Siblings Karlynn Chan (17) and Darius Chan (15) used to walk a distance from their Punggol home to a convenience store for snacks and drinks.
Now they simply visit the vending hub at their adjacent block’s void deck to purchase items from vending machines, even late at night.
Block 185 Edgefield Plains houses one of 12 vending hubs in Punggol Shore, where residents can find 63 vending machines selling food, drinks, and daily essentials.
Punggol GRC MP Yeo Wan Ling, who oversees Punggol Shore, launched the vending machines in early December last year.
“It is convenient to buy from the vending machines instead of going to a supermarket to buy my own snacks,” Karlynn said. “My favourite snack is Kinder Bueno; I am surprised that they have it here.”
Darius said: “The food and drinks at the convenience store near my school is more expensive than the vending machines here.
“With the vending machines, it’s 24/7. I can buy food anytime, especially when it’s very late at night,” he added.
Frankie Chiuh, 67, a retiree living in Punggol Shore, also values the convenience these vending machines provide.
“I jog around this area, and there isn’t a minimart or supermarket nearby. The vending machine lets me buy a drink,” he said. “I hope they stock healthier products with more nutritional value and high energy, and fewer sugary drinks.”
Ms. Yeo explained that Punggol new town uses a hub-and-spoke design for its amenities and coffeeshops, but some areas require a longer walk and are under-served when it comes to essential goods and food.
“Our void decks are much smaller, making it difficult to accommodate shops. But they provide amazing and wonderful niches for vending hubs.”
Ms Yeo and her team then worked with partners like retail chain Valu$ to install vending machines across the precincts.
A vending hub like the one at Block 185’s void deck features machines offering hot food, snacks, and hot and cold drinks. Items are priced from 60 cents to $2.90. Hot food options include nasi lemak, fried rice, and abalone rice, which can be warmed using the microwave beside the machine. There are also options for healthier snacks after several mothers requested for them.
Another machine carries daily essentials such as razors, toothbrushes, plasters, shampoo and deodorant, with items ranging from 20 cents to $3.
Ms Yeo explained that the vending machine also stocks bags for pet waste, a convenient service for Punggol’s many pet owners that also keeps the neighbourhood clean.
She shared that residents love the vending machines. In high-usage areas, vendors restock the products daily to meet demand.
“I often see little ones telling me, ‘Miss Yeo, before I go to school, I stop by the hot drinks and get my cup of Milo.’ The cups are quite large, and they drink it on their way to school.”
Ms Yeo said this initiative serves as a community project rather than a commercial venture. She explained that product prices are “below retail” and residents have praised the affordable essential items.
The Punggol’s grassroots organisations are exploring plans to provide cards that would allow families in need to redeem items from the vending machines in the future, she added.
“We hope to make life a little more convenient and brighter while helping our residents with the rising cost of living. Please take a break and visit our vending hubs. Punggol Shore, we love you!”
