Ireland has seen its first ever 24-hour vending machine shop open in New Ross, County Wexford.

E - Kiosk offers a convenient store shop that serves all products from vending machines - but will the community lose human interaction?

Owner Tomás Young told Newstalk reporter Henry McKean that “there’s quite a few humans involved in the entire process”.

“We’re just trying to maybe give an alternative way of doing retail, it’s in no way eliminating the human being whatsoever,” he said on Newstalk Breakfast.

“It’s actually making it very flexible because our stocking staff and our general service staff can kind of pick a lot of their own hours.”

E-Kiosk shop owner Tomás Young. Image: Newstalk/Henry McKean.

Mr Young said the shop is "different" to what people may be used to but that he still wants to offer a "warm" experience.

“A lot of people kind of questioned why we would go into a rural town," he said.

“I suppose; number one, we’re from the town, so New Ross has been very good to us, we're trying to give a little bit back to the area.

“But also because small rural towns are forgotten, the town has really come behind us.

“It’s been really, really, really heartwarming that the town has really embraced this and it’s almost like because we’ve took a chance on the town, they’re certainly taking a chance on us and coming in and we really, really appreciate it.”

 

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E-Kiosk. Image: Newstalk/Henry McKean.

The store offers products ranging from the everyday to the exotic and unique.

A variety of Japanese Pokémon fizzy drinks can be found on the shelves alongside Ramune bottled cola and various flavours of Pepsi that are not available elsewhere in Ireland.

The shop was lucky to avoid any power outages during Storm Éowyn.

However, technical director Emils Kiukucans said that the shop has backup power ready to go in case of emergencies.

The E-Kiosk offers fresh local milk. Image: Newstalk/Henry McKean.

The shop also offers strawberry, chocolate and banana milk.

"So, it's fresh farmer's milk, which will last you for five days," said Mr Kiukucans.

"There is going to be a little bit of cream like the old days, so you just shake it up every morning again."

The store employs a team of shop stockers, technology support, designers and engineers.

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Main image: E Kiosk Ireland New Ross - Photo Credit: Visit New Ross, Facebook