# Vending Machine Cafes Chef-in-Box's VendCafes are Disrupting the Industry in Singapore By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-02-06 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vendcafes References: [sea-globe](http://sea-globe.com/reinventing-ready-meal/) & [chefinbox.sg](https://chefinbox.com.sg/) Neighbourhood cafes in Singapore are being challenged by a new kind of experience from Chef-in-Box that it calls the 'VendCafe.' These [24-hour cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/costa-express) are made up only of vending machines that are able to dispense a wide range of meals that can be ordered as ready-to-eat hot dishes or frozen as takeaway items. While vending machines have been long associated with unhealthy snacks, they have been since reclaimed by health-focused food brands that want to prioritize quality, freshness and convenience. Chef-in-Box adheres to this idea by making its food without added preservatives, additives or artificial flavorings. As well as offering practical, convenient solutions to the time-starved consumer, Chef-in-Box's VendCafes cut costs by doing away with the need for chefs and service staff to be present at multiple locations—all of the food is prepared at a central kitchen in Singapore, blast-chilled and shipped to machines to offer consumers [healthy, budget-friendly meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fraiche) like seafood paella and claypot chicken rice. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.5/10 - Popularity: 95% | Activity: 93% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Health-focused Vending Machines:** The trend of health-focused vending machines is disrupting the traditional notion of vending machines by offering high-quality, fresh, and convenient meals. - **24-hour Cafes:** The growing trend of 24-hour cafes is disrupting the traditional cafe model by providing round-the-clock service and convenience to consumers. - **Centralized Food Preparation:** The trend of centralized food preparation is disrupting the restaurant industry by eliminating the need for chefs and service staff at multiple locations, resulting in cost savings. ### Where This Applies - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry has the opportunity to adopt health-focused vending machines to cater to the rising demand for convenient and nutritious meals. - **Hospitality:** The hospitality industry can benefit from the 24-hour cafe trend by offering extended service hours and catering to customers who crave convenience and flexibility. - **Restaurant:** The restaurant industry can explore the concept of centralized food preparation to streamline operations and reduce costs while still providing quality meals to customers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sandwich-Heating Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kepak-hot-vend-kiosk.md) - [Smart Fridge Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-fridge-vending-machines.md) - [AI-Powered Fresh Food Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aipowered-fresh-food-vending-machines.md) - [AI-Enabled Salad Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salad-stand-vending-machine.md) - [Branded Automated Pizza Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digiorno-pizza-vending-machine.md) - [Refrigerated Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/redyref-smart-food-fridge.md) - [Gym Meal Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frozen-protein-meal-vending-machine.md) - [Hot Sandwich Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toastyfresh-autoserve.md) - [Robot Burger Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roboburger.md)