Vending machines and micro markets have undergone significant evolution to meet the increasing demand for healthy food options. There’s a nationwide trend of increased awareness of eating and drinking healthy and demand for accountability from the makers and suppliers of food. Consumers want preservative-free, no artificial sweeteners, no antibiotics, and natural “clean and real” as appealing label characteristics.
Here's how these sectors have adapted to changing health and wellness trends.
Healthy Vending Machines
Unlike traditional vending machines that often stock high-calorie snacks and sugary drinks, healthy vending machines focus on nutritious options. These can include fresh fruit, nuts, granola bars, protein snacks, water, and low-sugar beverages. Many modern vending machines offer cashless payment options, including credit cards, mobile payments, and contactless technology. They also use IoT technology for inventory management, allowing operators to restock machines efficiently.
There is a growing demand for healthier snack options, driven by increased health consciousness and wellness trends. This has led to more businesses and institutions adopting healthy vending machines to align with their wellness goals. Healthy vending machines are often found in places where people are looking for quick, healthy snacks, such as gyms, schools, hospitals, offices, and airports.
Another win? Some healthy vending machines focus on sustainability by using energy-efficient components and promoting eco-friendly packaging options for their products.
At Bernick’s, we know a thing or two about the evolution of consumer habits and demographics. But the focus on health isn’t going anywhere; it’s here to stay. Knowing that, we took the initiative to take a look at what we offered, particularly in our vending and micro markets line that appealed to healthy choices. People can spend up to 10 hours a day away from home or on the run between work, school, hobbies, and other obligations. We studied how people were consuming food on the go, and what convenience they sought out during busy days.
The vending machine of today has far evolved past soda, candy bars, and chips. New innovations in equipment have allowed for coolers and cold systems to feature perishable, fresh foods. Now, busy people can rely on the convenience and access of vending and micro markets for actual meal items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, salads, combo snack platters, and more. We entered that market over 10 years ago but recently overhauled our line of fresh food to meet the changing needs of today’s health-conscious, busy consumer.
Mandated Munching
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays a critical role in establishing guidelines related to nutrition, food safety, and public health, but its direct regulation of vending machines and micro markets is generally limited to specific contexts, such as schools. The USDA's regulations often focus on broader food-related issues, like those governing the National School Lunch Program or food labeling for food products.
Here are some key areas where USDA regulations intersect with vending machines and micro markets:
USDA's National School Lunch Program & Smart Snacks Standards
- The USDA enforces the "Smart Snacks in School" standards, which set nutritional guidelines for food and drinks sold to students during the school day, including through vending machines.
- These standards cover aspects like calorie counts, sodium levels, sugar content, and whole grain content to promote healthier eating in schools. Vending machines in schools are required to comply with these guidelines.
- Foods sold must meet requirements for fat, sugar, and sodium content, and beverages are limited to certain types and sizes. For example, only low-calorie drinks and non-fat or low-fat dairy products are allowed.
Food Safety Regulations
- USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates meat, poultry, and egg products, ensuring they are safe and correctly labeled. If vending machines or micro markets sell these products, they must comply with USDA safety standards.
- Although the USDA doesn't directly regulate the operations of vending machines or micro markets, it establishes guidelines that inform food safety practices. This includes safe handling, storage, and preparation of food items.
FDA Regulations & the Vending Machine Rule
- While the USDA is involved in school-based guidelines, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a direct impact on vending machines through the "Vending Machine Rule." This rule, part of the Affordable Care Act, requires vending machine operators to provide calorie information for most food and drink items, typically through visible labeling or accessible nutritional information.
- This regulation applies to operators with more than 20 machines and ensures that consumers have access to nutritional information, supporting informed choices.
USDA & Micro Markets
- Micro markets, which are typically self-service retail spaces within workplaces or other facilities, do not have specific USDA regulations. However, they must comply with general food safety laws and potentially state and local health department requirements.
- Depending on the types of products they offer, they may need to follow guidelines related to food storage, cleanliness, temperature control, and sanitation.
Food is important to fuel the body — there’s no question about that. Students need this high level of fuel for their bodies to get through the long days of lectures, tests, and after-school activities — especially in this crucial growth time of their lives.
Snacks can teach healthy habits by replacing sugary alternatives. A vending machine at school with healthy options, such as vegetables, can help kids learn good habits while still maintaining the fuel they need between meals.
Feeding the Masses the Best
Shaking off its “junk food” label, vending machines have become a lot smarter. Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home. A large quantity of that consumption is from vending machines, which annually tops more than $7 billion in sales. America is becoming more health conscious, and people are demanding healthy vending machine snacks more often. By providing healthier food and beverages, vending machines become a source of nutrition, rather than a last-ditch effort to manage cravings. The sales of healthier snacks outpace traditional snack foods by three times.
EATS—Bernick’s Healthy Vending
EATS is an acronym-based brand that translates to Enjoyable and Tasty Selections. With a new look and feel of the packaging, we also revamped the contents of each selection. We continued our collaboration with our local culinary partner who prepares our menu items fresh (and local!) five days a week. The EATS brand encompasses a new set of values as well, which include:
- Quality
- Better for You
- Local
- Artisan
- Value
Our goal with the new brand was to continue to deliver delicious food to consumers while increasing the overall integrity of the products we offer. We feel good about the ingredients and preparation that match these expectations. EATS products are exclusive to Bernick's, but its access isn't limited to certain areas or companies. Anyplace where our vending machines or micro markets are present is where you can find our fresh food brand. We continue to bring fresh takes on favorites to ensure the health and happiness of customers and their employees, as a community health-focused company.
Healthy Vending Machines
Unlike traditional vending machines that often stock high-calorie snacks and sugary drinks, healthy vending machines focus on nutritious options. These can include fresh fruit, nuts, granola bars, protein snacks, water, and low-sugar beverages. Many modern vending machines offer cashless payment options, including credit cards, mobile payments, and contactless technology. They also use IoT technology for inventory management, allowing operators to restock machines efficiently. There is a growing demand for healthier snack options, driven by increased health consciousness and wellness trends.
This has led to more businesses and institutions adopting healthy vending machines to align with their wellness goals. Healthy vending machines are often found in places where people are looking for quick, healthy snacks, such as gyms, schools, hospitals, offices, and airports. Some healthy vending machines focus on sustainability by using energy-efficient components and promoting eco-friendly packaging options for their products.
Healthy Places = Healthy People
Bernick’s has a proud tradition of supporting the communities in which we serve by supporting organizations that reflect our family’s core values while providing leadership in responding to emerging community needs. Healthy vending options and micro markets are just a fraction of the causes we support to keep people their best versions of themselves. The Bernick Family Foundation supports two key areas: youth and education and health and fitness. Both areas center activities on educating, promoting, and sustaining healthy people in healthy communities.
At Bernick's, we love the communities we serve. Naturally, we want to keep them healthy and strong. We’re always basing our decisions on how people will be impacted. Our innovation and commitment to healthy vending can impact you and the people you serve. One way we support this is through our healthy vending machines and micro markets offerings. Both solutions represent innovative ways to promote healthier eating habits and convenience. They meet the needs of busy people looking for quick, nutritious options while offering flexibility and technology integration for operators.
