Refrigerated vending machines have been for more than cold drinks since nearly their inception, but refrigerated vending machines for dairy-fresh cheeses are not widely installed.
Cheese to go with your baguette
In France, 24-hour cheese dispensers have been introduced to cater to the cravings of food enthusiasts at any time.
The vending machines, which are being installed in train stations, village squares and motorway stops, are stocked daily with artisanal cheeses like camembert and reblochon.
According to The Daily Mail article, the idea for the cheese dispensers was inspired in part by the success of similar dispensers for pizzas, oysters and baguettes. The fresh-product vending machines were initially popularized during the pandemic because shoppers serve themselves without masking or entering a shop.
The machines are supported by regional producers seeking new ways to distribute their protected designation of origin (AOC) cheeses, ensuring freshness with built-in refrigeration. They are particularly valued in rural areas where local shops are scarce, providing access to quality products without the need to travel long distances.
Artisanal dairy in Philly adds vending
In Philadelphia, Perrystead Dairy, a local cheesemaker has added a 24-hour cheese vending machine outside of its creamer.
According to a Travel+Leisure article, owner Yoav Perry aimed to provide "immediate satisfaction" to cheese lovers, no matter the hour, and was inspired by the European cheese and local-food vending traditions.
The machine outside of Perrystead Dairy offers a number of the dairy’s artisanal cheeses alongside charcuterie and cheese boards.
Syromats offer cheeses, milks, yogurts, butter and ghee
Finally, take a look at one man’s video tour of Slovakia’s cheese vending machines.
