Fresh banana vending machine expands its network
The ‘Banana Bar’, a specially designed fresh banana vending machine launched earlier this year by a Queensland banana grower, has expanded its network of machines.
Australian Food News reported in July 2013 MacKays Bananas had launched their first ‘Banana Bar’ machine in a Brisbane food court. MacKays Bananas, a family-owned banana growing business, has now launched its machine at two new sites, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (Atrium level and food court) and the Roma Street Transit Centre (ground level).
The bananas in the machines are packed on MacKays Bananas farms and delivered daily to the vending machines.
“Tens of thousands of Australians work or visit public locations where fresh healthy fruit is not always convenient or accessible,” said Daniel MacKay, of MacKays Bananas.
MacKays Bananas said the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, with 7,500 staff, over 1,000 patients and hundreds of visitors daily, was an ideal location for the new machines. Being a 24-hour workplace, including a busy emergency department, the Company said its ‘Banana Bar’ is used at all times of the day and night in this location.
The ‘Banana Bar’ holds the fruit at 12 degrees Celsius, which MacKays Bananas said is the “perfect temperature”, which means the bananas “last longer and taste sweeter when bought from the machine”. The machines accept notes, coins and credit cards. The bananas can be bought for $2 for a 3 pack, or $3 for a 5 pack.
The bananas dispensed by the vending machines are ‘Smart Bananas’, which were developed by MacKays Bananas two years ago, for supply to select retailers.
“With this strong consumer support continuing for the ‘Banana Bar’, we have identified two further new locations to be rolled out this year,” Daniel MacKay said.
