Abstract: Vending machine (10) houses two rows of four stacks of bags (13), differing in material or size. On coin actuation, bag (13) on the top of a selected stack is gripped by suction cup (27) and moved so that it falls into compartment (14), from where it is externally accessible. Suction cup (27) is movable, by a pneumatic ram, to-and-fro along horizontal arm (24) to grip, say, bag (13) of a rear stack and bring it forward so that it can be deposited in compartment (14). Arm (24), in turn, is movable up or down vertical arm (36) that, in turn, is movable horizontally along guide track (28) so that different stacks can be accessed.