Chick-fil-A has debuted its first vending machine, as first reported by USA Today. It was spotted inside a Georgia hospital, serving a limited version of the chain’s menu.
The machine offers two types of wraps and two varieties of waffle potato chips. Each item comes wrapped in plastic and packaged in a box with a napkin.
The vending setup is a temperature-controlled fridge with a touchscreen interface. (see video below) The machine runs 24 hours a day. However, surprisingly, it’s still closed on Sundays, just like the brand’s brick-and-mortars.
Payments are digital only, accepting credit and debit cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Modern vending machines
Restaurant-branded vending machines have grown in popularity since the pandemic, as brands seek convenient ways to serve customers.
Some models go far beyond Chick-fil-A’s refrigerated setup. PizzaForno and Donatos, for instance, both operate autonomous pizza machines that actually cook and assemble pizzas on site before dispensing them.
Related: Donatos Looks to New Markets with Autonomous Pizza Machine
Related: PizzaForno Puts Vending Machine Tech on Display
The goal is “to be real estate agnostic,” said Donatos CEO Tom Krouse in a former interview.
PizzaForno Co-Founder Les Tomlin discussed the pros of a “vending machine style” setup. “The fact it requires no labor, it’s available 24/7 and only needs 65 to 80 square feet to operate at a super low-cost model are huge benefits from a licensing perspective,” he said in a former interview.
Wow Bao has also long used hot vending machines to serve its steamed buns in airports and other high-traffic areas.
The trend points to an industry move toward automated, low-overhead solutions that prioritize convenience for consumers on the move.
Chick-fil-A did not respond in time for publication.
