FOOD & DRINKS TO GO
Flexible working drives
food-to-go sector
H
ybrid working patterns are gradually changing the shape of foodservice in the workplace, and office
environments in particular are having to rethink how they provide their traditional catering service in light of staff not being in five days per week anymore. This change in requirements is driving
growth in the ‘food-to-go’ market, an option that can simplify stock management as most things are pre-packed, and that can help reduce catering staff costs if a self-service payment solution is provided alongside.
Laura Barwell, Director of Business Development at VMC explains, “We’re seeing an increase in the demand for automated self-service style retail solutions, and as a direct result we’ve developed a new touchscreen kiosk solution that works well as a stand-alone ordering and payment point, or as a bolt-on in a micro market setting.” Laura continues: “The VMC kiosk provides self-scan and payment that’s quick and easy for the customer and can speed up the flow of traffic at busy service times – ideal
Multiple opportunities revealed in to-go market
The ‘to-go’ market, particularly for coffee, has shown dynamic growth and resilience, despite some fluctuations, according to the Vending & Automated Retail Association (AVA). According to the AVA 2023 Census, the total base of coffee-to-go machines increased to 28,100, marking a 7% rise compared to 2022. This growth highlights the expanding demand for convenient coffee solutions, reflecting changing consumer behaviours and a shift towards on-the-go consumption. Vending operators play a crucial role in this market, engaging in two primary ways: selling and managing bespoke installations for brands and maintaining around 2,600 installations of their own. This dual
involvement underscores the flexibility and adaptability of vending operators in catering to different segments of the market. A significant trend within this sector is the
preference for fresh liquid milk in premium coffee solutions. Just over 60% of the vending operators’ installations utilise fresh liquid milk, while the remainder use high- quality skimmed milk powder (SMP). This preference aligns with consumer demand for higher-quality coffee experiences, even in a ‘to-go’ format.
Despite these positive developments, the market faced a slight consumption decline of 1% in 2023. This drop followed two years of recovery from the sharp Covid- related decline in 2020. However, this dip
14 |
vendinginternational-online.com
was counterbalanced by an 11% increase in average prices in 2023. Over the last decade, prices have consistently risen, driven by the entry of big brands and subsequent price adjustments mirroring those in coffee shops. Recent high inflation has further accelerated this trend. The current state of the ‘to-go’ market
presents several opportunities. Continued innovation in machine technology and the expansion of premium offerings using fresh ingredients can attract a broader customer base. Additionally, leveraging data and insights from the AVA 2023 Census can help vending operators and brands identify growth areas and refine their strategies to meet evolving consumer preferences.
for the ‘food to go’ environment. The unit is fully customisable by the client and our supporting Flex software and mobile app give further added value in the form of loyalty, meal deals and promotions and the ability to track and report in detail on transactions.” “Vending, alongside automated self- service retail solutions like kiosks and micro markets are all versatile and cost-effective solutions for managing varying customer numbers in catering. So, if you’re looking to grow your vending operation or integrate ‘food to go’ into your wider catering function, these self-service options could help you to achieve this.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
