What is claimed to be the UK’s first gourmet self-service food concept – a giant dispensing unit aimed at high-footfall locations - is set to be unveiled next week.

Button Gourmet, a high-capacity, 23 foot by 10 foot machine has the potential to serve quality food and drink 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to maker Coffetek.

Though it is designed for contract caterers, offices, train stations and hospitals, Coffetek sales director Ian Johnston told The Grocer it would also work within sheltered areas built on forecourts that could not house a full-service convenience store.

He also described it as a way high street brands could extend their reach into workplaces, whether providing food and drink from the likes of EAT or from supermarket operators.

“We want to get away from the word ‘vending’ because people have a negative impression. We are talking about an unattended retailer that gives you convenience of what vending used to give you but now has the wow factor,” he said.

Button Gourmet has a menu of up to 180 different food, snack and cold drink products alongside a comprehensive range of barista-style hot beverages, stored in a multi-temperature atmosphere.

Users can pay using credit card, coins, notes or smartphone. A 46-inch touchscreen can be programmed to incorporate menu changes and promotions. Attached microwaves can heat products which are dispensed on a tray.

“The idea is the menu would be a cross-section of food that could be breakfast, lunch or brunch products, like hand snacks, salad pots, stuff you got buy in a deli – not necessarily plated food but hand-snacks food, on the go,” Johnston said.

Delivery is envisaged the second quarter of 2015.