The times, they are a changin'

Hello!

The times they certainly are "a changin'" and not just as Bob Dylan predicted.  Health is now making headways in the vending vernacular and that's  a good thing, isn't it?

If you haven't already booked your place for Monday's Being Healthy conference in Manchester, there is still time.  You have to be in it to win it and we're a friendly bunch, so why not?  Not curious enough to be part of the conversation?  Too set in your ways to think that you might learn something - tut, tut!  Never too old and never too curious!

It was really great to hear about Gem Vending using QR codes to provide nutritional information to vending consumers - top marks to them for embracing both technology and the consumer.  Nice work!  If you haven't read all about it, head over to Planet Vending and get yourselves in the know

Of course, you'll be very welcome on the day if your plans change!

Get in touch if you want to know how we can help you jog along the journey of health; at least one of us is a REPs qualified fitness instructor so we can grow your vending business and get you fit on the inside at the same time.  Not many in the vending industry that can toot that particular trumpet!!

Any road up!  See you next week at Being Healthy or Vendex

The times, they are a changin'

The Friendly Vending Geeks
Gillian & Neil
24vend

Look up at the Stars

A flood of winter sunshine is gleaming on us as we write today’s news from the pews!  We’ve been busy packing goody bags ahead of next week’s Being Healthy conference.  A few more items to go, but first a cup of tea and a blog!

I wanted to thank and mention those that have helped make our goody bags interesting, different and tasty! 

Coeliac UK (of which I’m Vice Chair) very kindly donated the bags themselves and a quick word for those that may not be aware.  Coeliac disease affects around 1 in 100 people (UK) and is an autoimmune condition.  A lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet is the way that those with the disease (including me!) stay healthy and well.  The charity obviously supports research in medical areas to improve diagnosis amongst other things.  It is also very important that food choices are available, affordably and tasty, particularly out of home – this is an area that I have worked very closely with the Charity in my role as Vice-Chair.  It is relevant to Being Healthy and vending as labelling and choice are paramount.  A coeliac can’t “cheat” on their diet and certainly can’t play roulette (Russian or otherwise) by hoping that the consumer information is right; it has to be!  Food for thought indeed.  A Charity I’m proud to support.

·       Warburtons, British and family owned are tempting us with baked pitta chips.  They also offer gluten free goodies but none available in vending (yet)(a not so subtle hint!).  Lower fat and salt compared to other savoury products, this is an interesting challenge to the regular “top shelf” items!

·       Multiple Marketing, another British based, family owned business, will be supplying a range of products, many of which are “school” compliant.  This is an interesting area for many in vending and often in debate – more about that at the conference (you have to be there to hear it!)

·       OhSoLovesYourTummy are a new player in the market with a fantastic probiotic, low calorie chocolate.  Can’t face a yoghurt drink to provide what your tummy needs, then look on further than this innovative, scientifically proven chocolate.  Mmmm, music to my ears!

·       Innocent smoothies are well known to all but never to be missed!  Supporting Age UK with their knitted hats every winter, they are a great example of companies giving back and making you smile as they do

·       24vend will also be supplying some healthy surprises!  Only those that book their place at the conference will be able to share the mystery!

We also wanted to make a special mention to some new friends of ours Planet Vending.  Friendly (like us!) and taking a fresh look at vending.  They include our blogs and thoughts about vending as well as lots of other useful and important points of view - head over there soon and tell them we sent you!

I’m sure many of you reading this will remember 2012 for great sporting achievements at both the Olympic and Paralympic games.  Stephen Hawking, one of the great scientists and thinkers of our time, gave us a phrase that I would like all of us in vending to take to our hearts  “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Be curious”

Why not be curious and join the conversation next week?  You have nothing to lose!  

See you in Manchester on 12^th November

Curiously yours,

The Friendly Vending Geeks @24vend

Healthy Vending; No Oxymoron!

Healthy Vending; No Oxymoron

With just 7 days to go before the BeingHealthy conference in Manchester (#bhealth12), we wanted to give you a (virtual) taste of the afternoon’s agenda.  Food for thought for those in the vending industry who still need persuading that consumers want to eat a range of products, both naughty and nice. No oxymoron, indeed.

We were taken aback at Vending Paris a couple of weeks ago when an industry veteran told us that what we were talking about was “b*ll**ks” (I wont translate for any of my foreign friends – just assume the more polite and usual term of "rubbish"!). Well, my friends, red rags and bulls, red rags and bulls…

We’re not talking about throwing away everything we know and love in vending, we are only suggesting that by offering more choice and products, meeting new and different needs of your consumers, your business can benefit. 

Take a look down the aisle at your nearest supermarket and there is definitely room for more, better for you, healthy, functional, different, unusual and tasty. 

Perhaps, we know the consumers we have so well that it’s very easy to overlook those we don’t?  The vending rejectors, the dieters, the foodies, the worried well… we could go on… you know the saying "familiarity breeds contempt"?

So, what we suggest is that you take only 2 hours from your day (shorter than a round of golf, we’re guessing) and join the conversation… find out how all of this brave new world can be healthy for your business…

Our Amazing presenters; 

Tracey Graham - Abercromby Vending (Scotland)

Sean Kelly - HUMAN Healthy Vending (USA)

Chris Carter - Selecta (UK)

Liz Morris – Working Families

Nathan Kulik – Innocent

Be tempted – Being Healthy on 12^th November at Imperial War Museum, North, Manchester

See you next week!

Gillian & Neil, the friendly vending geeks

24vend