SANTIAGO, Chile – A new vending machine company is hoping to make a difference in Latin American countries whose residents may live on as little as $4 per day. According to the founders of Algramo, too often shops in the poorest areas may charge up to 40% more than those in better-off areas. Hoping to end this inequality, Algramo is distributing vending machines containing staples such as beans, lentils, rice and sugar around Santiago. It installs the affordable alternatives in local stores and then splits the profits with the shopkeepers.

The company developed its own customized vending machines, including one that dispenses laundry powder and one that dispenses a variety of staple foods. Rather than setting itself up as a competitor to neighborhood shops — which are an integral, social part of Chilean life — Algramo works with shopkeepers to improve the economic climate of the area. So far, the company has installed more than 300 machines in Chile, with plans to expand into Colombia.