A dedicated vending machine that allows consumers to directly buy products that are difficult to sell through normal distribution channels due to the shortened expiration date in an attempt to reduce the disposal of food that is still edible, so-called "food loss." The movement of food manufacturers to install is spreading.
From the 17th, Nestlé Japan, a major food manufacturer, has installed dedicated vending machines in five locations nationwide, including Harajuku, Tokyo, to handle sweets that have been manufactured for a certain period of time.
When consumers make a purchase on a dedicated site, they can receive the product, and the price is up to half the normal price.
As a general rule, the products we handle have a expiration date of one month or more, and there is no problem with quality.
According to the company, it is difficult to wholesale products that have been manufactured for a long time to retailers, and in some cases they are discarded. Therefore, the manufacturer aims to reduce food loss by selling them directly.
Jiro Takaoka, General Manager of Nestlé Japan Beverage Business Headquarters, said, "We would like to consider expansion while verifying sales."
A major beverage maker, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan, has also installed vending machines in Tokyo and Kanagawa that handle beverages with an expiration date of about two months, and sells them at lower prices than usual.
The company has a policy of considering expanding the installation, and the movement to reduce food loss is spreading.