The meal vending machine is definitely experiencing a Renaissance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from being effective in delivering fresh and healthy food, this method allows for retailers, institutions, airports, and other spaces to deliver food with minimal contact between humans.
Most recently, snapfresh partnered with Brisbane Airport. The collaboration boasted a ready-made meal vending machine for individuals who are waiting to catch their flight. There are "approximately 28 weekly international flights scheduled at Brisbane Airport." Because not many in-terminal retails have remained open, the demand for food and beverage soars.
For Martin Ryan, Executive General Manager Commercial, Brisbane Airport Corporation, the initiative is quite innovative: “Not only does it ensure there are additional food options available for travellers transiting through our airport, but our staff and employees within the airport can also access delicious ready-made meal solutions.”
Image Credit: Brisbane Airport
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Meal Vending Machines
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Explore the development of high-tech meal vending machines that offer fresh and healthy food options with minimal human contact.
- Contactless Food Delivery
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Develop contactless food delivery systems for retailers, institutions, airports, and other spaces to meet the growing demand for safe and convenient food options.
- Airport Retail Transformation
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Rethink airport retail by incorporating ready-made meal vending machines to provide additional food options for travelers and airport staff.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Food & Beverage
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Utilize meal vending machines to revolutionize the way fresh and healthy food is delivered and consumed.
- Retail
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Implement contactless food delivery systems to cater to changing consumer preferences and enhance the retail experience.
- Airport Services
- Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Embrace ready-made meal vending machines to provide convenient and diverse food options for travelers and airport personnel.
