Egg vending machine in Bratislava (source: Babičkin dvor)
In June, an egg vending machine began operating at the Nivy Shopping Centre on Mlynské Nivy in Bratislava, Slovakia. The automated dispenser was installed by Babičkin dvor, the country’s second-largest egg supplier. If the concept proves successful, the company intends to expand the project within Slovakia and potentially abroad.
The vending machine is located in the market area of the Nivy bus station. It is a modern model with a touchscreen interface, allowing customers to select a pack size (6 or 10 eggs) and quantity. The machine then dispenses the chosen eggs from chilled storage, maintaining an optimal temperature. It accepts card payments, as well as cash and coins, and can provide change.
The unit holds up to 60 boxes at a time, with a total capacity of 520 eggs. Currently, it is restocked once daily with eggs from the company’s farms in Veľký Krtíš, central Slovakia. There are plans to increase restocking to three times per day due to demand.
The machine is often emptied within two hours of being filled.
The company plans to install nine additional machines in Bratislava over the coming year. It views vending machines as a potential future distribution channel.
Babičkin dvor specialises in laying hen farming and egg production. It operates nine farms in central Slovakia, with around 450,000 hens and an annual output of approximately 100 million eggs.
