A consumable item dispenser, comprising: an ingredient storage unit (138a-138n) configured to store a consumable ingredient (140a-140n) used to produce consumable items by the dispenser; a sensor (142a-142n) configured to sense an amount of consumable ingredient (140a-140n) remaining to be dispensed; an input/output unit configured to communicate data over a communications network; and a processing unit in communication with said sensor (142a-142n), and configured to: authenticate an electronic device associated with an operator; register the electronic device associated with the operator; determine whether an amount of the ingredient in the ingredient storage unit is at or below a threshold level in response to receiving a sensor signal indicative of an amount of ingredient (140a-140n) remaining in the ingredient storage unit (138a-138n); in response to determining that a remaining amount of ingredient (140a-140n) is at or below the threshold level, generate a notification indicative that the ingredient (140a-140n) is at or below the threshold level; identify an operator to which to communicate the notification via the registered electronic device; and communicate the notification to the registered electronic device associated with the identified operator via an input/output unit and over a communications network to notify the identified operator of the ingredient (140a-140n) being at or below the threshold level; wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine whether the notification is to be communicated to the operator or not based on the operator being a particular type of operator, and responsive to determining that the operator is a particular type of operator to receive the notification, communicating the notification to the electronic device of the operator. an ingredient storage unit (138a-138n) configured to store a consumable ingredient (140a-140n) used to produce consumable items by the dispenser; a sensor (142a-142n) configured to sense an amount of consumable ingredient (140a-140n) remaining to be dispensed; an input/output unit configured to communicate data over a communications network; and a processing unit in communication with said sensor (142a-142n), and configured to: authenticate an electronic device associated with an operator; register the electronic device associated with the operator; determine whether an amount of the ingredient in the ingredient storage unit is at or below a threshold level in response to receiving a sensor signal indicative of an amount of ingredient (140a-140n) remaining in the ingredient storage unit (138a-138n); in response to determining that a remaining amount of ingredient (140a-140n) is at or below the threshold level, generate a notification indicative that the ingredient (140a-140n) is at or below the threshold level; identify an operator to which to communicate the notification via the registered electronic device; and communicate the notification to the registered electronic device associated with the identified operator via an input/output unit and over a communications network to notify the identified operator of the ingredient (140a-140n) being at or below the threshold level; authenticate an electronic device associated with an operator; register the electronic device associated with the operator; determine whether an amount of the ingredient in the ingredient storage unit is at or below a threshold level in response to receiving a sensor signal indicative of an amount of ingredient (140a-140n) remaining in the ingredient storage unit (138a-138n); in response to determining that a remaining amount of ingredient (140a-140n) is at or below the threshold level, generate a notification indicative that the ingredient (140a-140n) is at or below the threshold level; identify an operator to which to communicate the notification via the registered electronic device; and communicate the notification to the registered electronic device associated with the identified operator via an input/output unit and over a communications network to notify the identified operator of the ingredient (140a-140n) being at or below the threshold level; wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine whether the notification is to be communicated to the operator or not based on the operator being a particular type of operator, and responsive to determining that the operator is a particular type of operator to receive the notification, communicating the notification to the electronic device of the operator.