Train station vending machine serves ‘piping hot’ pizza in as little as five minutes
Two new vending machines at Southern Cross station are serving “piping hot” pizzas and all-natural dog treats for commuters to buy.
Victoria
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Melbourne commuters craving a snack can opt for freshly-made pizzas at the touch of a button at Southern Cross Station.
A recently installed vending machine will cook up the Italian delicacy in as little as five minutes, with a number of pizza types available including a vegan option.
The “Pizza.Me” vending machine is located between the WH Smith and the Vodafone store. It describes itself as “hot, fresh and fast” and will be available 24/7.
Pizzas from the French-built appliance will cost between $15 and $18 for a large size and are served “piping hot” according to Phil Boniwell, Operations Manager of Victoria for Me Group International – the company which supplied the machine.
Mr Boniwell told the Herald Sun Southern Cross Station is the perfect place to install the machine as it has high foot traffic and vacant space.
“How it works is quite simple. It’s fresh, hand-stretched, wood-fired pizza,” he said.
The bases are refrigerated and when ordered, go into an oven which has various settings.
“The pizzas come in four flavours, including margherita, pepperoni, garlic and cheese and vegan margherita,” Mr Boniwell said.
It’s understood the machine contains dozens of handmade pizza bases, which are made locally, with the machine expected to be stocked up daily once in operation.
The flavours may change depending on demand.
Heath Goodwin, from Port Melbourne, says the vending machine is a “great concept” and “probably the way of the future”.
He says he will probably give the pizza a go but it depends on the how fresh the pizza is, the “quality and ingredients” and “the price point too”.
Mr Goodwin says Melbourne has many great pizza places already, but added if pizza from the machine is available 24/7, it may have a market for those who are at the station late at night once nearby pizza restaurants have closed.
Similar machines are available internationally, namely in China. It’s expected the vending machine will be in operation from next week, with Mr Boniwell doing final testing and getting all the safety checks in order before it’s in service.
Another “All Natural Dog Treats” vending machine has popped up between Hungry Jacks and WH Smith, in front of what was previously the Amcal store.
The machine, from Australian-owned dog treats company Chewy Chews, offers 25 varieties of treats for you to take home to your dog, from “goatie guts” to “chompy chicken jerky”.
The machine also offers a contraption called a “teeth cleaning gear flosser” which is designed to clean your dog’s teeth and gums.
Ashleigh, from Yarraville, who is the owner of Maltese Shih tzu Wendell, says the vending machine is “a really good idea”.
“It will be great on the way home from work for a welcome home treat for my dog who is home all day.”
She says that the treats “all look really healthy” and that “the prices look good too”.
The dog treats range from $7.95 for a cracking pork ear, to $21.95 for 80 grams of “green lipped mussel chews”.
As for the dog-related accessories also available, the “teeth cleaning gear flosser” is $12.95 while a rubber dog bone to assist with cleaning your dog’s teeth is $9.99. There is also a lightweight collapsible food or water bowel for $9.95.
A spokesperson for Southern Cross Station said the vending machines were installed in front of hoarding to provide a screen for empty tenancies while new tenants are contracted.
“The vending machines have been added to provide a point of interest while the tenancies are being filled and renovated,” the spokesperson said.
“The hoarding and vending pop up will enable new tenants to ready their stores for opening, while providing an engaging, sometimes ‘never before seen’ activity for commuters.”
The “Pizza.Me” vending machine is installed in front of the Wholefood Health discount store, while the Chewy Chews all natural dog treats vending machine appears to have replaced the Amcal+ store.
In addition to the pizza and dog treat machines, a Japanese toy machine will be installed called Gacha Gacha.
There’s also another machine called “RoboTea” which makes bubble tea in the concourse waiting area, and it’s the second of its kind in Australia.
Mr Boniwell expects to install one of Me Group’s Revolution Laundry Services machine in Geelong, which is a vending service for washing clothes, in the coming months.
The Herald Sun has contacted Chewy Chews for comment.
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