With a population of 1.3 billion and a rich culinary heritage, India presents a vast and lucrative market for aspiring entrepreneurs. As the global food vending machine continues to grow at a rate of 11.7%, there is a rising trend of food vending machines in India which, apart from the usual packaged fare, also sell Indian street food.
If you're considering starting a food vending business, our earlier blog, which provided the ultimate guide to starting a business of food vending machines in India, will serve as a valuable resource to help you navigate this thriving industry.
In this blog, we will provide an overview of popular Indian vending foods and explore why it is important to familiarise yourself with these offerings.
Table of contents
Why learn about popular food items for vending machines?
To run a food vending machine in India, it is important to understand the popular food items. Here are a few reasons why:
Attract a wide customer base
Indian street food holds a special place in the hearts of the people and customers are often drawn to the food they love. By offering popular food items you can cater to a wide customer base and attract a large audience.
Higher demand and sales
Popular foods are more in demand, leading to increased sales for your food vending machine in India. Customers are more likely to make repeat purchases and develop loyalty when their favourite snacks are easily accessible through your vending machines. By stocking popular products, you can take advantage of market demand and significantly increase sales.
Revenue maximisation
Popular food items have a higher chance of purchase, which increases sales and in turn increases revenue. By offering popular products vending operators can optimise their product offering and boost profitability.
Managing inventory
Knowing about popular Indian vending foods will allow food vending machine operators to manage their inventory effectively and avoid issues like stale or expired products in vending machines which will help reduce waste. Now with Vendekin’s vending management system vNetra, you can track your inventory from anywhere.
Customer satisfaction
Food vending machines with popular food items will provide customers with more options and are more likely to satisfy customers' cravings and preferences. This will induce positive word of mouth and an overall positive perception of the brand
Popular Indian Food Vending Machines
While the Japanese already have dumplings, ramen, dashi, cake and even insects in their food vending machines, the Indias vending machine industry too is beginning to see some innovation with players like Vendekin and others in the customised vending machine market. From biryani to ice cream and from pizza to panipuri, here are some of our favourite popular Indian food vending machines:
Biryani Food Vending Machine
Every food lover dreams of accessing their favourite dishes with just a click of a button. For biryani lovers, this dream is becoming a reality. A Chennai-based business has unveiled one of the nation’s first biryani vending machine. The order for Bai Veetu Kalyanam aka BVK Biryani can be selected through a touch screen and the payment can be made through a QR code or cards. This automatic vending machine provides foodies with convenient access to their beloved biryani.
Panipuri Food Vending Machine
Moreover, even the government of Assam intends to create what will perhaps be one of the most popular snack vending machines, that is a panipuri vending machine. According to Ramen Deka, deputy chairman of Assam's State Innovation and Transformation Aayog, the aim of this is to provide crispy panipuri quickly and hygienically, with all the usual fillings, chutney and spiced water promised!
Automated idli vending machine
A fully automated idli vending machine has been created by the entrepreneurial couple Ayyappa Nagubandi and Dr Mahalakshmi Nagubandi to vend the popular south Indian dish, idli, with all the podis and chutney. A product of the pandemic, such hot food vending machines, provide convenience to customers to have their favourite meal, piping hot!
In addition to this, there are several other popular Indian vending food items that also happen to be the most loved Indian street food which are now available through vending machines in India. Here are a few examples:
Samosa and puff
Aloo tikki
Bhelpuri
Poha
Vadapav
Momos
Pizza
Chips
Biscuits
Beverages
Popcorn
Instant noodles
How Vendekin Explored Food Vending Machines in India
The rise in the need for convenience has led to the widespread availability of vending machines in various locations such as airports, schools, bus stops, railway stations and hospitals. As the popularity of vending machines has grown, so has the diversity of options they offer. Today, there are different types of vending machines catering to different needs. The most common of these are snack soda vending machines, frozen food vending machines and even uniquely customised ones like t-shirt vending machines.
Bonus tips: To learn more about the different types of food vending machines, read our earlier blog.
One company that stands out in the realm of vending machine customisation is Vendekin. We have successfully helped businesses have their custom vending machines to meet their specific requirements, both from a hardware, as well as, a software angle. Some examples of the vending machines customised for food items are:
Paan Vending Machine
Vendekin collaborated with Shaukeen Paan, a Pune-based vendor, to set up the first contactless paan vending machine. This innovative solution allowed customers to purchase paan without any physical contact ensuring a hygienic and convenient experience during the peak of the pandemic.
Ready-to-cook Frozen Food Vending Machine
Another remarkable venture by Vendekin was the installation of a seafood vending machine for Gadre Marine, a frozen seafood company based in Ratnagiri. Located in Pune, this vending machine not only offers a variety of frozen seafood options but also provides ready-to-cook sea-frozen foods such as fish fingers, steaks, lobster meat and even a prawn biryani.
Ice cream Vending Machine
Vendekins smart vending solutions have also benefited Naturals Ice Creams, allowing them to offer their top flavours now in a vending machine. Now customers can indulge in their favourite ice cream flavours even when the physical stores are closed and soon at locations such as malls, canteens, airports etc.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, vending machines are fast becoming an integral part of our retail lives, offering a wide range of fresh food options and not just the usual packaged ones. So, if you aspire to become the owner of a successful food vending machine business in India it is important to research popular Indian vending foods and incorporate them into your vending machine business.
You can thrive in this growing business by leveraging India's extensive culinary tradition and catering to customer preferences. So begin your journey right away and use your food vending machine business to give your customers a taste of India.
Collaborate with Vendekin, a leading provider of comprehensive vending solutions. To explore Vendekin's vending machine offerings, related software products such as vNetra and hardware product Retrobox and all your other unattended retail questions, contact us today at marketing@vendekin.com or give us a call at +91 9555712713 to start a conversation.
FAQs
Are food vending machines easy to use?
Yes, food vending machines are designed for ease of use. Consumers can simply scan the code, select the product and pay.
Do food vending machines accept multiple payment options?
Can food vending machines be placed in a variety of locations?