Hungry for success: Local entrepreneur Kelton Battle is changing the vending machine game in North Carolina

By Stephanie Meador, posted Aug 20, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

Hungry Snacks Vending LLC is owned and operated by Kelton Battle, a young entrepreneur born and raised in Fayetteville. With 140 vending machines across the state, Battle is excited to continue expanding his business and to eventually manufacture and sell his own Hungry Snacks products. Photo provided by Kelton Battle.

Hungry Snacks Vending LLC, created by Fayetteville native Kelton Battle, has quickly become one of the fastest-growing vending machine companies in the state.

Battle shared that his parents were both entrepreneurs, so he’d been inspired from a young age to own his own business. In January of 2024, Battle bought his first two vending machines.

What began as a modest investment soon blossomed into a thriving enterprise, especially after Battle secured his first government contract with the city of Fayetteville.

“I bid on my first government contract and won it for the city of Fayetteville, and that was for 67 machines. So then I had a total of 69 [machines] and from there, the company really started to pick up,” explained Battle.

Recently, he won another contract with the city of Greensboro, adding another large sum of machines.

Today, Hungry Snacks Vending operates 140 machines across North Carolina, with locations ranging from schools to public transit stations. These government contracts have played a pivotal role, providing guaranteed placement for machines and fueling rapid expansion.

Battle also received mentorship through the Tulsa Leadership and Entrepreneurship Academy, a local organization committed to empowering young men by providing them with knowledge and opportunities in entrepreneurship, mentorship and education.

“It was great. I got a lot of great input and experience [and] knowledge from other people coming in and then me having a mentor on my side, giving me knowledge and game, and he helped me a lot, and especially Qu’Derrick. The connections he put me with, it really put me in the spotlight, to where I feel like it got Hungry Snacks out there,” shared Battle.

The company’s innovative approach includes acquiring and refurbishing used machines, often purchasing broken units and having them repaired by a trusted technician, making the business both cost-effective and scalable. Each machine is equipped with card readers that provide real-time sales and inventory data which Battle can track on his phone, allowing the team to efficiently manage refills and product selection.

Product selection is driven by experimentation and customer feedback. Rather than filling machines to capacity, Battle prefers to start with a small variety and adjust based on sales trends. This approach minimizes waste and ensures that each location is stocked with snacks that customers want.

Currently, Hungry Snacks Vending offers over 120 different items. Battle shared that he tries to shop weekly to make sure the products he’s stocking the machines with are fresh. He is also exploring the possibility of manufacturing their own branded chips, with ambitions to distribute them beyond vending machines and into major retailers.

“We have so many machines now statewide, to where I want to now start making our own chips. So right now I’m looking at different warehouses and everything to where we can start making our own chips in house here in Fayetteville, North Carolina…we want to be able to sell our own chips in our own machines, but not just in our own machines. In the long run, we want to be able to sell it in different distributions and different stores, like Walmart, Food Lion, Costco, places like that,” explained Battle.

Battle shared that he’s already been working with some collaborators to experiment with the recipe for the chips and different flavors they’ll be able to offer.

“I want to be able to sell Hungry Snacks Classic, Hungry Snacks Barbecue. I want to make popcorn, our own popcorn. I want gluten free items too…I want to be able to do different things,” added Battle.

The Hungry Snacks team is small but effective. Battle has two team members helping with regular operations and social media management. He also has a subcontracted technician overseeing machine repairs.

As a born and raised Fayetteville resident, Battle is passionate about his business and his community. “I love my city. I love that it’s growing. They’re expanding,” remarked Battle.

Hungry Snacks regularly donates to food banks and churches and is involved in back-to-school initiatives. Battle also shared that they try to keep their snacks affordable for consumers.

Hungry Snacks Vending machines can be found in a number of public locations such as the Greensboro bus station and recreation centers throughout the city of Fayetteville. They also have machines in local schools and private businesses.

Looking ahead, Battle envisions Hungry Snacks Vending as not just a business, but a movement.

“Hungry Snacks will be one of the biggest companies coming up soon. I do want to take over the state of North Carolina. I do want to have one of the biggest companies in the state,” stated Battle.

With a blend of entrepreneurial grit, innovative thinking and community focus, Hungry Snacks Vending is set for continued success.

To learn more about the business, check out their social media. Find them by searching “Hungry Snacks Vending” on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Copyright © 2025 Enhanced Media Management Inc. dba Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
This story may be displayed, reformatted and printed for your personal, noncommercial use only and in accordance with our Terms of Service located at https://bizfayetteville.com/useragreement.