Selling steak from a vending machine
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Steakhouse chopped salad. Photo: Courtesy of Farmer's Fridge
Steak is showing up in some odd places these days.
The latest: Just weeks after Potbelly launched a prime rib sandwich, Chicago's Farmer's Fridge is selling steak from a vending machine — albeit in a salad.
What they're saying: "We're seeing a moment for peak protein demand and want to give our customers what they're craving," Farmers Fridge CEO Luke Saunders tells Axios.
- "We know there are people who are skeptical about trying fresh food from a vending machine. Now we're asking them to go a step further and order steak."
Between the lines: This Steakhouse Chopped salad ($13) arrives at a time when the nation is returning to meat despite big bets over the last decade on plant-based alternatives.
Zoom in: The salad combines mixed lettuce and Napa cabbage with roasted potatoes, balsamic caramelized onions and shaved Parmesan, drizzled with Caesar dressing and topped with crispy fried onions and tender, medium-rare cubes of seared flank steak.
The verdict: I love how the rich blend of steak, potatoes, onions and parm plays off the freshness of the greens and crunchy accent of the onions. This feels like a full meal.
The caveat: Farmer's Fridge just started rolling these salads out last week, and they're not super easy to find.
- Full disclosure: Last week, I had to ask a company spokesperson to help me locate a steak salad near me.
- I nabbed one in the U.S. Customs House on South Canal, where I had to go through a federal security check to get to the machine.
- The salad costs $13 at most locations, but prices can vary in hot spots like airports.
What's next: Farmers Fridge reps say the salads will gradually become more ubiquitous, but, for now, it's best to use the company's app to see if the machine near you has one.
Jar tips: While Farmers Fridge cannot reuse your empty jar, Saunders notes that folks use them "to plant seeds, shake cocktails, store spices, and so much more. They're very versatile — and you can always recycle it."