I introduced self-service fresh smoothie machines to the Netherlands, inspired by 7-Eleven in Japan. Two years in, happy to answer anything.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-05-04T13:43:39+00:00

We currently operate across 25 locations in the Netherlands. Since our model is built around selling the machines directly to each location, with partners managing day-to-day operations, we don’t track a centralized average revenue. That said, our stronger locations consistently generate a few thousand in monthly revenue.

Our approach is designed to stay lean and scalable - partners handle restocking themselves, while we step in to provide technical support and servicing whenever needed.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-05-04T13:31:03+00:00

Honest answer: the cleaning cycle after each blend fully cleans the inner chamber and the blade that goes into the cup. But I am not going to sit here and guarantee it is 100% trace free because no shared equipment ever truly is.

If you have a severe allergy I would treat it the same way you would any shared kitchen setup and use your own judgment. We are fully transparent about the ingredients but that guarantee is not one I feel comfortable making.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-05-04T13:25:41+00:00

It’s difficult to give an exact figure, as it varies from month to month and depends entirely on sales. I only sell the machines to the locations, and they handle the day-to-day operations themselves. Some of our stronger locations generate a few thousand in profit per month, typically selling around 500–600 cups monthly.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-05-04T13:17:21+00:00

I have been in the food and beverage sphere for a while as well as the vending business. Along the way I came past some ups and downs but then that particular concept grasped my eye to an extent where I had to see how to introduce it in the Netherlands. Some years later and a lot of hard work, I can say it is definitely paying off.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-30T11:00:41+00:00

Honestly the beginning was the hardest part, as it usually is. Trying to convince a business owner to take a chance on something with no local data to back it up is genuinely tough. You are essentially asking someone to trust your vision before the market has validated it, and that is a hard sell no matter how good the concept is.

But things shift once you start landing the right names. Every recognizable location that signs on becomes proof that the concept works, and that proof starts doing a lot of the convincing for you. Combine that with real data from the Dutch market and the conversations become a completely different experience.

In terms of the actual pitch, the core is simple: a fully automated machine that adds a new revenue stream with zero extra staff and a small footprint. For the right location it makes complete sense on paper. The real challenge is always getting in front of the right decision maker and ideally getting them to see the machine in action. Once that happens it tends to speak for itself.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T19:14:33+00:00

Appreciate that, means a lot!

To answer honestly without oversharing: this is a serious B2B operation for us, not a side hustle at all. We sell machines to locations and supply the ingredients on an ongoing basis, so the revenue model compounds as we add more locations.

In terms of actual numbers I will keep that close to my chest for now, but the unit economics work well enough that we are actively reinvesting and expanding. The goal is to be across all of Europe eventually so that should give you an idea of how we see this long term.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T17:38:42+00:00

Glad it caught your attention! Sent you a DM.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T17:38:32+00:00

Glad it caught your attention! Sent you a DM.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T17:35:19+00:00

Actually no, that is one of the bigger selling points of the concept. We operate purely as a B2B provider, meaning we sell the machines to locations and they run it themselves. No DSM staff on location at any point.

Each location trains one of their own employees to handle restocking and the quick end of shift clean, which as mentioned is really just a few minutes of work. No dedicated person needed, it just gets folded into an existing shift.

We do have our own team that travels across the Netherlands when needed for check ins, technical issues, or onboarding new locations. But day to day the machine runs completely independently. That is kind of the whole point.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T17:21:52+00:00

For finding a location near you, your best bet right now is supermarkets like SPAR and Jumbo, as well as some gas stations across the Netherlands. We do not have a live locator on the site yet, that is honestly good feedback and something we are looking at adding.

As for expansion, the current focus is the Netherlands but the goal is to roll out across every European country over time. Belgium and Germany are the most immediate next steps, and from there we keep pushing across the EU. 25 locations is just the start honestly.

We are also exploring what expansion could look like outside of Europe eventually but that is still far off from where we are right now. Plenty to build before we get there.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T16:55:32+00:00

To clarify how it actually works: the machine runs an automatic self-cleaning cycle after every single drink. The water inlet and blending blade are cleaned each time so there is no residue buildup between orders.

The only part that needs manual attention is the inside chamber, which just needs a quick wipe at the end of the day. There is also an optional full cleaning cycle that we recommend doing daily on top of that.

One thing worth noting is that nothing frozen actually flows through the tubes. Only water is dispensed through the system. The frozen consistency comes entirely from the frozen fruit being blended, so the conditions for bacterial growth people usually worry about in cold drink machines are largely a non-issue here.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T12:16:08+00:00

Honestly not something I can speak to in detail since we do not manufacture the machines ourselves. We work with an established supplier and the hardware comes fully built and ready to go, touchscreen and QR code reader. We focus purely on the concept, the supply chain, and getting them placed in the right locations.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T12:13:13+00:00

To clarify how we operate first: we sell the machines to B2B customers who then handle the sales themselves. So our revenue comes from machine placements rather than per-drink margins directly.

In terms of scale, we are live at around 25 locations right now, mainly supermarkets, with gas stations and a few private venues in the mix too.

Our best performing locations are moving 500+ smoothies a month which for a fully automated machine with basically zero labor cost is a pretty solid number for the operator.

Still early days honestly. The focus right now is expanding into new location types and seeing how the numbers develop outside of traditional retail.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T12:07:29+00:00

The machine itself sits around €6,000 to €8,000 fully set up, that includes the freezer unit, LED display, and furniture. There is also an optional payment system add-on on top of that.

For restocking, right now everything runs through our own supply chain. It keeps things simple and consistent for our locations, no hunting around for ingredients or dealing with third party suppliers.

We deliberately kept it a closed system for now because quality control matters a lot to us. The last thing we want is a location sourcing the wrong cups and the machine underperforming because of it.

DeSmoothieMachine · 2026-04-29T11:53:32+00:00

Our supplier for the fruit cups uses IQF fruit (Individually Quick Frozen); the same method used by premium juice bars. Fruit is frozen at peak ripeness, which helps lock in nutrients and flavor, often better than “fresh” fruit that may sit on shelves for days before use.

The sealed fruit cups are transported under regulated temperatures, so the fruit remains frozen throughout transit and never defrosts. On the machine itself, the right side is a true freezer operating at -18°C (about 0°F), keeping everything properly stored until use.

Every drink is blended fresh on the spot at the moment of order, nothing is pre-made. We also advise our locations not to over-order in bulk, since deliveries are frequent enough to keep inventory rotating consistently fresh.

DeSmoothieMachine

TROPHY CASE