Vending

Philly bakery launches gluten free 'pastry ATM'

Photo: Adobe Stock

June 25, 2024

The Flakely Gluten Free bakery in Philadelphia is now home to a "pastry ATM" that offers Flakely's bestselling gluten-free items such as croissants, bagels, baguettes, cakes and 'pop tart' pastries, according to a Philly Voice report.

The pastry vending machine has four shelves and can hold approximately 60 baked goods at a time. The items are kept frozen within the vending machine and can be taken home and heated up.

Flakely owner and pastry chef Lila Colello was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2010 and has made it her mission to increase access to high-quality gluten-free options since. "I am most excited to increase access to our products during what would be considered 'normal business hours,' especially in South Philly where our biggest fan-base seems to be," Colello told the news outlet.

"This will allow some of our most loyal customers to have easier access to our products, which means a lot to me as a chef, and especially as a gluten-free baker who understands how difficult it can be to find quality baked goods for those suffering from celiac disease."

To use the vending machine, customers pay via the contactless payment mechanism, open the door and select their desired item. Each pastry package is tagged with a microchip so that once it leaves the vending machine, the customer's card will be charged for the selected item.