Vending machine and opening systems and methods

A vending machine system adapted to open and prepare contained food items, the system comprising:

• a cabinet including a refrigerated compartment, a preparation compartment, and a partition separating the refrigerated compartment and the preparation compartment, the partition configured to selectively allow access between the refrigerated compartment and the preparation compartment at a passage position;
• a rack frame
• a plurality of shelves arranged in the rack frame, each shelf of the plurality of shelves configured to support an associated contained food item at an associated storage position;
• a plurality of lid removal apparatuses, each lid removal apparatus of the plurality of lid removal apparatuses configured to remove a lid of the associated contained food item of an associated shelf of the plurality of shelves;
• and
• an elevator supported relative to the rack frame and including a support surface, wherein the elevator is configured to translate the support surface between each storage position of the plurality shelves and the passage position;
• a food item actuator supported relative to the rack frame, the food item actuator including an arm translatable relative to each lid removal apparatus, wherein the system is configured such that translation of the arm relative to a selected lid removal apparatus moves a container of the associated contained food item from the associated shelf to the support surface of the elevator, wherein the system is configured such that the lid of the associated contained food item is retained by the selected lid removal apparatus of the associated shelf subsequent to translation of the arm.