Vending Machine Sells Farm-Fresh Eggs
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When Irish egg producer Tom O'Brien bought an Eggspress vending machine, he hoped to sell a few eggs direct instead of through wholesalers. He set it up at the gate to his farm and did a leaflet drop in the local area. Within a few weeks, he had greatly boosted sales, while at the same time simplifying his egg sales business.
"I soon was selling 60 dozen a day, 7 days a week and at a 100 percent margin over the wholesale price I had been getting," says O'Brien. "It's great to sell my eggs direct to the customers with no credit and no stores to service."
O'Brien ordered 6 more machines and has a 5,000 leaflet drop planned in the area surrounding each of the new machines. They will be placed at service stations, co-op stores and private shops. He hopes to soon market all the eggs from his 5,000-hen flock directly to consumers through Eggspress machines.
Eggspress is the creation of Paddy Muckian, a second generation, Irish egg producer. Muckian worked on the design for five years before putting it to use in his own egg operation.
Eggspress is an insulated, refrigerated vending machine with 28 drawers. When a customer puts his money in, a drawer opens and the customer takes his eggs. Each drawer is 12 by 12 in. and holds trays of up to 2 1/2 dozen eggs. Produce can also be placed in the trays.
"It can be located wherever there's a market for your eggs, fruit or other products - at farm gates, farmers markets or even filling stations," says Muckian.
The machine not only handles customer sales as it empties, it notifies its owner. "You can set it so when stock levels drop to a certain point, it'll send a text message to your phone," says Muckian.
Muckian uses 2 1/2 dozen egg trays to sell his eggs. He says they have become associated with his farm, and customers like them. They return the empty container when they buy their next tray of eggs.
Since introducing Eggspress on his own operation, Muckian has sold it to other Irish egg producers like O'Brien, as well as to egg producers in England and Finland. He is interested in selling units direct to producers in North America as well. However, he also isn't done adding them to his own farm.
"I have one beside my farm gate and will have to add two more beside it to keep up with demand for the eggs," he told FARM SHOW.
Eggspress is priced at 4,450 Euros (about $5,514 U.S.). As outfitted for European use, it uses 220V power. "It can also run on solar power," notes Muckian.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Eggspress Ireland Ltd., Stonefield House, Kilcurry, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland (ph 353 (0) 42 933 4849; mobile 353 (0) 87 259 0724; info@eggspress.ie; www.eggspress.ie).
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Vending Machine Sells Farm-Fresh Eggs LIVESTOCK Poultry When Irish egg producer Tom O Brien bought an Eggspress vending machine he hoped to sell a few eggs direct instead of through wholesalers He set it up at the gate to his farm and did a leaflet drop in the local area Within a few weeks he had greatly boosted sales while at the same time simplifying his egg sales business
I soon was selling 60 dozen a day 7 days a week and at a 100 percent margin over the wholesale price I had been getting says O Brien It s great to sell my eggs direct to the customers with no credit and no stores to service
O Brien ordered 6 more machines and has a 5 000 leaflet drop planned in the area surrounding each of the new machines They will be placed at service stations co-op stores and private shops He hopes to soon market all the eggs from his 5 000-hen flock directly to consumers through Eggspress machines
Eggspress is the creation of Paddy Muckian a second generation Irish egg producer Muckian worked on the design for five years before putting it to use in his own egg operation
Eggspress is an insulated refrigerated vending machine with 28 drawers When a customer puts his money in a drawer opens and the customer takes his eggs Each drawer is 12 by 12 in and holds trays of up to 2 1/2 dozen eggs Produce can also be placed in the trays
It can be located wherever there s a market for your eggs fruit or other products - at farm gates farmers markets or even filling stations says Muckian
The machine not only handles customer sales as it empties it notifies its owner You can set it so when stock levels drop to a certain point it ll send a text message to your phone says Muckian
Muckian uses 2 1/2 dozen egg trays to sell his eggs He says they have become associated with his farm and customers like them They return the empty container when they buy their next tray of eggs
Since introducing Eggspress on his own operation Muckian has sold it to other Irish egg producers like O Brien as well as to egg producers in England and Finland He is interested in selling units direct to producers in North America as well However he also isn t done adding them to his own farm
I have one beside my farm gate and will have to add two more beside it to keep up with demand for the eggs he told FARM SHOW
Eggspress is priced at 4 450 Euros about $5 514 U S As outfitted for European use it uses 220V power It can also run on solar power notes Muckian
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eggspress Ireland Ltd Stonefield House Kilcurry Dundalk County Louth Ireland ph 353 0 42 933 4849; mobile 353 0 87 259 0724; info@eggspress ie; www eggspress ie
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