The Everest Blog

When you need a bag of ice cubes for a barbecue, camping, or a road trip, making a quick stop at the gas station is the most convenient option. However, the traditional method of having ice delivered by trucks and stored in chests that need manual daily refilling creates inconsistencies in supply, quality, and pricing. Fortunately, there’s now a modern solution revolutionizing the way gas stations provide ice — an automated ice vending machine. Read on to learn why integrated ice vending systems are the best method for buying ice at gas stations today.

Why Buy Ice at a Gas Station?

Gas stations remain the most convenient and reliable place to purchase ice while out running errands or taking a trip. Gas stations are everywhere these days, so chances are, there’s one located close to your home or destination. Customers can simply drop in, grab their ice from the entrance, pay, and go.

Additionally, gas stations typically stock standard sizes of ice bags, such as 7 or 10 pounds, which are useful quantities for many applications. Finally, gas station ice prices are quite competitive, making it an affordable option. With convenience, quality, and pricing in mind, keeping gas station ice in your back pocket is handy for when an ice need arises unexpectedly.

How to Ensure You Get Fresh and Clean Bagged Ice

Customers ultimately want to have confidence that their ice is freshly made and handled properly for purity. With traditional chest ice, packaged ice can easily be ripped and exposed to contaminants and human contact throughout the day. Visually inspecting ice when purchasing is always a good habit to get into. Look for evenly formed cubes without irregular shapes or “webbed” frost patterns, which will tell you that the ice was created properly.

One solution to the uncertainty of pre-packaged ice is vended ice. Integrated 24/7 ice vending machines provide fresh, purified ice when customers need it. Clean ice chilled right until it’s dispensed ensures optimal coldness too, unlike ice that has been sitting and slowly melting in distant distribution plants and retail locations. Quality and safety standards of station ice are less guaranteed when the bags are coming from far-off facilities.

These specialized ice makers continually produce new ice all day long. The machine keeps the ice-locked away inside — safe from outside elements and the risk of contamination — automatically dispensing cubes into bags without any human contact.

What Exactly Is an Ice Vending Machine?

Ice vending machines are automated self-service kiosks designed to produce and vend ice directly to consumers. These specialized ice makers filter and chill water before freezing it into cubes. Customers can then instantly purchase either bagged ice or bulk ice dispensed right into their cooler. Ice machines require no restocking or staffing, as the equipment generates fresh ice automatically without the need for hauling, scooping, or packaging by employees.

Although the technology is advanced and the filtration system is thorough, understanding gas station ice machine operations and maintenance is simple. After a quick and easy installation process, all owners need to do is replace the filters every once in a while.

Key Reasons Ice Vending Beats Ice Chests

• Reliable Supply: With ice chests, running out of ice completely is a constant concern, leading to frustrated customers and lost opportunities for sales. Integrated vending units make ice nonstop without reliance on a distribution schedule.
• On-Demand Production: Managing inventory is eliminated with a vending machine that creates fresh ice to meet immediate demand.
• Sanitary Ice: Ice is produced locally without human contact, which greatly reduces the chance of contamination from handling, transportation and storage.
• Consistent Pricing: Fluctuating wholesale costs and labor no longer impact pricing like with traditional ice chest distribution models.
• Minimal Labor: Once installed, ice machines run fully automated without daily refilling/stocking tasks needed for standard ice chests.
• 24/7 Access: Consumers can purchase clean, fresh ice anytime at their convenience, rather than only during a store’s open hours like with most chest ice.

Learn more about the benefits of installing gas station ice machines.

Choosing the Best Ice Vending Machine

The reliability and security of an ice vending system are key for gas stations investing in this emerging technology. Avoid equipment prone to malfunctions and breakdowns, which leads to costly repairs and ice supply disruptions. Only choose established brands with reputations for quality and durability. Ice storage capacity and daily production rates should be capable of meeting customer demand. Finally, look for convenient features like integrated water vending, LED lighting, and built-in security features.

Everest Ice: The Smart Choice for Gas Stations

At Everest Ice and Water Systems, we specialize in manufacturing advanced commercial ice machines for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone eager to start their own business. Our innovative vending models are purpose-built for gas stations ready to upgrade their ice supply operations. Everest VX models can produce 1,553-1,909 lbs. of refreshing ice daily using Everpure’s five-stage filtration system, which removes impurities, strange tastes, and odors without the use of chemicals.

However, the real advantage is Everest’s patented one-moving part dispensing system called VersaVend. This revolutionary design completely eliminates internal jamming issues that notoriously plague other vending units with overly complex movement mechanisms. Maintenance is drastically reduced for reliable 24/7 ice on-demand.

With superior technology and smart optimization for owner profits, Everest machines enable gas stations to leap ahead of competitors still relying on dated ice chest distribution models. Contact us today if you’re ready to upgrade your ice supply with Everest’s modern ice makers!

FAQs

Can you buy ice at a gas station?

Yes, most gas stations sell ice that customers can purchase. Owners recognize that people often need to buy ice when traveling or heading to a social event, so they stock various sizes of ice bags to meet this demand. The ice is usually located in large coolers near the front of the store or beside the refrigerated goods. Stations typically sell ice in smaller 5-10 pound bags up to 20-30+ pound bags for people who need to keep things cold in large coolers.

Why do people buy bagged ice?

People buy bagged ice for several reasons. One of the main reasons is convenience. Bagged ice is readily available for purchase at most grocery stores and gas stations, allowing people to easily grab a bag on their way to events, parties, camping trips, etc. This saves them the trouble of having to produce their own ice at home.

Additionally, bagged ice comes pre-portioned into handy sizes, like 7- or 10-lb. bags. This takes the guesswork out of how much ice to purchase and transport. People also opt for bagged ice when they need a large quantity of ice for chilling beverages, keeping food cold, or filling coolers. It’s generally more affordable to buy a few larger premade bags than to continually make tray ice at home. Finally, some people simply prefer the quality that comes with commercially made bagged ice, like its clarity, purity, thickness, and reliable temperature.