The answer to labour woes?

Conventional food and drink dispensers may be fairly commonplace across the island, but a new generation of brightly coloured vending machines has gained instant traction.

- Eunice Quek STFood Online Editor

Their selling points: convenience, affordability, quality and freshness, similar to what one might get at a hawker stall, bakery or fast-service eatery - an unbeatable combo for busy and hungry people around-the-clock.

At a time when many F&B businesses are struggling with manpower and rental woes, operating a vending machine has become a way to circumvent this and provide an additional source of revenue.

The year kicked off with viral durian dispensing machines, which debuted at Tampines MRT station in January. Durian seller Kaki Kaki, which ran it, added three more machines in Sembawang, Toa Payoh and Bukit Panjang.

Soon after, queues formed for trendy shio pan from home grown bakery Butter Town, which sells the Japanese salt bread from two "shio pan ATMs" at Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre and Hillion Mall.