CVS Health’s retail division CVS Pharmacy is set to launch automated retail vending machines in order to expand its presence outside company-owned stores in the US.
Through the initiative, customers can buy on-the-go necessities such as over-the-counter health products, ‘better-for-you’ snacks and personal care products.
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Dispensing health-related products, the machines will enable CVS Pharmacy to maximise convenience and reach out to customers through on-the-go wellness solutions.
CVS Pharmacy front store business senior vice-president and chief merchant Judy Sansone said: “We are always looking for new ways to combine convenience and innovation to help better serve our customers.
“Our new CVS Pharmacy vending machine programme 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.”
Each vending machine is expected to stock in excess of 70 products, including many from the company’s store brands such as CVS Health, Beauty 360, Gold Emblem and Gold Emblem Abound.
The company is planning to install around 25 vending machines throughout New England and New York by the end of the month in targeted areas, including airports, public transit stations, office parks and college campuses.
It also intends to add another 50 such machines in the future.
The machines will feature a 22in multi-touch screen, high-resolution images, product information and a QR code reader to read barcodes and promotional codes.
Image: CVS Pharmacy’s automatic vending machine. Photo: courtesy of CVS Health.
