Abstract: A vending machine includes a plurality of vending channels defined by parallel upright walls spaced across an upper part of the vending machine. Each wall of the vending machine defining the vending channels ends at a common lower height with escape openings at the lower ends of each vending channel. A plurality of circular cross sectional containers, being cans or bottles, can be stacked in a lying position within the vending channels and can escape through the respective lower escape openings. A dispensing arrangement is located below the plurality of the vending channels and includes a plurality of releasing mechanisms located adjacent each other and able to be separately or jointly controlled so that the vending channels can be divided into defined portions to receive different sized containers or different content containers and the required separate or adjacent releasing mechanisms can be activated to dispense the required container from the defined portion of the vending channel.