GYMS & FITNESS CENTRES

Vending machines for gyms, chosen for how your members actually train.

Members arrive wanting a coffee, leave wanting a shake, and train at hours when nobody is behind the desk. The right two or three machines cover all of that without a shake bar, a café or extra staff. We recommend the mix that fits your gym, install it at zero upfront cost, run it for you, and pay you an agreed share of every sale each month.

What gym members want to buy on site

Gyms are busy places. The LeisureDB State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025 counts 11.3 million gym members across 7,202 UK gyms. Most of those members buy something to eat or drink around their session. The question is whether they buy it from you.

  • Before the session. A coffee or pre-workout drink for members coming straight from work or arriving for a 6am class.
  • Straight after. A protein shake or recovery drink in the first few minutes after training, which is the moment most members otherwise buy one on the way home.
  • On the way out. A cold drink, a high-protein snack or something for dinner when the session finished late.
  • In the hours nobody is on the desk. Many gyms now open early, close late or run 24 hours with few or no staff on the floor. A machine is the only way to sell anything in those hours.

The machines we usually suggest for gyms

We recommend the right machines for your venue, not every machine we have. For most gyms that means one to three of these.

1. Protein shake machine

The core machine for almost any gym. It mixes fresh protein shakes, pre-workout and recovery drinks on demand from six canisters, holds about 350 cups per refill and needs under 1 m² of floor. See the protein vending machine.

2. AI smart fridge

For gyms where members also want chilled drinks, snacks or a proper meal. A 1130 L dual-door fridge with camera checkout in 3 to 5 seconds, restocked on sales forecasts so popular lines rarely run out. See the AI smart fridge.

3. Robot barista

For larger clubs with a reception or lounge where members wait, meet or work. A robotic arm makes barista-style coffee with printed latte art, with no barista to staff. See the robot barista.

Also worth a look

If your gym has padel or tennis courts, add padel and tennis vending with racket lockers. For a style-conscious membership, a sneaker cleaning machine gives members a reason to linger.

Our recommendation by type of gym

A starting point, not a rule. We confirm it at a free site survey once we've seen your floor plan and your busy hours.

24-hour and low-cost gyms

Protein shake machine first, because it sells in exactly the unstaffed hours when nothing else can. Add a smart fridge if members ask for cold drinks and snacks you can't currently offer.

Independent and boutique gyms

A protein shake machine near the exit is usually enough on its own, and it gives a small gym an amenity the big chains don't always have. A robot barista suits studios with a reception lounge.

Strength, CrossFit and performance gyms

Protein shake machine, with the range curated to a nutritional standard you set, such as high-protein and low-sugar. Members here care what's in the cup.

Large health clubs

The full set: protein machine near the changing rooms, a smart fridge for drinks and food, and a robot barista in the lounge. Between them they cover the visit from arrival to leaving.

Hotel and corporate gyms

A protein shake machine for residents and staff who train early or late. In an office, the robot barista or smart fridge often belongs in the building's breakout space instead.

Gyms on military sites

Fresh shakes where personnel train, with no site commission and preferential pricing for service personnel instead. See how it works on military sites.

Where to put machines in a gym

Placement matters more than the machine. A good spot sells; a corner nobody walks past doesn't. These are the things we look at on the survey.

  • On the route out, not on the gym floor. The protein machine works best between the changing rooms and the exit, where members pass once they've finished. Keep it away from weights and free-standing kit.
  • Coffee where people wait. A robot barista needs to be seen, so a reception, lounge or seating area works better than a corridor.
  • Food near the door. A smart fridge does well at reception or by the exit, where members grab something on their way home.
  • Space and power. The protein machine needs under 1 m² and a socket (up to 1800W). The smart fridge needs about 1.4 m × 0.8 m. The robot barista draws 2200W, so we check the supply at the spot you have in mind.
  • Water. The protein machine and robot barista can be mains-plumbed or tank-fed. We recommend the right option for your building.
  • Access. The machines weigh between 132 kg and 180 kg, so we check the route from the entrance, including any steps or lifts, before delivery.

Already have a shake bar or café?

A machine doesn't have to replace it. Many gyms only staff a bar at peak times, which leaves early mornings, late evenings and weekends with nothing on offer. A machine can cover those hours while your team runs the bar when it's busy. If a machine would simply take sales from a bar that already works well, we'll tell you so at the survey rather than install one that doesn't suit you.

How it works for your gym

  1. Tell us about your gym.Membership size, opening hours, peak times, any staffed hours, and where members pass on the way in and out.
  2. We recommend the machines.One, two or three, with a range chosen with you and product pricing agreed before anything goes live.
  3. We install at no cost.Delivery, installation, branding and payment systems are all on us. Machines are cashless only: members pay by card, contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
  4. We keep them clean, stocked and working.Machines are monitored remotely, so we restock and fix problems before members notice.
  5. You're paid every month.An agreed share of sales, with a clear statement showing every transaction. More on how it works.

The terms for gyms, in plain English

  • Zero upfront cost. No charge for the machines, installation, stock or servicing.
  • Prices agreed with you. We agree product pricing with you before the machines go live.
  • Revenue share, paid monthly. An agreed share of sales, set out before installation, with a statement showing every transaction.
  • Six-month minimum, then rolling monthly. If it isn't working for you after that, you're free to end it.
  • Insurance and compliance handled. Insurance, food business registration and certification are all covered by Nexus Vend.
  • Rolling out from the South of England. We're expanding nationally in phases. If your gym is elsewhere, register your interest anyway.

Questions from gym owners and managers

Is a vending machine for a gym really free?

Yes. We supply, install, stock, clean and maintain the machines at our own cost. You provide the space and power, and we pay you an agreed share of sales every month.

Which vending machine is best for a gym?

For most gyms, a protein shake machine near the exit. Larger clubs often add an AI smart fridge for drinks and food, and a robot barista where members wait or meet. We recommend the mix at a free site survey.

Can the machines sell when the gym is unstaffed?

Yes. They're fully self-service and cashless, so they sell at any hour the gym is open, including overnight in a 24-hour gym.

Will it compete with our shake bar or café?

It can cover the hours your bar isn't staffed. If a machine would only take sales from a bar that already works well, we'll say so rather than install one.

Can we choose what it sells?

Yes. We choose the range with you, can curate it to a nutritional standard you set, and use sales data to swap slow lines for ones that sell better.

How much space do we need?

The protein shake machine needs under 1 m² and a power socket. The AI smart fridge needs about 1.4 m × 0.8 m. We confirm space, power, water and access at the survey.

How do members pay?

By card, contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay. All our machines are cashless only.

How long is the contract?

Six months minimum, then it rolls month to month.

Further reading for gym managers

Source: LeisureDB State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025, as reported by Health Club Management.

Find out which machines would earn their place in your gym.

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