Category: Vending Industry

Employee benefits are important. The quality and type of benefits available at a business can have one of two effects. They can either draw potential Phoenix employees to a company or push them away. While benefits can be expensive, there is one benefit that employees consider higher value but has a lower cost for employers. 

What is it? The answer is the break room.

We’re not talking about just any break room though. We are talking about a break room that offers subsidized vending services or pantry service. 

Lower Cost Services

In traditional vending machines or a micro-market, employees pay the full cost for the products they buy. For subsidized vending services, Phoenix employers pay part of the cost. Their employees then get to enjoy all or some products at a reduced price.

No Cost Services

Pantry service offers an even bigger benefit. Employees get to enjoy the snacks, beverages, and fresh food for free. At the end of each month, employers receive a bill for the products that employees ate and drank. From packaged snacks to bulk nut and cereal options, there is something for everyone.

Free vending is like pantry service, but with a couple of differences. First, the products are in a vending machine instead of sitting out in the open. Second, there is a limit on the number of products offered in a vending machine. Otherwise, the menu can be customized to include everyone’s favorites.

Benefits for All

A break room should be a place for employees to recharge and refuel. The Phoenix break room with free or subsidized refreshments becomes something more.

Employers can use the space to attract new and keep current employees and drive up company loyalty. Happier and more engaged employees are more likely to spend more time at work instead of going off-site for meals and breaks.

Both vending service options also allow for a wider variety of healthy snacks and beverages. Employees are more likely to grab a healthy product if they are easily accessible.

Let’s talk about your break room.

Are you ready to take the next step to boost your Phoenix company’s break room benefits? We can help. Southwest Refreshments offers various vending service options that can be customized to meet your budget and your employee’s snacking and beverage needs.

For more information, please contact us at 623.780.3036. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Have you been thinking about offering your employees drinks and snacks on-site but aren’t sure how? Adding one or more vending machines is a smart solution. Unlike vending machines of 20 years ago, today’s machines are high-tech machines that can be filled with various sought-after snacks, beverages, and fresh food.

While a vending provider should be there to answer your questions, it’s helpful to think about several things beforehand.

Where should you put the vending machines?

The first thing you should consider is where the high-traffic areas are in your Scottsdale office or facility. To improve employee access to the vending machines, each machine should be placed in an area where employees often go. That space might be a break room, locker room, or specific entrance or hallway.

There is, however, one caveat.

Even in often used areas, try to avoid spaces that will disrupt the flow of movement if blocked. For example, your break room might be a large welcoming space that is busy during breaks and lunch. But placing the vending machine next to the main entrance of the room can cause a backup at the door and block employees from entering or leaving.

Placement and Permits

In addition to traffic flow, it is important to consider if the necessary outlets and other utilities are where you want to put the vending machine and whether the machine’s measurements match the space available. Realizing that your new vending machine is half an inch too wide at the install is incredibly stressful.

You’ll also want to check with the building owner or manager about potential permit requirements. In some locations, placing a vending machine that your company receives a profit from may require added permits to make everything legal. Researching it upfront will save time and stress down the line.

Which products should you offer?

The answer to this question can be as unique as the people who will visit your Scottsdale vending machines. Students who need a healthy snack on their way to class may be looking for something different than an employee who needs to grab a quick lunch before their next meeting. Or maybe your geographical area prefers one brand of soda over another.

Discovering the types of snacks, beverages, and fresh food your employees want to see has another benefit. Employees are more likely to stay on-site during the workday instead of leaving to grab that bite to eat. Staying on-site has less visible but significant benefits, such as spontaneous conversations that lead to creative problem solving and increased productivity.

Now that you know a bit more about adding snack, beverage, and fresh food vending machines to your Scottsdale location, let us help you take the next step. For more information, please call Southwest Refreshments at 623.780.3036. We look forward to hearing from you!

What was the last pre-COVID item you purchased from a vending machine? Would your choice change if you were to purchase something today? If it would, you aren’t alone. A recent survey performed by Shorr Packaging revealed insights about how U.S. consumers’ purchasing behavior has shifted since the onset of the pandemic.

In addition to traditional food shopping locations, Phoenix employers should also be aware of these shifts as they can also impact how and what employees purchase from break rooms. Even though employers don’t have control over how companies package or label their products, they do have control over which products are offered in break room vending machines. Regularly analyzing purchasing patterns and comparing them to the current break room refreshment menu provides exact data that can be used to create an inviting and engaging break room and keep employees on-site when they need something to eat or drink.

Let’s look at two areas of the survey that are relevant to the break room — COVID related changes and food labels and packaging.

COVID-19 Related Changes

For good or for bad, the pandemic has changed the way Phoenix consumers shop. During the three months prior to the survey being completed, 61 percent of participants agreed that pandemic-related purchasing shifts will change how they shop in the future with 66 percent of those individuals saying they would pay more attention to product labels and packaging. 

Survey participants aren’t only paying more attention to packaging and labels; they are changing the products that they buy. For example, over three quarters of those who purchased brands they were unfamiliar with said they would purchase that brand/item again.

Food Labels and Packaging

So, what do consumers look for when choosing a product? Of the different parts on packaging, the ingredient list is considered the most trustworthy followed by the brand or logo, the price, and popular phrases such as fresh, no sugar added, all-natural, whole grain/multigrain, organic, and good source of fiber.

While almost two-thirds of participants were willing to pay more for a snack or beverage with popular labeling phrases, the remaining one-third consciously chose not to purchase items with the same phrases. The key takeaway is to make sure that any vending machine refreshment menu includes options that appeal to everyone.

Southwest Refreshments offers Phoenix businesses the opportunity to do just that. We offer a variety of traditional and healthy snacks, cold beverages, and fresh food choices and can customize a vending refreshment menu to fit both your and your employees’ needs. For more information about all our break room services including office coffee service, please give us a call at 623.780.3036.

The break room can change a Scottsdale employee’s workplace experience. A well-designed break room that offers popular snacks, beverages, and fresh food is a place for relaxation, spontaneous interaction between colleagues, and creativity as well as a spot to grab a bite to eat or drink. Even though the impact of COVID-19 during the past several months has substantially decreased break room visits, micro-markets and vending machines still have an important role to play as employees return to work.

It’s clear that each Scottsdale employer will approach reopening their place of business differently and on a timetable that fits their unique organization.

Promoting CDC recommended guidelines for “healthy hygiene practices such as hand washing and employees wearing a cloth face covering, as feasible” as well as encouraging social distancing or staying at least 6 feet away from other individuals and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily are just a few new behaviors employers will likely be recommending.

Break rooms with a micro-market or vending machines are also a tool that Scottsdale employers can use to encourage social distancing and fewer person-to-person interactions among employees. For example,

• Both micro-markets and vending machines offer cashless or touchless payment options including mobile payments and are great for grab-and-go situations.
• To use a micro-market, employees will scan their snack or beverage; scan their smartphone or swipe a debit/card; and walk away.
• To use a vending machine, employees will touch the machine once; scan their smartphone or swipe a debit/card; and walk away.
• Both micro-markets and vending machines are open 24/7, keeping employees onsite during their workday.
• Staying on-site instead of going off-site for a bite to eat or beverage helps employees avoid external and less controllable environments.

Employers should also consider the types of snacks, beverages, and fresh food that will be offered. Eating healthy is more important than ever. Healthier ingredients like fruits and vegetables provide the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that the human body needs to support the immune system. Bottled water and other healthy beverages keep everything in the body hydrated and moving more efficiently.

But it is also wise to offer traditional options that are “fun” or provide a mental boost such as chocolate and other snacks. Most Scottsdale employees have been under prolonged stress, and while eating healthy is important, a favorite snack or beverage can provide a bit of an emotional or mental pick-me-up. Offering a balance of traditional and healthy options will help employees find the products they need when they want them.

For more information about our safety practices or upgrading your refreshment menu or break room space to include a micro-market or vending machines, please contact Southwest Refreshments at 623.780.3036. We look forward to helping you bring your employees back to work.

Workstations, desks, and the break room are just a few of the physical spaces that businesses have to consider as they begin the process of reopening. In addition, Phoenix employers are developing new procedures and accommodations to ensure employee safety amidst ongoing concerns about COVID-19. Decisions made regarding the break room should be an important part of the plan.

Last week, members of the refreshment services industry gathered virtually to send a heartfelt and reassuring message to everyone. Shot in isolation from each individual’s home or business, the message is an inspiring 2-minute video. The takeaway is clear: break room service providers everywhere are here to support companies as they transition toward a new work environment.

Southwest Refreshments is responding appropriately and following the state’s COVID-19 re-opening schedules and guidelines as well as adopting stricter health and safety procedures for our employees.

In addition to maintaining social distancing practices, our route drivers are washing their hands or changing into a new pair of gloves before each visit. They are also sanitizing all contact surfaces and high touch areas at the end of every service call. Their goal is to leave Phoenix break rooms cleaner than when they arrived. Additionally, we have implemented social distancing policies in our offices and distribution centers and are closely monitoring our employees’ health.

Before COVID-19, break rooms were an important resource, but today, they have become an even more valuable benefit for Phoenix employees. Micro-markets and vending machines provide a safer way for employees to access fresh foods, snacks, and beverages. Products available in micro-markets and vending machines are individually wrapped in secure packaging for a quick, grab-and-go experience. Vending machines and micro-markets also offer cashless payment options, limiting contact even further. 

Providing employees with plenty of fresh foods, snacks, and beverages in the break room not only encourages employees to stay on-site but also limits potential exposure to viruses that can occur during off-site trips. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe.

For more information about customizing a refreshment menu or our safety procedures, please contact us at 623.780.3036.

Earlier this month, leaders in the Phoenix vending industry joined their counterparts nationwide in attending the annual NAMA show in Las Vegas. Their goal was to explore new trends, technology, and products to bring to their customers. The show is an annual tradition sponsored by the National Automatic Merchandising Association, a group representing the $25 billion convenience service industry in the United States. 

Advancements in vending machines, coffee service, micro-markets, and pantry services were on display. Attendees took advantage of the opportunity to learn about them and connect with other industry members. Some of the world’s most popular brands were represented. They were complimented by new showings from fledgling entrepreneurs. Over 100 new exhibitors joined the show this year, and overall the show welcomed over 360 exhibitors and 4,500 members.

A total of 125 new products premiered at the show, and it is clear that healthy snacks and beverages continue to be a key growth category. The show’s Better For You Pavilion featured a collection of healthier items, and healthy products as a whole occupied its largest space ever at the show. Visitors discovered new items that continue to increase the appeal of healthier food options. 

Advancements in technology were also on display at the show. New and easier ways of processing digital payments that keep pace with consumer’s desire for quick, cashless payment at vending machines and in micro-markets were presented. Innovative systems that optimize up-to-the-minute sales data, maximize delivery route efficiencies, and minimize out-of-stock occurrences were also revealed.

The NAMA Show also featured a large number of educational speakers who are experts in their fields. Speaker Neil Swindale discussed marketing strategies that will help vending providers thrive in our quickly evolving digital age. Neil is the owner of VendCentral, a top marketing agency for the vending industry, and an expert in customer lead generation and engagement. 

With the vending industry constantly changing, keeping up with the latest technology and best practices is a great way for Southwest Vending to ensure that we are up-to-date with what is going on and provide the best products and services to you, our clients. We offer complete vending solutions to businesses and organizations in Phoenix. Contact us at 623.780.3016 for more information and a free consultation.