For a long time, I have thought that the future of fast food is not in overworking low wage employees, defrosted ingredients and questionable hygienic conditions, but an automated process that delivers food fresh and fast. Thanks to inventor Claudio Torghel of Italy, this idea has become reality. There are a few other food vending machines out there, but this seems to be the only one with the Italian seal of approval.
For three years, the company Let’s Pizza has been installing pizza vending machines throughout Europe, making them fresh from scratch in just 2.5 minutes. The vending machine uses hygienic sacs of mineral water and flour to knead the dough. Once the 10.5in crust is rolled, organic tomato sauce is applied along with one topping. The pie then goes into an infrared oven for a short cook at 380 degrees. The customer has the option to receive a disposable pizza cutter, oregano and a napkin to round out the great mechanical service.
Each machine is able to make 4 types of pizzas but there is a catalogue of 90 pizza possibilities for the operator to choose from. The ingredients are prepared in company facilities and delivered in single serving, vacuum-sealed packs, which are never frozen to ensure freshness. Even kosher and Muslim-friendly choices are possible.
Payment can be done through cash and credit card or by tokes and vending keys at specialty locations. Let’s Pizza suggests a price of $5.95 per pie but the price is adjustable.
Each machine can be equipped with ingredients for 200 pizzas, and it will alert the operator when restocking or basic maintenance is needed via the Internet.
Let’s Pizza emphasizes the non-human, hygienic environment the pizzas are made in, which will provide peace of mind to those cynical of typical fast food joints. Some reports, however, say that each pizza still contains around 676 calories and 22.6 grams of fat. But then again, that’s how you know it tastes good.
The company’s distributor, A1 Concepts from the Netherlands, wants to hop across the pond and possibly set up headquarters in Atlanta, GA this year. They say an amusement park in Florida has expressed much interest in partnering with them, though they did not name which.
Local and national corporations can are encouraged to partake in this business venture. Expect to see some Let’s Pizza vending machines in malls, hotels, universities and many more locations next year.
Cabe