A significant shift in self-service retail is taking place in Panama, spearheaded by Aldo Tejada and his company, Feel Good Market. The company’s micro markets are redefining the shopping experience by combining convenience and cutting-edge technology in unattended retail environments.
Aldo’s journey is one marked by both adversity and success, making it a compelling story of innovation and the power of entrepreneurship.
A pioneering spirit in Panama’s vending landscape
Aldo Tejada, general manager of Feel Good Market, was the first to introduce the micro market concept in Panama. His markets offer a variety of products in an open layout where customers can pick up items, scan, and pay without human interaction. This model was unfamiliar in Latin America, where concerns about security and theft typically prevent such trust-based systems.
Aldo wasn’t sure about micro markets at first, but he soon realized how convenient and efficient they were. His approach is innovative and straightforward: trust in the customer and provide a superior shopping experience. His philosophy has now led to the successful installation of 30 markets within multinational companies and corporate offices in Panama. Aldo explains, “People are embracing the system. People are embracing the fact that they like the convenience of unattended [retail] and [paying] cashless.”
Adapting to customer needs
A key factor in Aldo’s success is his company’s steadfast commitment to client interaction. Every market is carefully designed to fit the special needs of the area where it’s located. The people who use it every day have a big say in how their market is set up.
This way of doing things guarantees that each small market is more than just a place to buy things. It’s a special shopping experience that fits perfectly into people’s lives. Aldo underscores the importance of customer engagement, noting, “Just listen to your customer. Sit with them. Be straight and as honest as you can, then try to create that relationship.”
Overcoming challenges with innovative solutions
Feel Good Market began its relationship with Cantaloupe in 2021 (originally as a customer of Three Square Market), as its provider of necessary self-service technology and management software. Aldo recognized the limitations of traditional vending machines in Panama — which predominantly accept only coins and bills — and seized the opportunity to offer a more modern solution. By introducing cashless payment acceptance and offering fresh food along with traditional snack and beverage options, Feel Good Market has transformed the way employees access meals and snacks during the workday. When asked about evolving his business to keep up with customer and market demands, Aldo shared, “I’m always looking for new stuff to do. And I think the system that Cantaloupe has covers everything that we need to do.”
The road to success wasn’t without its hurdles. One of the major challenges Aldo faced was the general disbelief in the viability of a market model without surveillance. Many micro markets in the U.S. are monitored by cameras to deter theft, but Aldo’s markets operate on a different principle. Instead of surveillance, he relies on regular inventory audits and transparent communication with clients to manage shrinkage.
The strategy has proven effective and helped maintain a low level of loss. Aldo shares, “Every time that I talk to an operator and tell them my experience about not having cameras on our markets, they say ‘You’re crazy’…but what we do is we take inventory very seriously.”
Micro market expansion
Feel Good Market’s plans for the next year? More markets! The company has gotten to the point where it can easily replicate the market experience in new locations. Now, Aldo is looking to expand beyond corporate walls. Aldo is optimistic, stating, “We are definitely planning to go into residential buildings and hotels — this would be another good idea.” This reflects a growing recognition of the potential of micro markets to transform any space into a convenient shopping venue.
Feel Good Market’s story illustrates how innovative thinking and customer-centric strategies can lead to success. More businesses and consumers are embracing the convenience of micro markets every day. And in Panama and beyond, operators like Feel Good Market are redefining what’s possible in the world of self-service retail.
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