Milkshake vending machine at Llaeth Carreg farm proves a hit

Llaeth Carreg farm in Treuddyn launched their contactless machine earlier this year and are open 5.30am to 8.30pm every day.

Edward Morgan, aged 39, runs the farm with his wife Helen, aged 35, three young children and his parents.

Edward Morgan farmer. credit; Brian Irvine

He said: “What has affected us massively is the cost of living crisis, I mean our fee prices have just soared, fuels gone up, our costs have really increased.”

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Mr Morgan is the fifth generation in his family on the farm and hopes the new machine will allow them to “expand (their) customer basis” and provide consumers with a good value experience.

Customers attending the vending machine are invited to purchase a reusable bottle for £2 and fill it up with either 500ml or 1 Litre of fresh pasturised milk.

Unlike supermarkets, the milk is taken directly from pasteurisation on site and put into the machines which are refilled every two days.

Customer using the machine at Llaeth Carreg. Credit; Brian Irvine

The core flavours are strawberry, banana and chocolate with a speciality flavour chosen by Mr Morgan's children announced on the LLaeth Carreg Facebook page every Thursday.

Flavours so far have included rhubarb and custard, salted caramel, hot cross buns, pop corn, candy floss, vanilla and cream egg.

Mr Morgan believes “people like that they’re coming to get the milk from the source” and that there is a low carbon footprint.

The walls of the vending machine shed display photos of some of the 230 cows that are currently on the farm.

Cows at Llaeth Carreg. Credit; Brian Irvine Since opening the vending machines the farm has welcomed customers of all ages and from as far as Liverpool, however, it is the locals that have come in abundance.

Mr Morgan said: “I have met so many people that live in the village that I have never met before it’s become sort of a community.”

Steve, a local contractor with S. Roberts Electric, says the appeal for him is the sustainability and getting to support a local farmer.

In the local Treuddyn Community Group Facebook page locals are sharing their experiences with comments such as: “Great milk, love the chocolate” and “the view from there is fabulous as well.”