# Communal Crustacean Dispensers This Crab Vending Machine Sells Live Shanghai Hairy Crabs By Meghan Young | Published 2010-10-24 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crab-vending-machine References: [dvice](http://dvice.com/archives/2010/10/finally-a-vendi.php) & [japanprobe](http://www.japanprobe.com/2010/10/20/vending-machine-sells-live-crabs/) Imagine you’re preparing a fantastic meal, but lo and behold, you’ve forgotten the main ingredient: crab. Now you can rush to the nearest crab vending machine if stores are closed. Unfortunately for most, the nearest machine is in China. Selling [live Shanghai hairy crabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/red-lobster-crabfest-menu), the crab vending machine is no joke. By setting the temperature at 5 degrees Celsius, the crabs go into a state of hibernation. Once put back into room temperature, they're alive and kicking, which means [fresh crab meat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fil-blu). If for some reason you get one that is dead, the creator promises to give three live ones in its stead. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 71% | Activity: 86% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Bizarre](https://www.trendhunter.com/bizarre) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Live Vending Machines:** Opportunity to create vending machines that dispense live animals or other perishable goods. - **Automated Food Stores:** Opportunity to develop automated stores that offer a wide range of fresh and gourmet food items. - **Intelligent Temperature Management:** Innovative temperature management systems that preserve the freshness of perishable items for extended periods. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage Industry:** Opportunity to introduce vending machines and automated stores that sell fresh and perishable food items. - **Technology Industry:** Opportunity to develop innovative temperature management systems for preserving the freshness of perishable and live products. - **Retail Industry:** Opportunity to add novel products and technologies to retail stores and vending machines that offer consumers access to fresh and premium quality products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Off-Beat Shellfish Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farm-suzuki.md) - [On-the-Go Mussel Vendors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/van-de-mosselman.md) - [Gourmet Meal Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robot-chef-chulchul-box.md) - [Robot Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tortoise-smart-stores.md) - [Underwater Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/underwater-vending-machine.md) - [Human Claw Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/human-claw-machine.md) - [Imitation Crabstick Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snacks.md) - [Crab-Flavored Whiskeys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crab-trapper.md) - [Sandwich-Heating Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kepak-hot-vend-kiosk.md)