Real Ice Cream Vending Machine Nears Market

MooBella, Inc., plans to bring its instant ice cream making machines to onsite venues late this year or early next year after securing $18 milllion in new funding from a venture capital firm. The company, which plans the rollout in New England initially, makes vending machines that produce and dispense real dairy-based ice cream in about 40 seconds. The units instantaneously aerate, flavor and flash freeze the ingredients into 96 different flavor combinations. Choices, selected by the consumer on a touch screen, include either premium or light ice cream, a dozen flavors and three mix-in ingredients. Currently, a prototype model is located at the Worcester (MA) Polytechnic Institute.