Western Australian potato processor, Bendotti Exporters, has collaborated on a hot chip vending machine that could soon roll out commercially across Australia.
The vending machines have been developed by The Hot Chips Company with chips specially suited to the machines to be exclusively supplied by Bendotti.
The frozen chips are fried in rice bran oil on the spot in a little over two minutes using robotic technology.
The vending machines are currently being trialled and will be rolled out nationally throughout the year to petrol stations, railway lines, shopping centres, universities and other locations where convenience food is in demand.
“There's been a lot of planning and travelling back and forth in trying to secure sites to run these trials,” The Hot Chips Company said.
According to Bendotti, production is expected to double at its Manjimup processing plant over the next five years thanks to the vending machines.
Bendotti currently processes 20,000 tonnes a year of WA potatoes and employs 19 full time staff. It turns over $10 million annually, and it holds 18 per cent of the West Australian market, according to its website.
The company also says it recently installed over $5 million of the latest potato manufacturing equipment from Holland.
