The Coca-Cola company will forever be synonymous with the vending machine world, mostly because its beverages can be found in snack and drink vending machines all throughout the world. However, the folks behind Coke are getting ready to take vending machines to an all-new level, as their latest machines are intended to connect customers from all over.
According to Advertising Age, Coke is attempting to integrate vending machines into their Coca-Cola “happiness project,” an idea that they have been working with in various capacities. The company already has a machine you can hug in Singapore, as well as a Turkish machine that gives fresh colas to loving couples. Their latest project, first teased in December, is a high-tech machine that allows users to communicate via webcam to people in India and Pakistan, creating a friendly conversation between countries that have had less-than-friendly relationships.
Whether or not Coca-Cola’s new “happiness project” vending machine can truly change the world, their grand vending vision is certainly an admirable one. Customers could potentially make an unexpected best friend while purchasing their beverage of choice, which is something that cannot be said about everyday drink vending machines. So here’s to Coca-Cola, and the hope that the right technology can be used to make the world a better place.


The National Automatic Merchandising Association, or NAMA, hosts a yearly convention called the OneShow, where vending professionals and food companies from around the world gather in celebration of the vending machine industry’s latest and greatest innovation. The show typically draws guests from all different industries, and this year is no different. One of OneShow’s most notable guests for 2013 is former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who will
As with any industry, the world of vending machines is rapidly evolving by the minute. What was once a business based on dispensing gumballs for quarters has evolved into a full suite of diverse services ranging from









