OFFICE REFRESHMENT


Laura Barwell, head of sales at VMC Foodservice in the workplace is changing, partly due to the growth in new hybrid working patterns after the pandemic. In office environments in particular the traditional catering service may have been scaled back to better suit the fluctuating customer numbers, creating a new gap that vending and automated retail fill really efficiently. Well stocked vending machines with fast and reliable payment options ensure that customers can still access food-on-the-go 24/7 when they are in, without the need for any extra staffing and in some cases even reducing the staffing need. But where we are seeing real growth is in automated self-service style retail solutions, and this is why we’ve developed a new kiosk solution. The VMC kiosk will provide


a freestanding ordering and payment service point like those seen in fast food restaurant chains, but with added features that we think make it even more versatile.” Vending, alongside automated self-service retail solutions like


kiosks are now playing an important supporting role in the new hybrid office environment, proving themselves to be a versatile and cost-effective long-term solution. So, if you’re looking to grow your vending operation or integrate it more directly with your catering function then self-service technology could help you to achieve this.


Aslak de Silva chief executive of Selfly Store by Stora Enso In the past 12 months, a significant trend has emerged in office refreshment: the demand for flexible and healthy food options. This stems from a broader understanding that proper nutrition can boost productivity by up to 20%, as cited by the International Labour Organisation.


16 | vendinginternational-online.com


Post-COVID, returning to the office has brought its challenges.


Predicting daily attendance, accommodating busy schedules, and addressing limited canteen capacities have made conventional workplace food services inadequate. Additionally, in workplaces with shift patterns, like hospitals of factories, employees often miss out on nutritious options outside lunch hours. Vending manufacturers and operators have realized that this is an


opportunity where they can help bridge the gap in workplace nutrition. Selfly Store, an intelligent vending company, have collected data across 21 European countries, which indicates that more than half of the food sales in workplaces happen outside traditional lunch hours. Intelligent vending solutions allow employees to access fresh food


24/7, while vending operators can remotely monitor and optimize stock levels and sales. Simply put, they have transformed spaces into self-serving ‘micro restaurants’ where employees can pick items any time, being charged automatically upon closing the cabinet door. This new approach to office refreshment has also seen businesses


like Noury AG, based in Switzerland, capitalize on the data these cabinets provide. By understanding when and what products are in demand, they tailor food offerings and reduce wastage through intelligent discount strategies. In summary, the office refreshment sector is undergoing a radical change, driven by the needs of a post-pandemic workforce and enabled by technology. Businesses should adapt by embracing these trends, ensuring availability, freshness, and variety in their food services. After all, a well-fed employee is a productive one.


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