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D.C. vending kiosks supply snacks, local art, portable urinals

June 13, 2016

A U.S. government scientist and a former chef have gotten together to develop a different type of vending machine, one that provides quirky products, condoms, snacks and local foods. Alex Hastings and Mike Galyen — scientist and chef, respectively — have named their Washington D.C.-based business Guerilla Vending, according to a report by the Washingtonian.

According to Hastings, the partners were inspired by Japanese vending kiosks, which provide a wide variety of products, not just snacks. Following that example, Guerilla Vending stocks its kiosks with items such as local art.

Guerilla Vending also rents its kiosks for private events, and users can request various items. For example, for one event Guerrilla Vending stocked its kiosks with Japanese portable urinals.

"The vending industry in the states is designed to sell chips and soda," Gaylen said. "We have guys who still look at us slack-jawed when we tell them what we're doing instead of chips and soda."