Pantry

Pantry provides a network of refrigerated, swipe-and-go kiosks for fresh food and beverages. The company was founded in 2012 by engineers Art Tkachenko, Alex Yancher, and Tony Chen, who sought healthier food options in office park environments. Pantry's kiosks are designed for 24/7 access in locations such as workplaces, hospitals, universities, and hotels.

The business model centers on providing a platform for fresh food distribution that extends the hours and reach for food providers. For clients like offices, the kiosks offer an affordable way to supply their teams with locally sourced meals, snacks, and drinks. The system includes a data-driven dashboard that offers real-time supply and purchase insights, which can be accessed remotely. Food providers and organizations can use this data to manage inventory, track sales, and even adjust pricing remotely. The user experience is streamlined: a customer swipes a credit card to unlock the kiosk, takes their selected items, and is automatically charged, with a receipt sent to their phone or computer.

Pantry has partnered with local and regional food suppliers like Byte Foods, Mixt Greens, Aramark, and Sodexo to offer seasonal menus. In May 2016, Pantry Retail Inc. was acquired by Byte Foods in an all-stock deal, after Byte had successfully piloted Pantry's technology.

Keywords: refrigerated kiosks, smart vending, fresh food distribution, workplace food solutions, grab-and-go, automated retail, foodservice technology, corporate wellness, unattended retail, food kiosks, Art Tkachenko, Alex Yancher, Tony Chen, Byte Foods, office pantry, hospital food service, university dining, hotel amenities, food technology, contactless payment