Crispy baked, artisanal, fresh pizza. That is what the pizza vending machines promise that can be found at two locations of Dutch car wash Wasstraat de Walvis. The pizzas turn out to be a hit for the car wash. The owner started with one machine, but now has a second in place at another location. Dozens of pizzas are sold every day.

Owner Marcel van Veen of Wasstraat de Walvis is somewhat surprised by the success of the new vending machine in Papendrecht. “This one is sold out daily. Ninety pieces are in it. They taste good, though. Otherwise I would not have chosen this machine”, says Van Veen. “But selling out every day is beyond expectation.”

Vending machines at the car wash

Marcel van Veen strongly believes in the possibilities of vending machines at the car wash. In Dordrecht he works with a textile washing machine and there are also soda vending machines at various De Walvis locations. Profit margins are not great for all machines, but the unmanned aspect and the extra service to customers are attractive to the entrepreneur.

And what does the pizzeria vending machine yield for the car wash? The revenue model is a percentage of the turnover. Usually only a power outlet and a connection for the payment system are required for a machine. This is no different at the pizzeria on location.

Central location is important

Pizzas and the car wash are a logical combination, says Van Veen. “The location requirements for both a car wash and a vending machine are comparable. You want to be easily accessible 24/7, have a central location with a lot of traffic and be in an environment with little competition. That is true in Dordrecht and certainly in Papendrecht.”

The machines at De Walvis come from Pizzazoid. Frederik Pennewaert of this company thinks it makes perfect sense to sell pizzas at a gas station or car wash. In fact, those are the locations that the Belgian company is looking for. Pennewaert also mentions the location as an important argument: a central location with a lot of traffic, accessible 24/7 and without nuisance in a neighbourhood. Gas stations and car washes are perfect. And we also look at retail, for example.”

The pizza man also immediately thinks of the possibilities for cross-selling. Discount on a car wash while buying good food, for example. “It has to be a success for both parties. A try-out is always possible,” he says.

Refill at night

Pennewaert explains that the pizzas go into the vending machine cooled and are baked after payment. After about three minutes, a steaming box slides out of the machine. Pizzazoid’s pizzas are not cheap, a margherita costs 8.90 euros. “They are high-quality pizzas,” says Pennewaert. Most pizzas are sold after closing time and in the early morning. Refilling is done by the Belgians themselves, often at night.

Van Veen expects that the pizza machine will stop selling out when the novelty wears off. But even then he finds the machine a good addition to the possibilities of a car wash location.