 / 12 buns, 3 ozApprox. $0.60 per packaged item
Sales name omits size. Check shelf life and individual package format.
10
Kinder Bueno
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$2.40
Sam's Club ↗$23.97 / 30 packs, 1.5 ozApprox. $0.80 per packaged item
Reference listing; availability and pack size must be reconfirmed. Not a mini-bar comparison.
Top 10 convenience meals+
Ramen and packaged sandwiches lead this group. Check preparation facilities and storage requirements.
Rank / product listingObserved sale / itemBulk sourcing reference
01
Buldak - Carbonara
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$4.95
Sam's Club ↗$12.48 / 6 bowlsApprox. $2.08 per packaged item
The sales name does not specify bowl size. Image and purchase link show a representative 3.7 oz version; verify UPC before treating this as a margin comparison.
02
Uncrustables peanut butter & strawberry
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$2.11
Sam's Club ↗$13.87 / 18 sandwichesApprox. $0.77 per packaged item
Supplier image shows the bulk frozen product. The sales listing omits weight; verify exact size, UPC and manufacturer storage requirements.
Page title identifies Tonkotsu despite its legacy URL. Displayed promotion had expired; current quote required.
07
Lunchables Ham/Cheese
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$4.01
Sam's Club ↗$8.97 / 6 kits: 3 ham, 3 turkeyApprox. $1.50 per packaged item
Mixed pack, not six ham kits. Listing showed unavailable fulfillment. Reference price only; keep refrigerated as instructed.
08
Nissin Top Ramen Chicken
Image conflicts with listing name
Observed sale / itemNot comparable
Sam's Club ↗$6.98 / 24 packets, 3 ozApprox. $0.29 per packaged item
Catalog mismatch: the recorded name says Top Ramen but the linked template photo shows Cup Noodles. Sale-price comparison withheld. The supplier link is a packet reference, not a confirmed match. Reference packet format, not a prepared bowl. Listing showed unavailable fulfillment; verify your club.
09
Nissin Cup Noodles Chicken Flavor
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$1.48
Sam's Club ↗$10.98 / 24 cups, 2.25 ozApprox. $0.46 per packaged item
Supplier reference is 2.25 oz. Confirm size and follow the instructions printed on the actual cup.
10
Smucker’s Uncrustables
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$2.29
Sam's Club ↗$13.87 / 18 grape sandwichesApprox. $0.77 per packaged item
Grape reference pack. A generic Uncrustables sales name does not identify flavor or size. Follow manufacturer storage instructions.
7 medicine & convenience listings+
Only seven eligible listings were available. Package formats differ; these observations do not establish a category-wide trend.
Rank / product listingObserved sale / itemBulk sourcing reference
Pack format verified; public price was not exposed. Selling-price estimate withheld because the listing description and evidence do not support a dependable comparison. No dosage or medical advice.
02
Extra Strength Tylenol 500mg Caplets 6ct
Reference product image
Observed sale / item$5.84
PTL ONE ↗Check supplier price6-caplet travel pack; case quote required
Wholesale listing verified; case quantity and account price were not publicly available.
Pack format verified; public price was not exposed. Selling-price estimate withheld because the listing description and evidence do not support a dependable comparison. No dosage or medical advice.
Generic sales name: package identity is unverified. Pack format verified; public price was not exposed. Selling-price estimate withheld because the listing description and evidence do not support a dependable comparison. No dosage or medical advice.
Representative Severe version, not a verified match to the generic Cold and Flu sales listing. Listed as out of stock. Reference price only; confirm formulation and packaging.
The next decision is capacity. Give proven sellers enough stock to last until the next visit. A product that is repeatedly empty may need another facing before the machine needs another flavor.
Rankings use recorded product names. Similar names may be aliases or different packages, and longer availability can lift cumulative sales. Reference images may show a different package variant.
03 / Build for the location
Give each category a clear job.
Group products into recognizable zones: hydration, protein and energy, snacks, and convenience meals. Keep package fit and storage requirements in mind. The data does not establish a winning top-to-bottom shelf order.
Illustrative starting mixes by share of facings—not measured optimal allocations.
Location
Starting mix
Placement focus
Gym
40% hydration 25% protein drinks 15% energy drinks 15% snacks 5% tests
Make hydration easy to find. Group protein and energy separately, with portable snacks nearby.
Apartment
40% drinks 35% snacks 15% meals 10% tests
Anchor the layout with everyday drinks and sweet/savory snacks. Give meals a contained zone.
Office
45% drinks 40% snacks 10% meals 5% tests
Start with drink-and-snack breaks. Test breakfast or lunch options where preparation facilities support them.
Gym listings included Gatorade Zero and Alani Blue Slush; apartment listings included Dr Pepper, Smart Water, and Coke Zero. Those are candidates to test locally. An office-specific winning assortment was not established in this analysis.
Keep the test small. Translate the percentages into your available facings, keep clear category groups within the machine, and change one zone at a time. Expand only when repeat purchases justify it; review waste and refill effort alongside revenue.
