Startup from China makes a vending machine that peels, squeezes, and pours fresh orange juice on demand

Vending machines around the world have long been the domain of junk food – candy bars, potato chips, soda, beer, coffee, chewing gum, and more. But a startup hailing from China aims to change that stigma. Vingoo makes vending machines that pour customers a cup of freshly squeezed fruit juice, and it just picked up a series A round of funding from undisclosed investors, according to STCN.

The machine is stocked with whole oranges that are peeled, squeezed, and served in a cup to the customer all in a few seconds. There’s no sugar, preservatives, or other additives involved. The price? A modest RMB 10 (US$1.63).

Founder Zhou Qi spent seven years living in France where he earned his Masters degree in microelectronics. While there, he drank fresh squeezed orange juice nearly every day. This inspired him to veer from a traditional job at a big electronics manufacturer and start Vingoo.

Originally, Zhou made a machine that offered four fruits: bananas, pears, apples, and oranges. The customer would be able choose which combination of fruits he or she wants, along with the option to add milk. But this became unsustainable due to the complexity and higher maintenance required, so the company narrowed it down to the best-selling product: orange juice. The four-fruit machine might make a return at a later date, however. The company has obtained 16 patents on its tech.

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Founded in 2009, the Vingoo machine is now in its second generation. The company monitors the supply and working condition of all its machines remotely. They are mainly found in second-tier and third-tier Chinese cities where fresh fruit juice is often difficult to come by. The company is currently in the middle of an expansion from 30 to 60 cities nationwide. Vingoo started out in malls, and is now putting machines in subways, airports, theaters, hostpitals, and tourist attractions.

(Source: STCN)