Automated Cupcake Machine Serves Up Sweets At Pittsburgh Mall

MT. LEBANON, PA -- MagexUSA, an Alps Innovations Group company, said it has produced an automated cupcake machine, or ACM, for Chatty Cupcakes that has been placed at the Galleria Mall in this Pittsburgh suburb here.

Chatty Cupcakes cofounder Ellan Toothman said the custom-made ACM serves as the company's only "storefront." Chatty Cupcakes, based in Waynesburg, PA, also bakes made-to-order cakes and cupcakes that it delivers locally.

"We realized we needed a way to get our cakes from the oven to our customers in an efficient and convenient way," Toothman said. Chatty's baked goods go directly from the oven to the ACM. The bakery also puts preorders into the machine for customers to pick up.

She pointed out that in contrast to national chain Sprinkles, which uses an ATM-style machine to automate delivery of its cupcakes, Chatty's machine is set up like a store (or food vending machine), allowing customers to see the cakes in a refrigerated display and select the one they want.

The system is based on "The Big Store" built by MagexUSA, which comes with a patented lane system that accommodates different packaging sizes.

Alps Innovations is a manufacturer of custom vending machines.