"Cake vending machines" sold out every day Non-face-to-face "pâtissier taste", unmanned sales increasing presence due to COVID-19

A popular frozen vending machine where you can buy authentic cakes (2-chome, Shibukawa, Kusatsu City, Sweets Kobo PaPaLab)

Mr. Obayashi making cake sponges for wholesale to restaurants and vending machines

　Frozen vending machines for cakes made by pastry chefs have opened in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, and are gaining popularity because they allow you to easily enjoy professional tastes with the push of a button. With the tailwind of the non-face-to-face and non-contact needs of the new coronavirus, it continues to sell out every day. A full-fledged cake vending machine is said to be the first to appear in the prefecture.

　The vending machine was installed at "Sweets Kobo PaPaLab" (Shibukawa 2-chome, Shibukawa, Shibukawa), a western confectionery wholesaler that wholesales frozen cakes to cafes and restaurants. Sales have decreased by about 40% due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the company installed it in front of the studio late last month as a new measure to secure profits. President Mitsumon Obayashi, 43, a confectionery maker, said, "We were able to set up the facility without making any major changes to our current business. We didn't have to bear new costs, such as hiring people."

　The price of the cake is 500 yen (for 2 slices). In addition to standard products such as "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. There are also autumn limited items. The products are lined with the commitment of the creators, such as using plenty of raw materials such as chocolate.

　Since its installation, it has become so popular that about 100 boxes prepared for the day are sold out within business hours due to its uniqueness. A 26-year-old office worker from Osaka who stopped by during work and bought a Montblanc tart was surprised, saying, "It was a feast with a strong chestnut flavor." President Obayashi said, "I'm confident in the high quality and high cost performance of the factory direct sales price. (Amid the corona crisis) I want you to casually enjoy tea time at home."

　The vending machine is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays and until noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Closed on Sundays.

"Unique Vending Machines for Freezing" Appearing One After Another All Over the Country

　Unique vending machines for freezing cakes, grilled meat, ramen, marine products such as salmon roe, and boxed lunches are appearing one after another all over the country. The refrigeration vending machine “Doheimon” is driving this movement. Sanden Retail System (Tokyo), a vending machine maker, developed it independently, and the number of companies adopting it is gradually increasing during the corona crisis.

　Conventional frozen vending machines were limited to selling ice cream. "Doheimon" can freely change the partitions of the stocker, making it possible to sell products that could not be put in vending machines so far.

　The company has started selling from the end of January this year in anticipation of the demand for takeout and non-face-to-face / non-contact due to the corona crisis. According to a spokesperson, although the number of units sold has not been disclosed, "It has already become an unusual hit product that sells from Hokkaido to Kyushu." At the end of August, the company launched Doreimon NEO, which can switch between freezing and refrigeration.

About the movement to sell a variety of products using dohiemon, a company official said, "Business operators have come up with various ideas, and they are spreading more than expected." With restaurants and other businesses forced to shorten business hours due to the state of emergency declaration and other factors, the company said, "By installing vending machines, shopkeepers who continue to operate by themselves can make up for their sales. There are even cases where sales increase."

　According to the Japan Vending System Machinery Manufacturers Association, the number of vending machines in Japan last year decreased by 2.5% year-on-year to about 4.04 million units, showing a downward trend. A spokesperson for Sanden commented, "Although beverage vending machines are already saturated, there is still room for growth in high-performance products." There are moves by other companies to develop and sell similar vending machines, and vending machines that sell unique products may soon appear in your city.