A vending machine for dispensing discrete products from a dispensing cavity , wherein the vending machine comprises at least one storage container for products to be dispensed and a dispensing assembly; wherein the storage container includes a plurality of baffles to support products within the container and direct flow of products from the storage container to the dispensing assembly; wherein the dispensing assembly comprises a dispensing cylinder mounted for rotation within or adjacent a lower portion of the storage container, intermediate the storage container and the dispensing cavity; wherein the dispensing cylinder is a dispensing cylinder comprising a shaft having a plurality of axial dividing walls or vanes dividing the cylinder into a plurality of axial product-receiving cavities, or is a dispensing cylinder comprising a plurality of radially arranged rods ; wherein the dispensing assembly includes indexing means adapted to cause stepwise rotation of the dispensing cylinder ; and wherein the indexing means comprises at least one indexing disc and the dispensing assembly further comprises an actuator arm mounted for reciprocal motion; wherein the indexing disc comprises a toothed disc or gear; the actuator arm has a distal end adapted sequentially, in use, to engage and bear against a tooth of the toothed disc to advance the dispensing cylinder ; wherein the actuator arm has a proximal end mounted to a reciprocatable member , wherein the reciprocatable member is moveable between a first configuration in which the distal end of the arm does not bear against a respective tooth of the toothed disc and a second configuration in which distal end of the arm bears against a tooth to advance the cylinder by said rotation, and wherein the reciprocatable member has a fixed length of travel between the first configuration and the second configuration; and wherein the storage cavity is provided with a base ; characterised in that the reciprocatable member is arranged, as it moves between the first configuration and the second configuration, to push products along the base to the dispensing cylinder . wherein the dispensing assembly comprises a dispensing cylinder mounted for rotation within or adjacent a lower portion of the storage container, intermediate the storage container and the dispensing cavity; wherein the dispensing cylinder is a dispensing cylinder comprising a shaft having a plurality of axial dividing walls or vanes dividing the cylinder into a plurality of axial product-receiving cavities, or is a dispensing cylinder comprising a plurality of radially arranged rods ; wherein the dispensing assembly includes indexing means adapted to cause stepwise rotation of the dispensing cylinder ; and wherein the indexing means comprises at least one indexing disc and the dispensing assembly further comprises an actuator arm mounted for reciprocal motion; wherein the indexing disc comprises a toothed disc or gear; the actuator arm has a distal end adapted sequentially, in use, to engage and bear against a tooth of the toothed disc to advance the dispensing cylinder ; wherein the actuator arm has a proximal end mounted to a reciprocatable member , wherein the reciprocatable member is moveable between a first configuration in which the distal end of the arm does not bear against a respective tooth of the toothed disc and a second configuration in which distal end of the arm bears against a tooth to advance the cylinder by said rotation, and wherein the reciprocatable member has a fixed length of travel between the first configuration and the second configuration; and wherein the storage cavity is provided with a base ; characterised in that the reciprocatable member is arranged, as it moves between the first configuration and the second configuration, to push products along the base to the dispensing cylinder . <EOS>