A system for dispensing toppings onto a topping vehicle, comprising: a first topping module comprising a first hopper configured to dispense a first topping of a first topping type, a first blade adjacent a discharge end of the first hopper and configured to slice a topping serving from the first topping, and a first retaining plate offset from and adjacent the first blade opposite the first hopper; a second topping module comprising a second hopper configured to dispense a second topping of a second topping type, a second blade adjacent a discharge end of the second hopper and configured to slice a topping serving from the second topping, and a second retaining plate offset from and adjacent the second blade opposite the second hopper; a conveyor configured to advance the topping vehicle from a first position adjacent the first topping module to a second position adjacent the second topping module; and a carriage configured to (i) retract and advance the first blade and the first retaining plate to dispense a topping serving from the first topping onto the topping vehicle in the first position, and (ii) retract and advance the second blade and the second retaining plate to dispense a topping serving from the second topping onto the topping vehicle in the second position, wherein the carriage comprises a beam and an actuator configured to advance and to retract the beam; the system being characterized in that the carriage further comprises: a first selection actuator coupled to the beam and configured to, in response to a first topping order specifying a request for the first topping type, selectively engage the first blade and the first retaining plate, such that (i) when engaged by the first selection actuator, the first blade moves with the beam and (ii) when engaged by the first selection actuator, the first retaining plate moves with the beam; a second selection actuator coupled to the beam and configured to, in response to a second topping order specifying a request for the second topping type, selectively engage the second blade and the second retaining plate, such that (i) when engaged by the second selection actuator, the second moves with the beam and (ii) when engaged by the second selection actuator, the second retaining plate moves with the beam. a first topping module comprising a first hopper configured to dispense a first topping of a first topping type, a first blade adjacent a discharge end of the first hopper and configured to slice a topping serving from the first topping, and a first retaining plate offset from and adjacent the first blade opposite the first hopper; a second topping module comprising a second hopper configured to dispense a second topping of a second topping type, a second blade adjacent a discharge end of the second hopper and configured to slice a topping serving from the second topping, and a second retaining plate offset from and adjacent the second blade opposite the second hopper; a conveyor configured to advance the topping vehicle from a first position adjacent the first topping module to a second position adjacent the second topping module; and a carriage configured to (i) retract and advance the first blade and the first retaining plate to dispense a topping serving from the first topping onto the topping vehicle in the first position, and (ii) retract and advance the second blade and the second retaining plate to dispense a topping serving from the second topping onto the topping vehicle in the second position, (i) retract and advance the first blade and the first retaining plate to dispense a topping serving from the first topping onto the topping vehicle in the first position, and (ii) retract and advance the second blade and the second retaining plate to dispense a topping serving from the second topping onto the topping vehicle in the second position, a first selection actuator coupled to the beam and configured to, in response to a first topping order specifying a request for the first topping type, selectively engage the first blade and the first retaining plate, such that (i) when engaged by the first selection actuator, the first blade moves with the beam and (ii) when engaged by the first selection actuator, the first retaining plate moves with the beam; a second selection actuator coupled to the beam and configured to, in response to a second topping order specifying a request for the second topping type, selectively engage the second blade and the second retaining plate, such that (i) when engaged by the second selection actuator, the second moves with the beam and (ii) when engaged by the second selection actuator, the second retaining plate moves with the beam.