Draft:IJooz

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done ! EDIT: MOS:SEEALSO isn't required and I think it feels a bit forced, it'd probably be warranted if there were competitors or similar vending machines in Singapore that don't get mentioned in the body? @CopyleftEverything Hypnoticreflection (talk) 09:33, 19 June 2026 (UTC)


iJooz
TypePrivate
IndustryFood and drink industry
FoundedJune 2016 (2016-06) in Singapore
FounderBruce Zhang
Area served
32 countries as of 2025, including Singapore and Japan
ProductsOrange juice
Websitewww.ijooz.com

iJooz, stylised IJOOZ, is a brand of vending machine selling orange juice. It was founded in Singapore in 2016 by entrepreneur Bruce Zhang. It has expanded internationally to 32 countries, such as Japan, and plans to further expand to places such as New York City.

Origin and expansion

iJooz was founded by Bruce Zhang in June[1] 2016, from Singapore.[2] Zhang worked in the semiconductor industry for 12 years, which motivated him to create a solution for the challenges that traditional retail face, such as labour and cost.[2] He chose to sell orange juice, as he believed that oranges are an internationally familiar flavour.[1] As of 2025, it did not have any competitors in Singapore selling orange juice, as its only competitor, Q Orange, left the market.[3] The company also sells and lease machines to others.[1]

After launching in 2016, the company operated just over 20 machines in Singapore over a year, focusing more on research and development instead.[2] He originally invested about S$1 million in the company.[1] Growth was paused during 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] In 2024, it garnered a profit of US$2.5 million.[4] As of 2025, the company operated 1,500 vending machines in Singapore,[3] and operated an additional 100 machines every month in Singapore.[2]

International expansion

In 2019, it started expanding internationally, focusing on Japan in 2023 and 2024[2] as its first country.[5] As of 2025, it is present in 32 countries,[4] such as Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and Switzerland.[1] Zhang hopes to make an initial public offering in the United States by 2027.[2][4] He hopes to first expand to New York City in the United States.[2]

In Japan

As of 2025, it operated 1300 machines in Japan, such as in Tokyo and Osaka,[2] after accelerating expansion during a period of orange juice shortage[1] due to a hurricane in Florida,[5] turning profitable in April 2024.[1] The company plans to grow and establish 100,000 machines in Japan.[1]

In July 2021, Feed ME Orange (フィード・ミー・オレンジ), a competitor orange juice vending machine established by ME Group Japan, a subsidiary of ME Group International, entered the Japanese market.[5] iJooz had not entered the market yet, and had created vending machines for ME Group Japan, before becoming competitors in April 2023 by entering the market themselves due to the strong demand.[5] ME Group Japan stopped buying machines from iJooz as a result.[5]

Product

iJooz machines are set up at various locations and are ubiquitous in Singapore,[3] such as at schools, shopping centers or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations.[2] The orange juice is undiluted and unsweetened.[5] The number of oranges used depends on their sizes, ranging from three to four.[6] Some vending machines offer ice[2] and others serve pulp with the orange juice,[3] but most machines do not.[2][3] Some vending machines operate a pantry system for offices, offering different food items.[1] The company considered to increase variation in their drinks in Japan, such as using carbonation.[5]

The temperature of the machine is kept at four degrees celsius, for hygiene purposes.[2] The vending machines can be accessed remotely to correct technological errors,[1] as well as tracking of information such as the remaining number of oranges and straws.[6]

In 2025, most cups cost S$2 in Singapore, but some cost S$3 due to landlord requirements, while they cost 350 yen in Japan.[2]

Criticism

The orange juice product has drawn criticism from nutritionists, who say that eating unsqueezed oranges with dietary fiber contain fewer calories and sate one's hunger more effectively.[3] Orange juice does not fill one up as efficiently and may lead to one consuming more calories than intended.[3] Since most of the machines opt for juicing via cold-pressing instead of blending, the nutrients are also lost in the pulp.[3]

Incidents

Stealing

On February 24, 2019, Lee Zhi Hao, a 28-year-old Malaysian, stole a total of S$2,354 from eight vending machines such as Fortune Centre and Parklane Mall.[7] He used the money to pay his debts.[7] He worked for Fruits Vending, which operated iJooz vending machines.[8] He was arrested on 20 March, and sentenced to nine weeks of jail time on 8 April.[7]

Straw-licking

On March 12, 2026,[9] a French 18 year old student from ESSEC Business School[10] uploaded a video on Instagram[9] of himself licking a straw from the iJooz vending machine at Goldhill Centre[11] before putting it back in.[10] He did it knowing that it would probably cause a public annoyance, according to a court investigation.[12] He was charged with mischief.[10] iJooz replaced all straws in the affected machine, and conducted sanitary checks.[9] He left Singapore temporarily for three weeks for an internship to Manila as a graduation requirement while still facing charges.[13][14] His case was postponed to June 26.[14]

References

  1. Sivakumar, Yoganeetha (19 December 2025). "Expanding during an orange shortage: Inside iJooz's 8-year sprint towards IPO ambitions". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  2. Ang, Hwee Min (16 January 2025). "From Singapore to the world: iJooz CEO on revolutionising orange juice". CNA. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  3. Lok, Cherie (22 February 2025). "A healthier choice? How juice vending machines like iJooz took over Singapore". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  4. Cordon, Miguel (24 November 2025). "Ijooz squeezes US$2.5 million in net profit in FY 2024". The Business Times. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  5. "「生搾りオレンジ」自販機急増 海外2社、協業のち競合" [Rapid expansion of "freshly squeezed orange" vending machine of two overseas companies, competition after having been partners]. 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 23 November 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  6. "「国内に毎日3台～5台を設置」オレンジ不足もなんのその 全国に広がる生搾りジュースの自販機に行列 広島にも2社が設置開始 | RCC NEWS | 広島ニュース | RCC中国放送 (1ページ)". RCC中国放送 (in Japanese). 4 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  7. Lam, Lydia (8 April 2019). "Man jailed for stealing S$2,300 from orange juice vending machines after he was fired". CNA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  8. Tang, Louisa (8 April 2019). "Ex-driver jailed for stealing over S$2,000 from orange juice vending machines". CNA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  9. Chia, Laura (2 April 2026). "Teen arrested after allegedly licking iJooz straw and placing it back in machine". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  10. Alkhatib, Shaffiq (24 April 2026). "Teen charged with mischief over iJooz straw incident". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  11. Lam, Lydia (24 April 2026). "Teenager charged with mischief, public nuisance for licking iJooz straw and returning it to vending machine". CNA. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  12. France-Presse, Agence (27 April 2026). "French teen in Singapore faces jail for licking vending machine straw". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  13. "French teen in straw licking case allowed to leave Singapore". CNA. 29 April 2026. Archived from the original on 30 April 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  14. Alkhatib, Shaffiq (29 May 2026). "Teenager's licking straw case adjourned in Singapore". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 14 June 2026.

Category:Food and drink in Singapore Category:Fruit drinks Category:Singaporean drinks Category:Vending machines