The vending machine market is predicted to surpass $30 billion in revenue by 2024, according to research from Global Market Insights. This is due to, in a part, advances in energy-efficient solutions and smart vending machines technology, but also the increasing consumer desire for convenience and accessibility.
From fresh fruit and pesto pasta bowls, to raw meat and freshly baked bread, these companies are thinking outside the typical vending machine options to offer real world solutions to consumers across the country.
Making Fresh Food More Accessible
Farmer’s Fridge uses vending machines increase consumer access to fresh, quality food. All items, including yogurts, sandwiches, salads, and bowls, are made daily at the Farmer’s Fridge production facility in Chicago and delivered via temperature-regulated vehicles to 275 machines across the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee areas.
“Prior to Farmer’s Fridge, I was working as a metal finishing salesman driving more than 1,000 miles each week,” Luke Saunders, CEO and founder of Farmer’s Fridge told Specialty Food News. “I quickly realized it wasn’t easy to find a fresh meal on the road that also tasted good. I found myself settling for a granola bar and a bag of popcorn because it was better than any alternative. In 2013, I started Farmer’s Fridge to help solve that problem and we’ve been on a mission to make it simple for everyone to eat well since.”
Convenience is Key
As more consumers seek more on-demand, accessible shopping experiences, companies like Applestone Meat Co. founded by Joshua Applestone, are thinking outside the box. Applestone wanted to provide customers with a way to purchase fresh meat at any time of day, so he created twelve raw meat vending machines located within Applestone’s stores in Stone Ridge and Hudson, N.Y. Each machine contains either beef, pork, lamb, or chicken, and each store also has a service window with an attendant onsite from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for questions or special requests.
“As Applestone practices whole animal butchery, the selection can change daily based on availability,” Applestone told Specialty Food News. “Expect to find a mix of cuts you are familiar with (beef ribeye, pork chops, lamb chops, ground beef) and to be introduced to lesser known, equally delicious options (flat iron, short ribs, country style pork ribs, and lamb shoulder chops, to name a few).”
Currently, Applestone is working on a prototype for a custom machine that would be more personalized options and provide further convenience for customers.
Le Bread Xpress’ Bake Xpress micro-bakery takes the vending machine concept to the next level by providing consumers with fresh baked goods like pizza, croissants, or quiche, in under a minute. Benoit Herve, founder and CEO of Le Bread Xpress, told SFA News Live at the 2020 Winter Fancy Food Show, “Some people would call it a vending machine, but for us it’s much more than that. It provides fresh, baked goods 24/7, on-demand, within seconds.” Le Bread Xpress has already installed five Bake Xpress machines in a large corporation and plans expansion to universities, hospitals, and transportation hubs.
Retail Applications
In August 2019, Denver-based Choice Market launched Choice Mini-Marts, a program that combined vending technology with fresh, quality food from local vendors. The first two machines, placed at Denver music venue the Mission Ballroom, are stocked with fruit, sandwiches, salads, jerky, and beverages. Prices range of $3 to $11.
“Choice Mini-Mart is a natural extension of our omnichannel strategy and fully aligns with our mission to make good food accessible and convenient,” CEO Mike Fogarty said in a statement about the launch. “These vending machines are a perfect fit for airports, hospitals, breweries, offices, and other institutions that are looking to provide their time-constrained customers and employees with fresh and delicious food.”
Walmart has also experimented with vending technology, though on a larger scale than Choice Market. The retailer has previously tested grocery kiosks that essentially serve as vending machines for online grocery orders. These kiosks retrieve customer orders within seconds. The retailer first tested the technology in Warr Acres, Ok. with a 20-foot-by-80-foot kiosk, and then expanded the test to Sherman, Texas with a larger 11-foot-by-127-foot kiosk that could serve up to five people at once.
In addition, Walmart uses Pickup Towers in store to help customers pick up online orders faster and save money on shipping. In a blog post back in 2018, Justin Rushing, senior director, digital strategy & brand engagement, said that Walmart would bring the total number of in-store Pickup Towers to 700 by the end of the year.
Related: NY Health Department Requires Letter Grading for Vending Machines; Do-Good Vending Machines.
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