Harrogate’s Fodder Launches North Yorkshire’s First Fresh Milk Vending Machine

The vending machine dispenses non-homogenised milk and four classic milkshake flavors—chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and banana—along with special weekly offerings. Customers can purchase reusable glass bottles, which they can clean at home and bring back for refills, promoting sustainable practices.

This initiative aligns with a growing UK trend towards fresher, locally-sourced products with sustainable packaging. Vanessa Pitt, general manager at Fodder, believes this collaboration introduces something novel for their patrons. “Our link up with Milk from the Hills is a first for the Harrogate area and adds a whole new dimension to a visit to Fodder. The milk and milkshakes are fresh, and we’re confident customers will enjoy them.”

An interesting feature of the vending machine is the live ‘cow cam’, which streams footage from the Hills’ robotic milking parlor in Hoylandswaine, offering customers a virtual connection to the source of their dairy products.

Milk from the Hills, initiated in 2022 by James Hill and his family, underscores a commitment to sustainability, reducing food miles, and ensuring high standards of animal welfare, blending traditional farming with modern technology. James Hill stated, “We were blown away by the reception we received at the Great Yorkshire Show and are proud to be part of a food hall that supports local farmers.”

Fodder’s partnership with over 400 regional suppliers directs profits back to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to support farming endeavors. The addition of the vending machine follows a significant refurbishment earlier this year, complementing the outlet’s recent acclaim as one of the UK’s top 21 food halls by Speciality Food magazine, alongside winning the Retail/Leisure Business of the Year at the Harrogate Business Awards.