Silent salesmen: the past, present and future of vending machines

This article presents a historical analysis of the evolution of the vending machine industry and its impact on consumer eating habits in Italy and the United States. Specifically, this paper traces its origins from an initial vision of an automatic age in which machines would replace traditional sales channels to their position as a significant auxiliary service in the present day. The vending industry is now predominantly associated with ‘junk food’ and impulse purchases, but this work opens new avenues for additional studies and suggests that this narrative is about to change. Driven by greater consumer awareness of issues such as sustainability and well-being, the industry is currently moving towards more social and health-conscious aspects. The integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the emergence of micromarkets have the potential to transform machines from ‘silent salesmen’ into ‘smart salesmen’.