Modern, on-tap soda delivers high-spec drinks at speed—paired with data-ready programs, brandable stations, and turnkey support.
The fizz, the first pop, the cold pour—tiny moments like these can turn a routine stop into a repeat visit. For foodservice operators, beverages are no longer an afterthought; they’re a proven growth lever with major brands investing in drink platforms on a scale.
The opportunity is clear: upgrading soda from a legacy “commodity fountain” to a premium soda on tap solution is a practical way to elevate guest experience and capture margin growth without compromising speed or operations. And with integrated designs that add visual appeal and brand ability, the soda station itself becomes part of the customer experience.
Modern, on-tap soda stations is more than just about new equipment. It’s about reimagining the entire guest experience.
Trendlines That Matter Now: Why Soda Needs a Fresh Approach
Beverage programs are becoming the battleground where c-stores and QSRs compete for consumer attention. Understanding the forces driving this shift shows why soda is no longer just a side offering—it’s a growth engine.
Beverages as Growth & Margin Engines
According to NACS, foodservice accounted (including hot, cold, and frozen dispensed beverages) for nearly 28% of in-store revenues and almost 39% of gross profits for c-stores in 2024. Dispensed beverages were a key contributor to that performance. The momentum continues in 2025 as consumer spending on c-store prepared foods and drinks is projected to reach $27 billion—up 42% since 2015.
QSRs are equally focused on beverage-driven growth. Taco Bell, for instance, has set a $5 billion beverage sales goal by 2030, while McDonald’s is piloting flavored sodas and refreshers at more than 500 locations to attract Gen Z customers. Across the board, beverages are becoming the tie-breaker in where consumers spend.
Micro Matic’s Soda on Tap system delivers a consistently premium pour, while giving Country Fair flexibility and confidence at scale.
The “Fresh Approach” Drivers
As beverage sales accelerate, consumer expectations are shifting just as quickly. Operators can no longer rely on a single fountain lineup because today’s guests, particularly c-store consumers, are looking for:
- Premiumization: Guests now expect more than a standard cola. Craft sodas, sparkling waters, functional and energy-infused drinks are all part of the mix.
- Variety as standard: Limited-time flavors, seasonal offerings, and customizable “dirty soda” styles are no longer novelties—they’re expected menu features.
- Value & choice: Consumers want both variety and affordability. Club refills, loyalty promotions, and mix-and-match bundles drive attachment and repeat visits.
What Makes Micro Matic’s Soda on Tap Different
Upgrading a soda station is more than just about new equipment. It’s about reimagining the entire guest experience. Here’s how Micro Matic’s Soda on Tap system delivers a consistently premium pour, while giving operators flexibility and confidence at scale.
1. Premium In-Cup Experience
Before the first sip, the experience sets the tone. Customers get the first taste of premium in the ‘drafting’ experience, a clean-designed tower that encourages actual physical interaction indicates a valued product.
A premium experience doesn’t stop with the artistry of the pour. Micro Matic’s forced carbonation and glycol cooling work together to keep the product closer to the suppliers’ intended commercial specifications and consistency.
It’s the science of carbonation retention translated simply: colder liquid holds bubbles better, so every pour stays crisp and refreshing.
Micro Matic’s forced carbonation and glycol cooling work together to keep soda lively and cold from pour to cup.
2. Modular & Brandable
No two beverage stations are the same. With through-the-wall, drop-in, and tower configurations available in multiple finishes, operators can tailor systems to their footprint and brand identity. Stations can be made to stand out or blend seamlessly into the design.
3. Hygiene & Consistency
Separate spout technology reduces flavor crossover and simplifies cleaning routines. For staff, the process is easy to train and repeat. For customers, the result is consistent quality and confidence in every pour.
4. POS, Marketing & Data Enablers
Micro Matic’s soda on tap systems are designed to support POS integration. This enables operators to track mix, manage LTOs, and optimize promotions, turning a soda station into a managed growth lever.
5. Program Flexibility
The system supports both carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Operators can run traditional sodas alongside sparkling waters, teas, or functional drinks, using standard post-mix BiB compatibility to stay agile with menu changes.
6. Ready-to-Install, Complete Package
Every system is built on a standardized tap, tower, and control box foundation. This makes installation easier, training straightforward, and scaling across multiple sites more efficient.
Proven Results: How Micro Matic’s Soda on Tap Delivered Real-World Commercial Wins
Operators that have already adopted soda on tap are seeing tangible benefits in both sales and customer satisfaction. A look at Country Fair and Rutter’s shows how modernizing the fountain can pay off quickly.
Country Fair (Erie, PA): A Real-World Snapshot of the Upgrade
After moving from a traditional fountain to a tap-forward install, Country Fair’s experience puts what we’ve discussed in a real case study. And the results are in: first-sip quality guests can feel, a station presence that looks intentional and on-brand, and faster flavor rotation that keeps the program fresh without adding operational drag.
Station That Stops Traffic — Premium Cues at the Pour
“The presentation of the tap system is awe inspiring—our customers have expressed a look of amazement,” the team told us.
But Country Fair explains it’s not only the appearance that has their customers amazed. “They have also been amazed at how good the soda tastes coming out of the taps compared to traditional machines. The carbonation seems to be a hit.”
Those sight-and-sound cues align with Country Fair’s emphasis on quality at the cup and elevated station design. The beverage center has become a destination rather than a pass-through.
More Choice, Real Uptake — Flexing the Menu
With the “ability to offer any brand of soda,” Country Fair has been able to expand their beverage offerings—and the behavior followed.
“In this store specifically, that our customers don’t always want the heavy hitters out in the market. They gravitate toward some off-brand flavors more often than others.”
That’s the menu-flexibility pillar in action—meeting local tastes with seasonal or specialty options without reworking the station.
Ops, Simplified — Faster Changeovers, Less Friction
Changeovers are quick and hands-on. “The ease of switching out flavors with this system is a game changer compared to our other machines.”
“[No] internal programming… just flush the line, brix it, and change the tap handle!”
In practice, that simplicity supports throughput and consistency at peak, so teams can keep lines moving while the program grows more ambitious.
Rutter’s (Milton, PA): Creating a Beverage Experience, Not Just a Stop
Rutter’s newest large-format stores pair a 21+ bar and lounge with an upgraded beverage center—shifting the visit from “grab-and-go” to destination. The Milton 1747 location (≈14,000 sq. ft.) is designed to feel part sports bar, part next-gen c-store; C-Store Dive’s inside look even calls out “the dispensed beverage area in the Milton 1747 store.”
In our work, Milton also serves as a soda-on-tap implementation example—aligning with this broader hospitality-style approach to beverages.
A Community Hub—And a Real Beverage Center
“The goal is to create a true sense of place: a community hub where sports lovers of all kinds feel at home,” said Chris Hartman, Rutter’s VP of Fuels, Marketing & Development. The 1747 concept (launched in Johnstown and Milton) foregrounds seating, screens and a bar program—and gives the beverage station more visual stage.
Menu Innovation—Testing What Guests Want
Rutter’s category leadership has been explicit about experimenting within their beverage portfolio: “Looking ahead, we are actively developing new combinations and daily specials,” explains Chris Hartman. “As the concept continues to evolve, these offerings will expand further, giving us the flexibility to spotlight select items, test new innovations, and provide guests with even more reasons to choose the bar as their preferred destination.”
Implementation Snapshot—Milton, PA (On-Tap in Context)
Public reporting highlights the bar/lounge format and the dispensed beverage area at Milton’s 1747 store. Within that broader design, Rutter’s Milton location acts as a scalable, commercial example where a soda-on-tap station is creating an evolution in a c-store’s beverage portfolio.
Not only do the alternative beverages (like soda) complement the bar program, but it plays into the tactile experience. With the experience becoming the forefront, they care about that curation from first-sip quality to brand-elevating presentation to the experience of the pour, all while maintaining menu flexibility that still keeps peak lines moving.
Every system is built on a standardized tap, tower, and control box foundation. This makes installation and training easier and scalable across multiple sites.
Partnership Approach: How Micro Matic Fortifies the Upgrade
For operators, equipment is only part of the solution because even the best system can fall short without the right support. The difference comes from the partnership behind it. And Micro Matic’s collaborative approach ensures that operators not only get premium equipment but also the design, training, and service needed for long-term success.
Micro Matic supports operators at every stage:
- Co-development: SKU and menu mapping (sparkling vs. still), flavor/format mix, and footprint/layout planning so the system fits operational flow and brand needs.
- National Installer & Support Networks: a nation-wide installer and support network to support ops and procurement teams so you have trusted support near you.
- Turnkey Installation: Site surveys, coordinated install, system validation and a quick staff ramp-up that minimizes downtime and disruption.
- Training & SOPs: Hands-on operator training plus clear cleaning and maintenance routines that preserve carbonation, flavor and hygiene.
- Aftercare & Support: Dedicated Foodservice teams provide proactive check-ins, scheduled maintenance guidance, and ready access to parts/service to keep lines running.
This collaborative approach ensures soda on tap performs as a long-term growth asset, not just a hardware upgrade.
Make Every Sip Worth the Stop
In a market where beverages are driving growth, every pour is an opportunity to win loyalty. And premium soda on tap transforms an everyday beverage into a small highlight-of-the-day experience for customers without slowing down your service.
The act of drafting a soda — the sound, the clarity of choice, the cold pour into the cup — delivers a tactile, analog moment that feels more personal than a push-button legacy or even modern dispensers. That small ritual sets the program apart and reinforces the brand in every sip.
