Summer 2026 - Message from Your CAMA President

As we move into the second half of the year, I am glad to see the continued momentum within our industry and within CAMA. Our industry is changing, with new technology, and new opportunities for operators and suppliers. At the same time, some things have not changed, and building relationships and staying connected with each other remains just as important as ever.

Our 2026 CAMA Show was a great example of this. With over 5000 attendees across the Unattended Retail, Convenience and Car Wash sectors, the show has grown so much in the last few years. It gives you the opportunity to see the latest products and technology in person, while connecting with operators and suppliers; from across Canada and internationally. We are already looking ahead to next year, and to making it an even bigger success. For me, that is one of the largest benefits of CAMA events: putting people in the same room and giving them a chance to connect.

Our 2026 CAMA Golf Tournament was another successful event, with over 60 golfers joining us for a great day of golf, networking and catching up with industry colleagues. Thank you to everyone who participated and to our sponsors, for helping the tournament grow every year.

This year we also expanded our Network Night program with the first-ever CAMA Network Night Calgary. CAMA Director Nick McLaren reported a great local turnout, and I am pleased to see operators and suppliers come together and support a new CAMA event in Western Canada. The response was very positive, and we hope to bring more CAMA events to the West and to different parts of the country.

Looking ahead, Network Nights in Toronto and Montreal return in October this year. These events are intentionally informal - they are simply an opportunity to get together, meet other people in the industry and build relationships. I encourage everyone to make the effort to attend when an event is taking place in your area. You never know where a conversation with a new contact may lead.

It is also encouraging to see CAMA membership expanding, with new operators and suppliers joining the association. As our industry expands beyond traditional vending into micro markets, smart coolers, coffee services and new technology, it is important that CAMA continues to represent all of these areas. A growing and diverse membership makes our association stronger and gives us more opportunities to learn from one another.

And while we are still enjoying the summer, it is already time to save the date for the 2027 CAMA Show in March. Our partnership with the Convenience U CARWACS Show will be celebrating its 5th year, at the Toronto Congress Centre, March 10-11, 2027. Start planning early and register now to get ahead of the rush on hotels and flights. Don’t forget that CAMA Members get discounts on travel via Perkopolis.

The Annual General Meeting will be held virtually on September 16, and this is your chance to ask questions and talk about the future of CAMA. I would like to thank our Board of Directors, CAMA staff, volunteers, sponsors and, most importantly, our members for your continued support. CAMA is your association, and its success depends on the participation and involvement of the people who make up our industry. 

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the summer, and I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events.

Jim Jackson
President
Canadian Automatic Merchandising Association