In-store vending machine for tomatoes

Noticing that consumers were looking for more self-service in the supermarket, Belgian tomato grower Stoffels came up with its idea for an invention it calls Automato.

An instore vending machine for cherry tomatoes has proved popular in Belgium and the Netherlands.
An instore vending machine for cherry tomatoes has proved popular in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Specially developed for cherry tomatoes by DS Smith in its PackRight Centre, the Automato is essentially an instore vending machine. The consumer determines how many cherry tomatoes to buy and from which color. One twist of the Automato wheel causes six tomatoes to fall into a cup. The tomatoes are in a special Toma’box that, if the consumer wants a whole lot of tomatoes vs just a cupful, can be purchased and brought home.

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