24-hour CHEESE dispensers are launched in France for food lovers who crave a slice of camembert around the clock

Food lovers in France are seeing their prayers answered as 24-hour cheese vending machines are launched.

Vending machines selling ‘craft products’ are now spread across France, appearing at train stations, village squares and motorway stops.

These machines are open day and night to satisfy hunger, 24 hours a day.

The cooling on the inside prevents the sharp smell of many cheeses from escaping into the environment.

It comes as the makers of hundreds of appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC), the protected regional cheese varieties, seek new ways to bring their products to consumers.

Vending machines are popping up at train stations, village squares and motorway services (photo: Fabian Picard, head of La Fromager dairy, fills his cheese vending machine in Bourg en Bresse, eastern France)

The automatic dispensers are cooled and protect the environment against odors. (Image: Cheesemaker Fabien Picard fills his cheese vending machine in Bourg en Bresse, eastern France)

Agricultural cooperatives and small producers join forces to finance the often expensive machines.

This is the latest trend in automatic dispensers of food including pizzas, oysters, muscles, deli meats, eggs and butter.

The number of fresh bread vending machines, often equipped with baguettes, is also growing.

Since France is home to so many popular cheeses, including camembert, roquefort and reblochon, this was the logical next step.

These vending machines initially launched during the pandemic as customers could serve themselves without putting on masks and entering stores.

Regional officials are now encouraging the dispensers to promote local quality products.

They are especially appreciated in rural areas, where the closure of local shops forces people to drive further for their groceries.

The Coopérative de Doubs was one of the first shops to have one outside, and it offers everything from comté to morbier for the perfect last-minute cheese board.

Cheese vending machines are the latest trend in vending machines that sell pizzas, oysters, cold cuts, charcuterie and fresh bread (photo: Cheesemaker Fabien Picard filling his cheese vending machine in a train station in France)

These vending machines initially launched during the pandemic as customers could serve themselves without putting on masks and entering stores

Famous cheeses found in certain regions of France include camembert, roquefort and reblochon (photo: Fabien Picard preparing his delivery to fill his cheese vending machine)

Fabien Picard (pictured) said: ‘You can simply spin the carousel, choose your cheese and pay by card before collecting your purchase.’

In the eastern department of Ain, Fabian Picard, head of the La fromager dairy, said people were surprised to discover his automated supply of tomme du Jura, comté and other varieties from his vending machines on the highway and in the Bourg-en-Bresse bust . station.

He told Agence France-Presse: ‘You can simply spin the carousel, choose your cheese and pay with a bank card before collecting your purchase.’

The cheese, which costs a little more than in the shops, is replenished once a day.

In Varaville, in the Calvados department of Normandy, a cheese shop stocks a machine with camambert and liver rot.

In the high Alps of Haute-Savoie, a cheesemaker supplies his 24-hour distributor with reblochon, tomme and raclette, the local specialties.

Mathieu Goguet, co-manager of La Boîte ô Fromages in the Calvados region, said his company has been doing home deliveries during the pandemic.

He told Radio France: ‘We realized that the people we were delivering to would not travel 15km to come and buy in the store. But they can visit a dispenser.’