Automated side opening door for a refrigerated enclosure of a vending machine

A vending machine comprising:

• a refrigerated enclosure including a housing for storage of an associated pre-packaged food product, the housing having a for and a sidewall with a sidewall opening;
• a door mounted to the sidewall for closing and opening the sidewall opening;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to the door and adapted to mechanically move the door between a closed position and an opened position, the drive mechanism including at least one sensing device adapted to determine whether the door is in one of the closed position and the opened position;
• and
• a door rail mounted to the sidewall and having a guide track, the door movably received in the guide track,
• wherein a plate is mounted to the housing sidewall, the plate including a plate opening aligned with the sidewall opening, and further including a pass through member positioned in both the plate opening and the sidewall opening.