It is a street scene becoming increasingly familiar to many: vending machines set up outside farms, offering potatoes, vegetables, or fruit—either grown on-site or sourced from nearby growers—directly to consumers. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in this trend, which has greatly benefited the Vendavid company. "It is becoming increasingly attractive for growers to have a direct sales channel to consumers in addition to their existing customer base," says Christophe David, managing director of the Flemish vending company.
Vendavid, which specializes in developing and installing farm vending machines, has its roots in Inagra, based in Pittem, Flanders. "I was working at Inagra, which had been developing such vending machines since 2008," Christophe explains. "However, in the mid-2010s, the former site became too small for the development of both the vending machines and the film wrapping and pressing machines, which were their main focus. My vision and interest lay more with the vending machines, so I took the opportunity to continue their production and development under a separate company. The production of vending machines for agricultural products is a particular niche within agricultural machinery. It requires specialization and focus, which is why I sought out my own location. Now, Vendavid operates 2 kilometers away from Inagra. We still maintain a good working relationship but as separate companies."
The company has carved out a niche with its specialized vending machines, enabling growers to sell their potatoes, vegetables, and fruit 24/7 to interested consumers. "We focus particularly on growers who need larger capacities. For instance, we build and install robust carousels that can be customized with 4 to 8 layers and compartments ranging from 150 to 340 mm in height. Additionally, the number of compartments per layer can vary from 8 to 23, allowing our vending machines to stock up to 184 products."
"What growers put in the vending machines is entirely up to them. They are suitable for potatoes, fruit, and vegetables. However, one customer in France recently ordered 10 machines to store pallets, and a swimming pool builder in Wallonia uses them for bottles of chlorine. These machines are built so robustly that they can be used for almost anything. They simply need to be plugged in and are ready to withstand all weather conditions."
Peak period during COVID-19
The company has been operating independently for about seven years, but Christophe recalls the busiest period during the COVID-19 pandemic. "That was truly booming. Shops were forced to close, and unmanned vending machines became the solution to keep selling. Demand quadrupled, which was challenging for us as a company, but honestly, I wouldn't mind that level of activity again," he laughs.
"Of course, delivery times lengthened because parts were harder to source, but overall, we managed well. We employed a lot of student workers—many of them were farmers' sons from the area who had nothing else to do and could earn some extra income. This allowed us to handle the increased workload effectively. While some competitors extended their delivery times to a year, we managed to stay within six months."
"We are now back to a 2-month delivery time," he continues. "While the rush has subsided somewhat since the pandemic, the growing awareness of local food and short supply chains keeps us busy. To be fair, we may be slightly more expensive. The smallest vending machine we offer starts with 60 compartments, scaling up to 184. On a per-compartment basis, we are cheaper, but this means our machines are more suitable for growers who need larger setups. However, we distinguish ourselves with high-quality machines that require no maintenance and excellent personal service. It seems to pay off, as customers who buy from us often return to order additional machines for other locations. We've installed 5, 6, or even 7 machines for several companies. In fact, 30% of the vending machines we produce are for returning customers."
Expanding market
Initially, Vendavid focused on Belgian customers, but the company has since expanded into France, Switzerland, Poland, and the Netherlands. "Recently, we've become more active in Germany, where we've installed around 15 to 20 vending machines, primarily for potato growers," Christophe says. The company is also eyeing further expansion into foreign markets, with the UK and Austria seen as promising opportunities.
"In line with this, we're developing a new module, which we'll launch in early 2025: a locker system. This smaller variant can be easily connected to existing vending machines, allowing users to add 10 to 20 extra lockers. Conversely, growers can start with a locker system and later add a vending machine. The payment system will work seamlessly across both modules. We're also optimizing energy consumption to keep it as low as possible. With these innovations, we're excited about the steps we'll be taking in the coming years," Christophe concludes.
For more information:
Christophe David
Vendavid
Sint-Amandstraat 20
8740 Pittem, Belgium
+32 472 915 479
[email protected]
www.vendavid.be