From Holy Water to Frozen Meals: The Evolution of Vending Machines
7 hours ago
- The first vending machine was invented by Hero of Alexandria in Roman Egypt, dispensing holy water using a coin-operated mechanism.
- Vending machine technology stagnated until the Renaissance due to lack of standardized coins in medieval Europe.
- In 1615, vending machines for tobacco appeared in English pubs, and in 1822, a newspaper-dispensing machine was used for banned texts.
- In 1883, Percival Everitt patented a commercial vending machine; the first vending machine business was founded in 1887.
- Thomas Adams introduced gum vending machines in the US in 1888.
- The 20th century saw vending machines for cigarettes, gum, soda, and coffee, with refrigeration added by the 1950s.
- Payment methods evolved from coins to bills (1960s-70s), credit cards (1985), and now predominantly cashless (71% in 2024).
- Modern vending machines sell a wide range of products including luxury foods and fresh groceries.
- The US vending machine market was $21.9 billion in 2024, projected to reach $30.27 billion.