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I have to admit I didn't see this coming but apparently there has been a big push by companies to develop higher quality (and higher priced) vending machines. This allows companies to sell higher end products without having to pay as many staff, it costs less than paying rent on a whole store, and supposedly can still deliver fairly high quality and freshness to customers. Let's go over a few of the recent innovations, shall we?
The grand daddy of them all is a German company in Berlin called Floris Feinfost which gets around Germany's strict labor laws (such as store hours and closing times) by offering high end things like French Champagne, fancy flavored salts, sweets, etc... Out of vending machines which are open 24/7. Prices range from 2 Euros to 20 Euros.
http://www.psfk.com/2013/07/gourmet-food-vending-machine.html#!r6K91
The items are refreshed every day and it basically has sliding see through doors so when a customer buys something the door unlocks and the customer removes that item.
Next we have an exclusive luxury goods producer from Beverley Hills who normally only sells its items from a store boutique by appointment only, meaning no walk in customers are accepted, and there is normally a hefty service fee unless the customer buys several thousand dollars during his appointment time. This helps to maintain the air of exclusivity. The company does want to increase sales of some of its more popular items though so they've set up a vending machine selling caviar, escargot, truffles, etc... With prices running as high as $500 per item.
Then there are the more proletarian yet still higher than normal vending machines which are designed to make food items on the spot or sell higher quality food items which you wouldn't normally find in vending machines. This is the largest segment of the new gourmet vending machine trend as well as the fastest growing and we're seeing these things popping up all over the country. They sell stuff like gourmet ice cream at airports, make a burrito of your choice for you on the spot, make a pizza especially for you in just minutes, custom brew coffee with beans of your choice which are ground on the spot, make fresh french fries for you, etc...
So what do folks think of this trend? Is it hear to stay or is it just a passing fad? Also would you make use of any of these vending machines or would you never touch the stuff?
The grand daddy of them all is a German company in Berlin called Floris Feinfost which gets around Germany's strict labor laws (such as store hours and closing times) by offering high end things like French Champagne, fancy flavored salts, sweets, etc... Out of vending machines which are open 24/7. Prices range from 2 Euros to 20 Euros.
http://www.psfk.com/2013/07/gourmet-food-vending-machine.html#!r6K91
The items are refreshed every day and it basically has sliding see through doors so when a customer buys something the door unlocks and the customer removes that item.
Next we have an exclusive luxury goods producer from Beverley Hills who normally only sells its items from a store boutique by appointment only, meaning no walk in customers are accepted, and there is normally a hefty service fee unless the customer buys several thousand dollars during his appointment time. This helps to maintain the air of exclusivity. The company does want to increase sales of some of its more popular items though so they've set up a vending machine selling caviar, escargot, truffles, etc... With prices running as high as $500 per item.
Then there are the more proletarian yet still higher than normal vending machines which are designed to make food items on the spot or sell higher quality food items which you wouldn't normally find in vending machines. This is the largest segment of the new gourmet vending machine trend as well as the fastest growing and we're seeing these things popping up all over the country. They sell stuff like gourmet ice cream at airports, make a burrito of your choice for you on the spot, make a pizza especially for you in just minutes, custom brew coffee with beans of your choice which are ground on the spot, make fresh french fries for you, etc...
So what do folks think of this trend? Is it hear to stay or is it just a passing fad? Also would you make use of any of these vending machines or would you never touch the stuff?
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