Which environmental factor provided fertile ground for the large-scale adoption of vending machines in the United States?
Answer
Rapid industrialization and large, busy public spaces like train stations
While commercial vending originated in Europe, the United States served as a crucial environment for its large-scale expansion and diversification. This was primarily due to the country's rapid industrialization, which created dense urban centers and high volumes of transient populations. Locations like large train stations, characterized by high foot traffic and a premium on speed, offered the ideal setting where the convenience of automated sellers could be effectively tested and adopted, leading to an expansion of goods offered beyond simple paper items.
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