Grocery shopping in 25 square feet or less!

Convenience store shopping not a new concept.  Its actually been around for over 80 years.  The basic art of vending has been around for nearly thousands of years.  However, the 24-hour, vending grocery store is an innovative concept that has been experienced in Europe for several years.  In the US for much less.  

A company based in Belgium, called Shop 24 is rolling out these grocery store vending machines across the US.  The photo to the right is one of a proposed 150 that will be installed at Kroger Grocery stores across the US.  

Basically, these vending machines have approximately 150 products available from milk, lunch meat, soda and pain relievers.  Each location can accept credit cards, coins or bills as payment methods for the items you choose.  The items can be selected in the same manner as you would any other traditional vending machine.  Push different buttons for the corresponding item codes and your items are selected by a robotic arm inside the machine and placed in the "selection bin" for retrieval.

This concept can be used in a number of locations from office buildings, stand along sidewalk stores, malls and in remote outparcels of shop power shopping centers.  Obviously Kroger has bought into the concept as they are going to roll them out across their North American grocery stores.  Consumer convenience will always be important not matter your industry.  What I like about this is that the presentation is clean, professional and can be used in so many applications.  

This machine was placed on a college campus in upstate New York.  I don't believe the machines are capable of holding alcohol, nor do I believe this is legal.  However, students and residents are impressed with the convenience of the concept and the variety of the product offerings.  No word on what income potential is available from these machines as its an new concept to market.  However, in a era where retailing is extremely stale, this variation on the traditional staple is impressive and won't have too many barriers to entry in appropriate settings.

The vending world is changing with consumers habits and needs.  Are your properties receptive to these units?  What would you want to see at your properties if you could have or want one?