Food lovers in France are having their prayers answered with the launch of hour cheese dispensers. Vending machines stocking 'artisanal fromage' are now dotted around France, appearing in rail stations, village squares and motorway service stops. These machines are open day and night to satisfy cravings around the clock. Refrigeration inside prevents the pungent smell of many cheeses from wafting into the surrounding area. Food lovers rejoice as hour cheese dispensers open up around France Pictured: French cheese maker Fabien Picard carries a pallet with cheese to fill his vending machine at the train station in Bourg en Bresse, eastern France.
Vending machines are popping up in railway stations, village squares and motorway services Pictured: Fabian Picard, head of La fromager dairy, fills his cheese vending machine in Bourg en Bresse, eastern France.
The automatic dispensers are refrigerated, protecting the surrounding area from wafting smells Pictured: Cheesemaker Fabien Picard fills his cheese vending machine in Bourg en Bresse, eastern France.
Farm cooperatives and small producers are banding together to finance the often-costly machines. This is the latest in a trend of automatic dispensers of food including pizzas, oysters, muscles, charcuterie, eggs and butter.
The number of fresh bread dispensers, usually featuring baguettes, is also growing. With France being the home of so many popular cheeses, including camembert, roquefort and reblochon, this was the logical next step. These vending machines initially took off during the pandemic, because customers could serve themselves without putting on masks and entering shops. Regional officials are now encouraging the dispensers to promote local quality produce. They are especially apprecaited in rural areas, where the closure of local outlets is forcing people to drive further for their shopping.
