Ready for summer? This new Swansea ice vending machine business is.

SWANSEA — Babies born the last two years have come to be affectionately known as pandemic babies. 

Swansea resident Christopher Carreiro and his girlfriend had one too. But their little one, Owen Christopher, could also be considered an ice baby.

Last spring, the couple was hosting a gender reveal party. Carreiro at that time was also celebrating his re-election as a Swansea selectman. He was looking for a place where he could buy a large quantity of ice for the party. 

His search brought him to an ice vending business in Fall River. Less than a half year later, Carreiro opened an ice vending business of his own — all thanks to the gender reveal party.

Carreiro jokes that his girlfriend always states, “If it weren’t for the baby, you wouldn’t have a vending machine business. 

“I was fascinated by the (ice vending) concept and that's what piqued my interest,” he added. 

Carreiro’s fascination brought him to Kooler Ice in Georgia, where he began to learn about the business. 

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Carreiro discovered that these types of businesses help eliminate costs for the consumer. The consumer is not paying anyone to make, bag, or deliver the ice. The product freshness allows for the ice to be produced in neat cubes, rather than clumps that need to be broken apart. 

Carreiros said his ice is offered at half the price of traditional bagged ice. 

Carreiro researched the two manufacturers in this country and now owns a Kooler Ice vending machine business on Wilbur Avenue. He opened the business around Christmas and people are bustling in and out. “People are using it every day,” he said recently. 

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He said some people have questioned the logic of opening this type of business during the winter months. But his research has led him to conclude that winter is the best time to open such a business — giving it exposure before the busy months when people are searching for bags of ice for spring and summer gatherings. 

The only Kooler Ice from New York to Maine

There are 2,000 of these machines in the United States and the Caribbean islands, he said. He shared a map of these Kooler Ice machines in the United States, showing that his is the only Kooler Ice business in the northeast from New York to Maine

Despite all the positives, Carreiro and Kooler Ice have encountered some roadblocks. 

Carreiro also is looking to expand and sell purified water. However, Massachusetts has a different regulatory process. 

He said Kooler Ice has applied with the Environmental Protection Agency and has completed all requisite paperwork. 

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Carreiro said he has learned new information on the drinking water industry, such as how it takes three or four gallons to make one. 

Once he establishes that part of the business, the water will be purer than traditional bottle water, according to Carreiro. 

Carreiro says he is also using his ice to help local businesses. He is in contact with food trucks and selling them more affordable, “bulk pricing” ice. 

He is also donating excess ice to non-profits. 

To try out the ice vending machine yourself, stop by 495 Wilbur Ave.