Article by: anees

"Cake vending machine" sold out every day Non-face-to-face "pastry chef taste", unmanned sales that increase presence due to corona damage

　A freezing vending machine for pastry chef-prepared cakes has appeared in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, and is gaining popularity because you can easily enjoy the professional taste with the push of a button. With the non-face-to-face and non-contact needs of the new coronavirus disaster as a tailwind, it continues to sell out every day. A full-fledged cake vending machine is said to be the first in the prefecture.

　The vending machine was installed at "Sweets Kobo Paparabo" (Shibukawa 2-chome, the same city), a Western confectionery manufacturing wholesaler that wholesales frozen cakes to cafes and restaurants. Sales decreased by about 40% due to the corona damage, and it was installed in front of the workshop late last month as a new measure to secure profits. Mizumon Obayashi, president of the confectionery craftsman (43), said, "We were able to install the product without significantly changing the current business content. There is no new cost burden such as hiring people."

　The price of the cake is uniform at 500 yen (with two slices). In addition to the standard products of "baked cheesecake" that uses plenty of Australian cream cheese and "steamed chocolate" with a moist texture, "Waguri Mont Blanc tart" with three layers such as Japanese chestnut cream and fresh custard, kiln-baked tiramisu, etc. Autumn limited edition is also available. Many products are packed with the creator's commitment, such as using plenty of raw materials such as chocolate.

　Since its installation, it has been unique, and it is said that about 100 boxes prepared for the day are sold out during business hours. A 26-year-old office worker in Osaka, who stopped by at work and bought a Mont Blanc tart, was surprised that "the chestnut taste was strong and it was a feast cake." President Obayashi said, "I am confident in the high quality and the high-cost performance due to the direct sales price of the workshop. I want you to feel free to enjoy tea time at home (in the corona)."

　Vending machines are sold from 9 am to 7 pm on weekdays and until noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Closed on Sundays.

"Unique freezing vending machines" appearing one after another nationwide

　Unique freezing vending machines such as cakes, roasted meat, ramen, marine products such as salmon roe, and lunch boxes are appearing one after another nationwide. The freezing vending machine "Dokumon" supports this movement. It was originally developed by vending machine maker Sanden Retail Systems (Tokyo), and the number of companies adopting it is gradually expanding in the midst of the corona.

　Conventional freezing vending machines have been limited to selling ice cream and the like. The partition of the stocker can be freely changed for "Dokuremon", and it has become possible to sell products that were not available in conventional vending machines.

　The company will start selling from the end of January this year in anticipation of the take-out of Corona and non-face-to-face / non-contact demand. According to a spokesperson, the number of units sold has not been announced, but "it has already become an exceptional hit product that sells from Hokkaido to Kyushu." At the end of August, "Dokuremon NEO", which can be switched between freezing and refrigerating, was launched on the market.

　Regarding the movement to sell a variety of products by utilizing cold weather, the company officials are surprised that "businesses are thinking about various ideas and expanding more than expected." While restaurants and other businesses are forced to operate in shorter hours due to the effects of the state of emergency, "the owner, who continues to operate alone, can supplement sales by installing vending machines. In some cases, sales will increase further."

　According to the Japan Vending System Manufacturers Association, the number of vending machines used in Japan last year has been declining to about 4.04 million units, down 2.5% from the previous year. "Beverage vending machines are saturated, but there is still room for growth in high-performance products," a Sanden spokeswoman said. There are also moves by other companies to develop and sell vending machines of the same type, and vending machines that sell unique products may appear near your city.