Kenco Millicano brought vending to life in London with 'Kenneth', a talking vending machine, delighting customers in Soho Square on 6 July.

Kenneth appeared to be a normal vending machine. However, people in search of a caffeine hit soon discovered that ‘great coffee speaks for itself’ – quite literally.

With the help of a hidden comedian, Kenneth chatted to people while dispensing free cups of Kenco Millicano – sometimes even asking them to do something a little bit silly in reward for their free cup!

Kenco Millicano combines a blend of premium freeze-dried coffee with finely-milled roast and ground coffee beans, delivering a taste that is closer to roast and ground with the convenience of an instant.

The activity marked the launch of the brand in the Away From Home market, with new 300g vending bags available for use in vending machines and counter-top dispensers.

The product is also available as part of the Kenco2Go range, along with decals and fascias.

Nicola Wild, Senior Brand Manager for Kenco Professional, said: “Kenneth has definitely put a smile on people’s faces in the same way that Kenco Millicano – the closest thing to ‘proper’ coffee in an instant – does.

“Already, Kenco Millicano has seen huge success in the retail market, and is now worth almost £17m. Our new products designed for out of home operators are ideal for premium workplaces, small to medium leisure sites, premium healthcare and tertiary education.

"These are sites where coffee may be a secondary offering but where catering and facilities managers want to provide something more special, and a bit different to the standard hot beverage range, without compromising on convenience.”