Melbourne’s vibrant late-night food scene is experiencing a European twist with the introduction of a unique “sandwich automat.” This innovative concept, known as the Heinz x Nico’s Night Shift, is a collaboration between cult favorite Nico’s Deli and condiment giant Heinz, marking the city’s first after-hours sandwich vending experience.
Located at Nico’s Sandwich Deli in Fitzroy, this six-month pop-up showcases a self-serve dining model that has long been popular across Europe. Patrons can access their food directly from illuminated compartments built into the wall, offering a novel and convenient dining experience.
The Inspiration Behind the Automat
Nico’s Deli co-owner Leo Thompson shared that the idea for the vending machine was inspired by a business partner who had recently observed the concept in action in Amsterdam. “He just saw the convenience and the accessibility and also the atmosphere that these machines created over there,” Thompson explained to News Corp Australia.
Thompson emphasized that the automat builds on the original concept of Heinz, catering to what people desire during late-night hours. “There’s nothing really quite like it over here,” he added. “It was taking and building on the original concept of Heinz and going, ‘Well, what do people really want of an evening?’”
A Playful Twist on Traditional Service
The automat offers a more “playful” alternative to Nico’s traditional daytime service. “There’s no seating, there’s no benches or tables,” Thompson noted. “It’s really meant to be this really fast transaction and also it is a bit gimmicky. We can be self-aware enough to go, it’s meant to be silly and playful.”
Each day, the automat is stocked with fresh sandwiches featuring a variety of Heinz sauces. According to Heinz head of marketing Andrea Payne, the company is “ecstatic” to partner with Nico’s Deli. “The synergy between Heinz and Nico’s Deli has made the partnership feel natural, bringing together our iconic sauces with Nico’s delicious sandwich recipes to create a bespoke menu,” Payne said.
“The automat concept came to life because of true collaboration between Heinz and the Nico’s team, who were open to thinking outside the box on how we could bring late-night sandwiches to Fitzroy.” — Andrea Payne, Heinz Head of Marketing
Public Reception and Future Prospects
Since its launch on March 12, the public response to the vending machines has been positive. Thompson expressed optimism about the potential for the Night Shift automat to become a permanent fixture in other parts of Melbourne. “Melbourne is such a wonderful city for late night culture, food, gigs, music, art, even just pub culture,” he said. “I think there is such an opportunity to see more of this kind of thing.”
While fast food vending machines have gained popularity in recent years, Thompson assured that customer service remains a priority for the brand’s main operations. “People crave that connection and I think that there has to be a place for that in the future of food service regardless of the technology that comes in,” he emphasized.
The Heinz x Nico’s Night Shift is open Thursdays to Saturdays from 7pm to 11pm at Nico’s Sandwich Deli Fitzroy, offering a new way for Melburnians to enjoy late-night snacks.
