Vol. 80 No. 3 (2025): Sectoral and geographical disparities in rural areas: Exploring differences and policy outcomes
Research Articles

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

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  • Alberto Bertossi,
  • Stefania Troiano,
  • Francesco Marangon
Alberto Bertossi
Department of Agrifood, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Italy
Stefania Troiano
Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine, Italy
Francesco Marangon
Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-15997

Published 2025-12-09

Keywords

  • vending machines,
  • food habits,
  • artificial intelligence,
  • welfare,
  • micromarkets

How to Cite

Bertossi, A., Troiano, S., & Marangon, F. (2025). Silent salesmen: the past, present and future of vending machines. Italian Review of Agricultural Economics, 80(3), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-15997

Copyright (c) 2025 Alberto Bertossi, Stefania Troiano, Francesco Marangon

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

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’.

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