The Best Frozen Beverage Machine for Small Spaces

An investment in frozen drinks today can pay valuable dividends tomorrow. A popular product already, new innovations and fresh flavors continue to drive strong sales and a growing industry. Suitable for sale in venues as large as a sports stadium, these machines can also find a home in small convenience stores and tiny snack bars. When space comes at a premium, you may be unable to consider the largest frozen beverage machine options.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.

At FBD, our product line includes a variety of solutions designed with small space operations in mind. As you engage with our product portfolio, you’ll see several options that might suit your needs. To simplify the process of choosing a machine for a smaller venue, read on for a look at the factors to consider and the machines we offer.

Factors for Choosing Machines for Small Spaces

With many products to choose from, it’s important to understand how to evaluate and select a machine that will fit in your space. Size may be one of the most important considerations, but it’s not the only element you should explore. When exploring solutions for small spaces, look for units that meet your needs in the following areas:

• The appropriate footprint for your space.
  Consider how much space a unit takes up in both depth and width. Don’t forget to consider the minimum space required for ventilation. Look for a unit that delivers the appropriate functionality without taking up more space than necessary.
  
  
• Accessible controls and hardware.
  Troubleshooting can be a challenge with certain machines installed in tight spaces. Look for units with front panels you can access easily to check computer readouts, change settings, and more.
  
  
• Easy cleaning.
  A unit that requires daily or weekly disassembly for deep cleaning can be tough to maintain in a space-restricted environment. However, solutions such as the FBD 37X series, don’t require disassembly for daily cleaning; instead, you only need a certified technician to do so once a year.
  
  
• The right capacity and serving volume.
  Depending on your anticipated sales, you’ll need a machine that can serve thirsty crowds reliably, even inside your small space. Carefully evaluate barrel capacities and other specifications as you explore the marketplace.
  
  

Using these factors to evaluate a small frozen drink machine will help you make a smarter investment.

Zeroing in On the Right Model: Further Considerations

As you develop an understanding of your needs, you’ll need to apply that understanding to select the right unit. FBD’s 37X series offers the smallest footprint in the industry, but sometimes, other factors may dictate a different choice. The 77X series, while slightly larger in its base configuration, still offers a reliably small size.

To hone in on where you should focus your investment, evaluate the following elements:

• The amount of traffic your location receives and your expected sales volume.
  These considerations help you determine how to choose a machine that has the appropriate capacity you require. A unit that needs to be ready to pour for customers many times throughout the day has a higher capacity than those best suited for low-volume businesses.
  
  
• Space constraints.
  Measure your area carefully and compare your ideal placement locations with the dimensions specified for every FBD product.
  
  
• Consider the specific machine features you need, such as inline carbonation, auto defrost, or multi-flavor capability.
  
  

Using these factors, you can create a clear idea of your ideal unit needs—and we can help you customize one.

The FBD Machines Best Suited to Small Spaces

Our customer support team can help you identify the specific model most suitable for your business space. However, we’d also like to highlight two solutions that work best in most small space applications. These include the entire 37x series line alongside all our multi-flavor units.

The 37X series works best in locations with steady foot traffic but some space limitations. This unit most capably suits the serving needs of smaller convenience stores, restaurants, and snack bar areas where customers don’t expect oversized portions. Offer two flavors in a standard configuration in just under 16 inches wide. An area of 20 inches in width can host a three-flavor machine. Each unit uses our proprietary closed and sealed system for safety and quality while offering simple self-serve capabilities.

You could also choose a multi-flavor unit. These machines use “flavor shots” to change the taste of a base flavor. In the same 16 inches of space, you could offer 17 different flavor combinations based on one static flavor and one customizable flavor. When space is short, multi-flavor units maximize the value of your investment by letting you offer more products from the same footprint.

Explore Your Options in Depth

Even in a small space, you can still offer frozen drinks and enjoy a highly profitable revenue stream that is easy to maintain. With solutions including the 37x series and FBD multi-flavor machines featuring the smallest footprint in the industry, there’s a clear path to offering customers what they want.

Let us help you explore the full range of frozen beverage machine configurations to help you find the right setup for your space today.