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Queensland family behind fresh fruit vending

machines inundated with requests for FruitBars By Pip Courtney

Date: 10 Aug 2014

Publisher: abc.net.au

Photo: Their popularity has seen some of the vending machines having to be refilled several times a day. (ABC News)

The Queensland farming family behind Australia's first fresh fruit vending machine believes its latest

breakthrough will lead to a significant increase in the consumption of fresh fruit in the country.

The Mackay family's FruitBar offers a variety of fruit and salad vegetables, ranging from a single

piece of fruit to snack packs with various mixes that also contain nuts and biscuits.

In the three weeks since two machines began operating in Brisbane, the company has been inundated

with requests for hundreds of machines.

FruitBar's Mike Evans says the most surprising inquiry has come from one of Australia's major petrol

suppliers.

"[The company] said 'nationally we've got a lot of sites, we've got a lot of consumers, and we like

making money and offering stuff they'd like to eat'," he said.

At Brisbane Boys Grammar School the FruitBar vending machine outside the sports complex has

been such a hit with students that another machine has been ordered.

"It's in a good spot, it's got a population that is hungry early in the morning, late afternoon and so

that's really helped," deputy headmaster David Carroll said.

Queensland strawberry grower Bec Scurr from Pinata Farms says growers are excited about the

development.

"It's so innovative, it's not very often the produce industry does something that's so exciting," Ms

Scurr said.

"If you just look at the amount of say Coke or Mars Bar vending machines around Australia, if there

was as many produce vending machines, the opportunity is huge."

FRUIT VENDING MACHINE IDEA GREW FROM BANANABAR SUCCESS

The FruitBar is the brainchild of the Mackay family based in Tully, far north Queensland.

As the biggest grower of bananas in Australia they account for 40 per cent of the country's bananas.

Twelve months ago they launched the BananaBar, Australia's first banana vending machine.

Located in busy public areas like train stations and hospitals, they have been a big success, with some

machines being refilled several times a day.

"We've had a fair bit of interest from within Australia, but a lot of interest throughout Asia as well,"

Mr Evans said.

"People have looked at it and said 'that is amazing as you're not even a vending country'."

The Mackays developed FruitBar after repeated requests from banana customers for a wider selection

of fruits.

Photo: A fruit vending machine is an idea many in horticulture have talked about, but it has never been commercialised.

(ABC News)

A fruit vending machine is an idea many in horticulture have talked about, but due to the logistical

challenges involved such as sourcing and packaging perfectly ripe produce, and refilling machines on

a daily basis, it has never been commercialised.

But encouraged by BananaBar sales the Mackays ventured out of their comfort zone.

Mr Evans say finding suppliers to provide the best in-season produce is the key to the success of the

new business.

"It was amazing, the response of the industry who said, 'Yeah, it's small, it's a risky one, but let's give

it a go'," he said.

"We found there was a good number of good producers from all through the supply chain keen to

support this."

Montague Fresh is supplying apples and pears, and in summer will supply stone fruit.

"We discussed doing this very same idea about four or five years ago and we never followed it

through. It's great to see the Mackays have actually followed through," Hamish Montague said.

"I'm a little bit envious to be honest, they've proceeded with it, but I think it's fantastic."

FRUITBAR A 'PHENOMENAL SUCCESS' AT ROYAL BRISBANE HOSPITAL

The Royal Brisbane Hospital's commercial services manager Russel Shepherd says initially he was

sceptical when a machine was installed there.

"We thought there might be an opportunity to provide some different choices for our customers and

for our staff particularly after hours, but I think we're all surprised at the success of the BananaBar,"

he said.

Photo: The Royal Brisbane Hospital has ordered three more vending machines. (ABC News)

The FruitBar machine at the Royal Brisbane Hospital has been so well patronised it is being refilled

several times a day.

"It's a lot better than some of the fruit you buy in the supermarket," hospital worker Michelle Triggs

said.

"The strawberries have been great this season and I'm looking forward to seeing what they've got in

summer, maybe they'll have some stone fruit," colleague Lisa Thlenfeldt said.

"I generally get the five-pack of bananas each week, then I top up with some of the medley packs with

strawberries and blueberries, and I'm a big fan of the jazz apples, they're my favourites."

Mr Shepherd says the hospital has ordered three more machines and hopes other hospitals will follow

its healthy lead.

"Perhaps for too long we've served the traditional types of food we thought customers wanted, now

we know customers would like to have other needs fulfilled and it shows there's a demand for this

fresh kind of food," he said.

"The FruitBar has been a phenomenal success."

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-09/family-behind-fruit-vending-machines-inundated-

with-requests/5659320