New Twists : Vending Industry, Showing Its Stuff in Anaheim, Offers a Way to Buy Condoms Without a Blush

A vending machine that dispenses hot instant noodles and condoms that can be sold in cigarette machines to spare buyers’ embarrassment competed for attention this week at the vending industry’s annual western show in Anaheim.

The condoms are produced by a Canadian firm that packs them to resemble cigarette packages and to be dispensed in cigarette vending machines.

“It is still intimidating for young people to buy condoms,” said Jennifer Mitchell, a spokeswoman for Aegis International Healthcare. “This way you can buy them at any cigarette machine and people can’t tell you bought condoms.” She said Aegis has stocked the product in more than 2,000 vending machines across the country.

In all, more than 160 exhibitors--a record number for the annual show--displayed their wares Friday at the Western Convention and Exhibition of the National Automatic Merchandisers Assn. at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In recent years, the vending machine industry has been feeling strong competition from convenience stores and fast-food restaurants, said Bill Walsh, president of Continental Vending in Orange and chairman of the vending association. But he said he is confident that the vending industry, which saw gross sales increase to $18.9 billion last year from $17.5 billion in 1986, can meet the challenge.

“We just need to concentrate on good aesthetics and providing quality products at good prices,” Walsh said.

According to Walter W. Reed, a spokesman for the association, the most promising innovation in the $18.9-billion industry is the advent of vending machines that accept credit or debit cards. The machines enable customers without correct change to make a purchase and also give vendors the ability to sell higher-priced items.

“With the cashless machines, we can begin to sell a wider variety of things, like batteries, film and tapes,” Reed said.

Another innovation demonstrated was a coffee-vending machine that grinds fresh coffee beans for every cup. While it takes a bit longer to produce a cup of coffee that way, Reed said, the final product is fresher and richer.

But Reed said that for the most part, vending machines that sell a variety of standard products, such as potato chips, candies and canned beverages, are better income producers than those that concentrate on one specific item, such as French fries or noodles.