Press Resources

CHARLESTON, SC — April 6, 2026 — CandyMachines.com, a leading distributor and innovator in the amusement and vending industry, today announced the hiring of Matt Schwartz as Senior Sales Executive.

Matt brings a unique blend of real-world operating experience and technical expertise to the role. As an active operator in the amusement and vending space, he has built, maintained, and scaled machine routes firsthand — giving him a deep understanding of what drives profitability, reliability, and long-term success for customers.

In his new role, Matt will lead outside sales initiatives focused on arcade and amusement solutions, while also working closely with CandyMachines.com's top customers. His hands-on experience in machine setup, service, and optimization positions him as a trusted advisor to operators, entrepreneurs, and location partners alike.

"Matt understands this business from the ground up," said Andy Denton, CEO of CandyMachines.com. "He's not just selling equipment — he's lived it. That credibility matters when our customers are making investment decisions. We're building a team that can truly support operators in growing profitable businesses, and Matt is a strong step in that direction."

Matt's background also includes active engagement within the amusement and vending community, where many customers may already be familiar with his practical insights and operational expertise.

"I'm excited to join a company that is pushing the industry forward," said Matt Schwartz. "CandyMachines.com is building something much bigger than equipment sales — this is about helping operators win. I'm looking forward to working directly with customers and helping them succeed."

This hire reflects CandyMachines.com's continued investment in experienced, operator-minded talent as the company expands its presence in arcades, family entertainment centers, and premium location-based entertainment.

CHARLESTON, SC — March 24, 2026 — Family Fun & Games and its flagship brand CandyMachines.com returned this week from the 2026 Amusement Expo International (AEI) in Las Vegas, capping what has been one of the most prolific periods in the company's history. The show provided an opportunity to connect with industry partners and peers — and to share a wave of announcements that have been quietly building for months.

"We've had our heads down building," said Andy Denton, CEO of Family Fun & Games. "AEI gave us a chance to come up for air, reconnect with the people who make this industry great, and show everyone what we've been working on. The response was incredible. The best is genuinely yet to come."

Two Patents Filed

In 2026, Family Fun & Games filed two patents covering innovations developed through its CandyMachines and SmartClaw platforms. The first covers remote notifications from a prize locker — enabling real-time alerts tied to prize dispensing events on connected machines. The second covers the remote operation of a claw machine, formalizing the systems and methods that allow operators to control machine functions from any location via cloud-connected software. Both filings represent the formalization of technology the company has been building and deploying in the field for years.

SmartClaw Version 2 Launched

CandyMachines.com launched a major update to SmartClaw.app, the company's route management platform for claw machine operators. SmartClaw Version 2 introduces live Nayax API integration for real-time cashless revenue data, and — backed by the company's newly filed patent — cloud-based remote operational controls that allow operators to manage and adjust machines without a physical visit. SmartClaw is available for iOS and Android and is included with qualifying CandyMachines equipment purchases.

ClawMachines.com Goes Live

The company launched ClawMachines.com, a new digital destination serving the full spectrum of the claw machine market — from route operators and arcade owners to home buyers and entertainment venue developers. The site brings together the company's claw machine product line, operator resources, financing options, and SmartClaw technology in a single purpose-built platform.

Family Fun & Games Corporate Site Launched

The company also launched its corporate website at familyfun.games, establishing a unified home for its growing portfolio of brands, digital properties, and operator technologies. The site introduces the Family Fun & Games name publicly and articulates the company's broader mission to build the infrastructure for the fun economy in America.

New Service: Custom Premium Claw Room Arcades

CandyMachines.com announced the launch of a new service category: custom premium claw room arcades. The service is designed for entertainment venues, family entertainment centers, hotels, and retail destinations looking to create immersive, high-revenue claw machine experiences as a dedicated attraction. The company handles design, equipment selection and configuration, SmartClaw integration, and ongoing operator support — delivering a turnkey arcade room experience built around its proven machine lineup.

Executive Team Strengthened

Family Fun & Games has made two key executive hires in recent months to support the company's expanding operations. Larry Foster joined as Director of Sales and Channel Development, bringing extensive experience in commercial sales and distribution to lead the company's national growth strategy. The company also hired a new Controller to lead financial operations across the portfolio, overseeing accounting, reporting, and internal controls as the business scales.

"Every one of these announcements reflects years of work by a team that genuinely cares about this industry," Denton said. "We have been given incredible gifts — customer relationships built over three decades, a brand people trust, and a team that executes at a level that continues to surprise even me. We are just getting started."

Family Fun & Games and CandyMachines.com will be sharing additional product and platform announcements in the months ahead.

CHARLESTON, SC — March 12, 2026 — Family Fun & Games today announced the launch of its new corporate website, familyfun.games, marking a major step in the company's evolution as the operating company behind one of the fastest-growing portfolios in the amusement and vending industry.

Best known through its flagship brand CandyMachines.com, the company has served more than 200,000 customers nationwide and sells thousands of amusement machines each year to operators, family entertainment centers, businesses, and collectors across the United States.

The new website establishes Family Fun & Games as the corporate home for the "fun economy" — a growing ecosystem of amusement, vending, and interactive entertainment businesses powered by the company's expanding family of brands, services, and digital platforms.

"CandyMachines.com has grown far beyond a single ecommerce store," said Andy Denton, CEO of Family Fun & Games. "Over the years we've built a platform that supports entrepreneurs, route operators, and entertainment venues across the country. Launching the Family Fun & Games website reflects the scale of what we're building — a company dedicated to powering the fun economy."

Through its brands and online properties, Family Fun & Games provides equipment, services, and technology that enable entrepreneurs and operators to build profitable amusement businesses. The company's domestic supply chain and distribution network powers and scales hundreds of regional operator businesses every month, helping customers launch and grow routes built around claw machines, vending machines, and amusement games.

Family Fun & Games has also emerged as one of the industry's leading innovators focused on street route operators — independent entrepreneurs who place machines in retail locations, restaurants, arcades, and entertainment venues. Through equipment innovation, operator tools, and new digital platforms, the company continues to develop new systems designed to make amusement operations more accessible and profitable.

The new familyfun.games website serves as the corporate hub for the organization and will feature:

• The company's growing portfolio of brands and online properties
• Corporate career opportunities as the company continues to expand nationally
• Press releases and media coverage documenting company milestones
• A centralized view of the company's strategy to build the next-generation distribution platform for the fun economy

The launch also signals the company's continued transition toward a broader corporate structure in which CandyMachines.com operates as a flagship brand within the Family Fun & Games ecosystem.

"Family Fun & Games represents the bigger vision," Denton added. "We are building the infrastructure, brands, and technology that will support the next generation of amusement and vending operators across the country."

CHARLESTON, SC — February 4, 2026 — CandyMachines.com, a leading manufacturer and distributor of vending and amusement machines, today announced the appointment of Larry Foster as Director of Sales and Channel Development.

The newly created position reflects CandyMachines.com's strategic focus on building a stronger national sales infrastructure. Foster will be responsible for developing the company's channel partnerships and distribution network as it expands its market presence across the United States.

The appointment follows a period of significant growth for CandyMachines.com, which has expanded its product line to include claw machines, mini cranes, and arcade equipment alongside its core bulk vending offering. For more information, visit candymachines.com.

CHARLESTON, SC — January 22, 2026 — CandyMachines.com, the leading ecommerce destination for bulk vending equipment, supplies, and operator essentials, today announced it has surpassed 200,000 customers served — a milestone reflecting more than three decades of growth in the vending and amusement industry.

Since its founding, CandyMachines.com has grown into one of the most trusted names in bulk vending, serving individual route operators, distributors, retail chains, family entertainment centers, and hospitality businesses across the United States.

"Reaching 200,000 customers is a reflection of the trust operators have placed in us over thirty years," said the company. "This milestone pushes us to keep building better tools, better products, and better service for every operator we serve."

CandyMachines.com is part of the Family Fun & Games portfolio and can be accessed at candymachines.com.

CHARLESTON, SC — December 4, 2025 — CandyMachines.com, a leading vending and amusement equipment provider, today announced two staff promotions and two new hires as the company continues to grow its team and national footprint.

Promotions: Chris Birch has been elevated to Director of Operations. Katy Saunders has been named Chief of Staff of the Human Resources department.

New Hires: Marlee Luttrell has joined CandyMachines.com as Director of eCommerce. Tyler Gettinger has been brought on as Machine Support Specialist.

"These promotions reflect our belief in developing and empowering our internal talent," said Andy Denton, CEO of CandyMachines.com. "Both individuals have made tremendous contributions, and we're excited to see them step into these new leadership roles."

On the new additions, Denton added: "We're thrilled to welcome these talented professionals. Their expertise and passion will help propel our company forward as we continue to grow."

For more information, visit RePlay Magazine or candymachines.com.

CHARLESTON, SC — August 24, 2025 — CandyMachines.com, a leading vending and amusement machine provider, has announced a partnership with Cantaloupe to integrate the company's cashless payment and management solutions — furthering its commitment to building the most modern, player-friendly machines in the industry.

CandyMachines.com has offered cashless payment options since 2020. The Cantaloupe integration expands its payment ecosystem, allowing operators to choose between multiple processing platforms while maintaining full integration with their prize machines.

"Only CandyMachines.com machines are engineered to fully support the fullness of the pulse technology for cashless payment systems," said Andy Denton, CEO. "Customers can simply plug your pulse-enabled card reader into our proprietary harness and quick connect, and gain access to rich data, alerts and analytics of each prize machine."

Denton added: "We are the only manufacturer to fully engineer our machines to utilize every aspect of pulse reader technology. Building upon our successful partnership with Nayax, we are proud to extend our framework and now offer support for both Nayax and Cantaloupe customers."

For more information, visit RePlay Magazine or candymachines.com.

CHARLESTON, SC — March 19, 2024 — Family Fun & Games LLC, led by owner Andy Denton, has acquired CandyMachines.com, a significant and long-standing player in the bulk vending and amusement machine industry. The company operated under the leadership of Jerry Korn, Harris Korn, and Kevin Johnson since 1998.

The acquisition brings CandyMachines.com into the Family Fun & Games portfolio, with the new ownership committed to honoring the company's established reputation while pursuing new growth opportunities across ecommerce, equipment manufacturing, and operator technology.

"I couldn't be more honored and excited to lead the CandyMachines.com family," said Andy Denton, CEO of Family Fun & Games.

Kevin Johnson, outgoing leader, expressed confidence in the transition: "I'm incredibly proud of our achievements at CandyMachines.com and confident that under Andy's leadership, we'll reach even greater heights."

For more information, visit RePlay Magazine or candymachines.com.