Beverly Hills Caviar Automated Boutique
The Beverly Hills Caviar Automated Boutique sells caviar,[1] escargot[2] and truffles from vending machines.[3][4]
In 2013, the machines began operating in three locations: Westfield Century City, Westfield Topanga and Hollywood and Highland Center.[5] The owners credit their daughter for coming up with the idea when they were purchasing a cupcake from a vending machine.[6] The coverage of the placement of the machines included the comments "I feel sure that, very soon, you will be able to buy engagement rings, tiaras, mink coats and leather bodices amid all the excitement of the mall -- but without the interruption of some obsequious store assistant," from CNet,[7] and a marketing analyst stating that the idea was merely to generate buzz.[5]
The machines offer a selection of caviar in different sizes ranging from 40 grams (1.5 ounces) to 400 grams (a little less than a pound). The caviar ranges in price from $30 an ounce for American Black caviar to $500 an ounce for Imperial River Beluga caviar, as well as vegan caviar and dried mullet caviar (popular in Algerian, French, Jordanian, Spanish, and Tunisian cuisine). In addition to caviar, the machines offer blinis, escargot, flavored salts, and Italian truffles.[8] The machine was built in Spain.[9] The machine holds about $50,000 worth of temperature-controlled merchandise.[10][11] After being dispensed, the product takes about 30 minutes to thaw but can stay cool up to 3 hours in an insulated box.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Champagne, Crab and Caviar: 7 of the World’s Most Upscale Vending Machines" Archived 2015-05-02 at the Wayback Machine. RYOT.
- ^ "Gourmet vending machine dispenses fresh caviar and escargot (for a price)".By Jonathan Fincher, Gizmag, December 3, 2012
- ^ "Caviar Vending Machines Open in California". Travelers Today.
- ^ "Caviar-Dispensing Vending Machine Opens At Burbank Town Center « CBS Los Angeles". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ a b Caviar vending machines pop up at L.A. malls - NBC News.com
- ^ Only in LA: new caviar vending machines (for pets, too) | 89.3 KPCC
- ^ "The vending machine that dispenses caviar - CNET". CNET. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Beverly Hills Caviar: Vending Machine Caviar + Escargot and Bottarga as Mall Food". LA Weekly, By Emily Dwass November 27, 2012
- ^ "Caviar vending machine unveiled in Beverly Hills". ABC News / WJLA.com. November 30, 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "$500 caviar from a vending machine - Video - Business News". CNN. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "These Snack Bots Serve You Cupcakes and Caviar Anytime". Wired. Elise Craig, May 9, 2014
- ^ "Caviar Vending Machines Unveiled at California Malls". Yahoo!. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
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