A multi-year agreement between 365 Retail Markets and ColdSnap will place on-demand frozen treat machines across thousands of micro market locations nationwide, opening a high-margin frozen category to unattended retail operators who previously lacked the cold-chain infrastructure to support it.
How the Machine Works
ColdSnap's patented system accepts shelf-stable, room-temperature pods and freezes each serving on demand in approximately two minutes. The menu spans ice cream, smoothies, frozen coffee drinks, and protein shakes. Because the product never contacts the machine's internal components, the unit requires no cleaning cycles, no plumbing connection, and no cold storage — a significant departure from the operational footprint of conventional soft-serve or frozen beverage equipment. For facilities managers and foodservice consultants specifying prep-and-storage solutions in environments like hospitals, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, or college campuses, that combination of attributes removes most of the traditional barriers to deploying frozen dessert service.
Channel and Operator Implications
365 Retail Markets supports nearly 40,000 operators nationwide following its May 2026 acquisition of Cantaloupe, Inc., which added payments, telemetry, and device-network capabilities to its micro market and smart store platform. Jeff Dumbrell, Chief Revenue Officer at 365 Retail Markets, framed the ColdSnap integration as a revenue-per-location play that avoids adding operational complexity — a key concern for unattended retail operators managing large site portfolios without on-site staff. Because ColdSnap pods ship and store at ambient temperature, operators can stock the category through standard distribution runs rather than maintaining a separate frozen supply chain, a cost advantage that dealers and route operators specifying ice-and-beverage equipment for break-room or campus environments will find relevant.
Matthew Fonte, Founder and CEO of ColdSnap, noted that the 365 network gives his company immediate access to thousands of locations that would have been impractical to reach individually. The rollout timeline extends across the length of the multi-year agreement, with machine placements beginning as the partnership moves forward.
Broader Market Context
The deal reflects growing operator interest in expanding foodservice variety within micro market footprints without the capital and compliance costs of traditional refrigerated equipment. Ghost kitchens, commissary operators, and large corporate campuses have all pushed demand for flexible, low-maintenance food and beverage equipment that can be deployed quickly and managed remotely. ColdSnap's no-clean, no-plumb model fits squarely within that trend, and its integration into 365's established technology and operator network positions it for rapid scale. For equipment specifiers and dealers, the practical takeaway is that the frozen treat category — long considered off-limits in environments without dedicated cold infrastructure — is now a viable addition to unattended retail layouts wherever a standard electrical connection is available.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
