Fancy some sauerkraut, munster or foie gras? No need to leave Strasbourg station. All these products, typical of Alsace, are now accessible … in a vending machine.
Installed at the end of September in the hall, next to a Relay store, the device has since aroused curiosity. In the middle of the afternoon Tuesday, several travelers, French or foreign, stopped there willingly. “It’s pretty crazy to see that here”, explained one of them in particular, without buying anything.
To believe the initiator of this curiosity, the novelty is a real success. “We believed in it but we didn’t expect that! », Laughs Vincent Vigneron, one of the three partners who own the Malker brand, originally from Munster and now present in Colmar and Strasbourg.
Eight products for sale in the distributor
“I had already seen a county distributor in Besançon station, and an egg distributor in Nancy. I found the idea of promoting quality products, all farmers or artisans, cool, in a place where there is not necessarily this offer. All at the same price as in a store, ”he continues, who then had to obtain various agreements before selecting eight products. One per rotating floor.
For the past two weeks, a “top 3” in sales has stood out: munster, sauerkraut and gendarmes, these fine smoked sausages sold in pairs. For the well-being of future neighbors in the cars (not the wagons, eh!) Of the trains, the products are vacuum packed. “The sauerkraut (sold for 10.90 euros per share) is ready to heat! “Laughs the entrepreneur, who has no shortage of ideas.
Bredele for Christmas
Instead of sausages, terrines with marc de Gewurztraminer or foie gras, other specialties could soon be offered. “We have already withdrawn the blueberry jam that did not leave with horseradish, on customer proposals. For the Christmas period, I plan to wear Bredele [les petits gâteaux de toutes formes] and gingerbread. “
Other distributors of the same type could also emerge elsewhere. As in Colmar station, where “we are already working on it”, or even why not at Strasbourg-Entzheim airport. History of being able to consume a small sauerkraut in the air.