TO GO MARKET
Micro-markets suit the new office normal
As UK businesses reopen, the vending industry is looking at the challenges and opportunities available in the To Go market with a renewed focus on micro-markets.
W
hilst it is positive news that England reopened again on the 19 July, it is quite likely the workplace will
change, and we will see a greater level of flexibility from employers going forwards. The work-from-home instruction is no longer
in place, so workers will trickle back to the offices, but many commentators believe employers will adopt a hybrid system where workers work partly from home and partly from the office. Employers are also likely to continue to adopt
measures that help employees feel safe. These measures could range from the continued use of sanitisers and sanitising stations, contactless payment systems and cashless catering. Chief executive of Vending & Automated
Retail Association (AVA) David Llewellyn said: “As consumers grow more comfortable with cashless catering, this opens the door for more automated retail opportunities, such as micro- market vending.” A micro-market is a custom designed vending
market or mart with a self-checkout kiosk and according to the 2020 AVA census there are currently 200 new micro-markets in operation since last year, with around 320 now installed across the UK. It’s also worth noting, when compared to
traditional vending, the micro-market is reliably expected to deliver more. Walsall-based vending company Coinadrink recently reported
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increases in selling price, basket size, basket value, sales, and overall margin. Mr Lewellyn said: “In a post-COVID-19
workplace, micro-markets are likely to play a much greater role to provide refreshments, as there is likely to be less demand for the traditional catering or 24-hour canteens. This is where vending naturally becomes the ideal solution as it can cater for these smaller numbers of people effectively, at a much lower cost than having a fully staffed canteen.” “This level of technology in vending not only
shows that the industry is currently future proofing, but that it is preparing for changing consumer behaviour surrounding contactless and human-free interaction, so customer safety is at the heart of the experience.” One company that is already making inroads
with micro-markets across Europe is Selecta, whose solution has proved particularly attractive in workplaces across the continent which are trying to adapt to the new office normal. The grab and go stores’ scalable design
means they offer a convenient and cost-effective alternative for companies that are opening offices at a reduced capacity and those that are looking for unattended catering options. Christian Schmitz, chief executive of Selecta
Group, commented: “The global pandemic has accelerated trends among businesses as they respond to a fundamental change in workplace
dynamics which we expect to remain in place for the long-term. “The entire landscape of office catering has
shifted at tremendous speed as businesses increasingly seek more flexible solutions for their organisations and employees. As a result, we’ve seen increased demand for our FOODIE’S micro-markets which offer a 24/7, adaptable and compliant solution which can be tailored to individual business needs.”
ConClusion
With reports that some UK catering contracts are being reduced, now is the time for vending companies to act. In the new normal where staff are only in the office part time and flexible hygenic solutions are in high demand, it’s not difficult to see why a catering option that is unattended, open 24 hours is, is contactless and cashless, is a more attractive alternative to employers.
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