A multi-year partnership between 365 Retail Markets and ColdSnap will bring on-demand frozen treats to micro markets across the country, opening a high-margin food and beverage category that has historically been inaccessible to unattended retail operators.

How the Tech Works

ColdSnap's patented system freezes shelf-stable, room-temperature pods into ice cream, smoothies, frozen lattes, and protein shakes in approximately two minutes at the point of purchase. Because the product never contacts the machine itself, the system requires no cleaning, no plumbing, and no cold-chain storage. That infrastructure-light footprint is precisely what makes it viable for locations—hospitals, corporate campuses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and college campuses—where conventional frozen equipment has never been practical.

"For years, locations without freezers or cold-chain logistics simply couldn't offer high-quality frozen treats," said Matthew Fonte, Founder and CEO of ColdSnap. "This partnership puts ColdSnap into thousands of new micro markets, giving operators a high-margin category they've never had access to before."

Operator Implications

For operators on the 365 network, the deal addresses a persistent tension in unattended retail: how to expand the menu and revenue per location without adding operational complexity. Because ColdSnap pods ship and store at room temperature, operators avoid the capital costs and logistics headaches tied to cold-chain distribution—a meaningful barrier that has long kept frozen desserts and beverages off micro market menus.

Jeff Dumbrell, Chief Revenue Officer at 365 Retail Markets, framed the value proposition around simplicity and scale: operators gain access to a high-demand category without added complexity, and 365's existing infrastructure allows rapid deployment across thousands of sites.

The rollout timing aligns with 365 Retail Markets' expanded footprint following its acquisition of Cantaloupe, Inc. in May 2026. That deal combined Cantaloupe's payments, telemetry, and device network with 365's micro market and smart store platform, giving the company reach across nearly 40,000 operators nationwide. Adding a frozen treat category to that installed base represents a meaningful upsell opportunity at a moment when the operator network is at its largest.

What's Next

ColdSnap machines are slated to begin rolling out through the 365 network over the course of the agreement, though specific deployment milestones were not disclosed. For foodservice and hospitality operators evaluating unattended retail as a revenue channel, the partnership signals that the category is maturing beyond snacks and packaged beverages into freshly prepared formats—a trend worth watching as micro market technology continues to evolve in workplace and institutional settings.

For ongoing coverage of food and beverage innovation in self-service and unattended retail, Food & Beverage Magazine tracks emerging platforms across the foodservice supply chain.

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.