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Nestlé Is Testing A More Convenient Way Of Getting Fresh, Hot Pizza

Author Phil Harris
Nestlé is testing a vending machine that makes a hot thin-crust DiGiorno pizza in just three minutes. (Photo by Andrey Rykov/Getty Images)

I’ve been reading and writing about pizza vending machines for a couple of years now but have yet to see one for myself. I may not have to wait much longer because another one is in currently in the works. According to Food Dive, Nestlé is testing a vending machine that makes a hot thin-crust DiGiorno pizza on demand.

It’s not delivery. And it’s not frozen pizza from the supermarket. Nestlé launched the first DiGiorno vending machine at a Colorado Walmart in April. They introduced a second one three months later at a company facility in Ohio where it develops frozen foods. The kiosk, which looks a lot like a Redbox DVD rental machine, allows consumers to order a cheese or pepperoni pizza for $9 that is delivered through a slot in the machine in three minutes. It’s piping hot and ready to enjoy.

So is it any good? Nestlé surveyed 100 customers who have purchased DiGiorno pizzas from the vending machine, and 95% of them believed it was good value. Another 92% said they see themselves buying another pizza from the kiosk in the future. It remains to be seen if Nestlé will actually roll these out on a large scale. You can see what the machine looks like below.

I would absolutely try pizza from a vending machine. Will it be the same as getting a pie from an actual pizzeria? Absolutely not, but I think these could be very popular in places like airports and college campuses. Especially colleges. The concept might even work in stadiums as a way of cutting down on long lines at concessions stands.

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

6 Places to Enjoy a Great Pizza Pie in Charlotte, North Carolina

Are you a pizza lover like me? Pizza is one of my favorite types of food to eat. I’m talking breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. If I could eat pizza every day, honestly, I probably would. While living in Charlotte these last few months, I have been exploring different restaurant options in the area. Finding the perfect pizza pie in Charlotte is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

So, while we’re here and I am thinking about the perfect pizza let’s find some great spots. I decided to gather a list of some of the best pizza places by either personal experience or places I plan to visit just from the menu. These are some of the must-try pizza places in the Charlotte area. Of course, they might not be all of the pizza spots that you can think of in Charlotte but it’s a great start. So let’s take a look at some pizza spots in Charlotte and some great things on their menu and start planning your pizza date. The weather is getting warmer and we’re ready to bite on some pizza while relaxing on a restaurant patio. Let’s eat!

  • Benny Ferrovia's

    Listen, I experienced Benny Ferrovia’s for the first time a few months ago and it is truly cheese-loving goodness! It was after a long night out and this late-night pizza spot is serving pizza so big one slice fills you up like a personal pan. The slices are huge, they’re fresh, and beyond tasty! Enjoy cheese, pepperoni, Italian sausage, or garlic mushroom slice. Doesn’t that sound like something good to enjoy after a long, fun night out? I sure did!

  • Bird Pizzeria

    Well, now we’re off to Bird Pizzeria. This is one place I have wanted to try since before moving to Charlotte. I went to try it out twice and was unable to enjoy it because the line was so long. Now when a place is always that good, it makes you want to enjoy it even more. Because now I know that everyone else also loves it as well. At Bird Pizzeria, you can enjoy toppings such as hot honey, pepperoni, sausage, kale, arugula, and more!

     

  • Intermezzo Pizzeria

    Intermezzo Pizzeria is one of those want to try on my list. Yes, I have a list in my notes of places I want to try in Charlotte. Intermezzo Pizzeria is one of them. This pizza spot is restaurant style with options from starters, salads, pizza, pasta, and more. Enjoy pizza options such as pesto chicken, Mexican style pizza, grilled fungi, supreme, grilled veggie, and more!

     

  • Inizio Pizza Napoletana

    Here is a spot that I did not know about until doing some research for this list. Inizio Pizza Napoletana is in the Dilworth area of Charlotte and looks pretty great! They provide Neapolitan style pizza and lets you enjoy some great pizza tasting options. The menu includes pizza options such as a classic margherita and specialty pizzas like a Luigi that has toppings such as broccoli rabe, sausage, buffalo, and mozzarella.

     

  • Pizzeria Omaggio

    Pizzeria Omaggio is an authentic Italian pizzeria that will serve you some traditional pizza. It gives you authentic Italian pizzeria and allows you to enjoy some great crust and fresh ingredients. Not only do they have pizza, but they’re also serving options such as Italian sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, pastas, and more! The pizza options include the classics like margherita and parmigiana or white options like dolce salato or mortazza. Sounds pretty tasty to me! Have you ever been?

  • Luisa's Brick Oven Pizzeria

    Luisa’s Brick Oven Pizzeria is a spot I have never been to but it looks pretty good to me. You can enjoy pizzas, appetizers, salads, calzones, pasta dishes, and more! Their pizza options include things like four cheese pizza, eggplant special, or fiorentina pizza that has fresh spinach, garlic, parmigiano, and fontina cheese. It’s actually getting me pretty hungry right now just typing this out!

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