CVS Unveils New Vending Machines

CVS recently unveiled its newest innovation: automated retail vending machines. The machines will be in locations like hotels and airports and will offer a variety of health products that are available at CVS stores, along with food and beauty items.

"We are always looking for new ways to combine convenience and innovation to help better serve our customers," Judy Sansone, Senior Vice President of Front Store Business and Chief Merchant at CVS Pharmacy, said in a statement. "Our new CVS Pharmacy vending machine program allows us to extend that convenience beyond our brick-and-mortar locations to offer customers on-the-go essentials in the locations where they often need them most, like airports, hotels, and other transportation hubs."

Each vending machine will be stocked with more than 70 products, including CVS branded products available for the first time outside of CVS locations. These brands include CVS Health, Beauty 360, Gold Emblem, and Gold Emblem Around. The machines will include:

• OTC meds, including allergy, pain relief, digestive health, and cough and cold medications

• Vitamins and supplements

• Eye and oral health-care products

• Sleep aids, such as melatonin

• Personal care products like shaving cream, deodorant, lint rollers, and makeup remover

• First aid items, like bandages and antiseptic cream.

• Snacks and drinks

• Home and office supplies, like batteries, phone chargers, earbuds, and stain removal sticks.

Between now and the end of October, CVS plans to roll out 25 of the machines throughout New England and New York. They will be placed in “targeted areas,” like airports (such as LaGuardia in New York City), public transit stations (such as South Station Bus Terminal in Boston), office parks, and college campuses. CVS is also considering an additional 50 locations in the future. According to CVS, because the machines are in convenient locations, they eliminate the need to make special trips to retail locations.

"These new vending machines allow us to make our innovative CVS Brand products available to customers outside of our store locations for the very first time," said Cia Tucci, Vice President of Store Brands and Quality Assurance at CVS Health. "The CVS Pharmacy vending machines will be located in places where we can bring our customers smart solutions and convenient access to the products they trust when they are on-the-go."

The vending machines will feature a 22-inch touch screen with product images and information, and will accept all major credit and debit cards. They will also support a QR code reader to scan barcodes and promotional codes.

CVS also added that the machines are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, meaning that persons in wheelchairs can fully operate the touchscreen.