This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Steve Slagle, a 42-year-old entrepreneur from Panama City Beach, Florida, about ice vending machines. It has been edited for length and clarity.

People love getting food from vending machines because its quick, cheap and relatively painless. They don't need to deal with a cashier or counter person; they can just grab their change and go. If ...

Owned by Janie Souter, the machine was purchased from franchise dealer Texas Ice Express after Souter and her husband, Mike, saw an advertisement for the company in The Daily Sentinel. The machines ...