How vending machines slot neatly into the pandemic trend of contact-free cuisine Zahra TayebMar 13, 2021, 23:52 IST The vending machine from Costco is not pictured.Syda Productions/Shutterstock Vending machines are experiencing a surge in popularity, The Washington Post and others report. Firms are selling items ranging from cannoli kits to grab-and-go frogs. In some countries, people can pick up a COVID-19 testing kit and dinner at the same time. New technologies and social distancing measures have spawned a revolution in the retail industry as a response to changing consumer demands. As The Washington Post and others reported, vending machines, computerized kiosks, and other take-out technologies, otherwise known as "unattended retail" are supplying consumers with gourmet pizza, cannoli kits, and vacuum-packed meat.