Abstract: There is described a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container. The dispensing apparatus comprises a support for supporting a container of product when the container is loaded into the apparatus, an actuator for effecting movement of the support in a first direction during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus and in a second direction during a return stroke of the apparatus; and a retainer for retaining a spent container of product so that a spent container is removed from the support during the return stroke.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container loaded into the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a first sensor for sensing electrically conductive material, wherein the first sensor is arranged to sense whether a first section of electrically conductive material has been removed from covering an aperture in the container to enable the food product to be dispensed by the apparatus through the aperture.