Traditional machines serving offices, schools, and hospitals saw their business evaporate as workers, students and visitors stayed at home. In the UK, of the 24,500 employees servicing these machines, some 5,000 were made redundant. But innovative and niche machines, often boasting upmarket, healthier and specialist products, tell a different story. David Llewellyn, chief executive of the Vending and Automated Retail Association, says automated micro markets saw 367% growth last year. These are small convenience stores, without staff and where customers pay using a smartphone app or at an unattended till. And the vending options are always expanding. For example, you can now purchase fake eyelashes from a machine and perfume and even collect your prescriptions. In April, Rome got its first automated pizza vending machine - on the Via Catania near La Sapienza university district. The red contraption cooks and dispenses pizzas in three minutes, ranging from margherita to diavola, for between €4.50-6 (£3.80-5.10). Italy has one vending machine for every 145 people, lagging only Germany for vending machines' popularity in Europe. Both countries though trail Japan, with one machine for every 25 people.
