If you’ve traveled abroad you would have noticed that there’s an ATM for just about everything overseas. You can get high-end champagne, fresh-cut flowers, hot coffee and in Dubai you can even get gold bars from an ATM. It’s 2020 and we are all about convenience, which is why we find ATMs to be so convenient.
I was pleasantly surprised when I popped into Sandton City the other day and came across not one, but two, pink, ATM’s. One dispensing gourmet cupcakes, the other, ice cream macarons. I immediately set up an interview with the owner and this is what we uncovered.
1) Where did this idea of a cupcake and macaron ATM come from?
We have been looking into ways to get our products directly to the consumer at its freshest. We have heard of many bad experiences at bakeries and patisseries where they have been accused of selling stale, unedible and unhygienic confections. We realised that we needed to find a way to eliminate the handling of products, as well as for us to try to find ways to get the confections directly from the oven to the consumer. A Cupcake ATM opened this door for us and it was a fun and trendy way to launch our range.
2) How long has this concept been in development?
Almost a year
3) Were the machines made locally?
No, they weren’t, we had them manufactured overseas with a team of highly skilled Engineers & Software Developers
4) Does your business make the cupcakes, macarons and ice cream macarons or are they outsourced?
Shazmins started off as a home-based industry in 2010. We are now a fully-fledged patisserie specializing in the art of french macaron making, Ice cream Macarons, Cupcakes, Individual desserts, tarts & pastries, catering & events, all available through our online store, www.shazmins.co.za . Our patisserie base is in Pretoria. All our confections are made in-house by our team of pastry chefs & bakers.
The ATM The ATM
5) How long will the ATM’s be in Sandton City for? Will there be a roll out to other malls across SA too?
The ATM’s will be in Sandton City for about 6months/permanently depending on the demand from customers. However, the plans are to expand to Cape Town & Durban in the near future.
6) How much do the cupcakes cost and please give me your top 3 flavours?
Cupcakes start at an affordable price of only R30-upwards. We have a variety of flavours. At the moment we are in the test phase to see which are the most preferred flavours. They range from basic vanilla sprinkle, Nutella, oreo, unicorn, red velvet, strawberry milkshake, sweetie pie, choc mud, salty caramel to the exotic lemon meringue.
We also add weekly surprise flavours as well as festive and themed cupcakes. We will also be adding our much anticipated VEGAN choc mud cupcakes soon!
7) How much do the macarons cost and do they come in different flavours?
The ATM has boxes of 5 macarons @ R85/Box in assorted flavours, Flavours change weekly, so keep popping by to enjoy new taste experiences.
Ice cream macarons Cupcakes
8) How much do the ice cream macarons cost and what are your top 3 flavours?
Our Standard range starts @ R25/Ice cream & The Signature Range ( Belgium Chocolate Coated) @ R30
We have over 40 Flavours to choose from, visit our Website for the full range of flavours.
9) Can people order cupcakes/cakes/macarons from you for special occasions?
Yes, most definitely. Shazmins is an online store catering for all types of functions & events, visit www.shazmins.co.za to place your orders. We offer a delivery service as well
Shazmin’s is also the first patisserie in Africa to use artificial intelligence to dispense freshly baked goods directly from oven to consumer.
