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| Healthy vending machines |
A Santa Monica
company, H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending, is taking a healthy look at food vending machine
business. H.U.M.A.N. in company name stands for helping unite man and nutrition
(h.u.m.a.n.). The company states its mission is to eradicate childhood
obesity through education and healthy eating and 10% of profits are donated to
charities that fight obesity and malnutrition.
The company claims, traditional Vending machines in schools
usually only sell foods high in sugar, fat, and sodium--which leads to
worse-
performing students and disciplinary issues. On the other hand, machines
stocked with fresh healthy vending options allow students to snack healthier,
and in turn, perform better.
Healthy Vending places automated retail vending machines at
premium locations and stocks them with healthy snacks, foods and drinks that taste great.
It supplies over 1000 food and drink options that include Organic,
school-approved, allergen-free items.
The machines come equipped with state-of-the-art technology,
such as credit card reader, cashless payment systems, conveyor belts instead of
coils, digitial video displays, LCD screens that display nutritional information,
touch-screen LCDs, remote monitoring technology and more features.
It is not clear whether Healthy Vending owns and operates vending
machines or, more likely, it sells or leases machines to others as franchise.
From company’s website:
“Healthy vending is becoming an up-and-coming business that allows you to make money and feel good about it! Food vending isn't like it used to be, So, if you're looking for highly profitable business opportunities, look no further than the vending machine business…These are business opportunities that make YOU money...and you can do so while supporting a mission that people care about.”
Information available on Healthy Vending website suggests
the business may have been started over 8 years ago, it is growing fast and
has received several accolades in the national media. An employment Ad in the
Craigslist, apparently placed by Healthy Vending, claimed its sales reps earn
six figures and the company is growing at over 400% annually. The company also subtly
hinted that it only wants to hire employees who are in their 20s and 30s which may be
considered illegal and may be indicative of a reckless and questionable management.
Healthy Vending Annual Sales Figures
2009 $0 M
2011 $6 Million
2012 $25 Million
(projected)
Overall, it is a good idea to stock vending machine with
healthy food instead of junk food. However, one has to wonder the necessity of eating
from vending machine to the extent where you have to use a credit card. Food certainly
plays a part in health and obesity. However, it will be more beneficial to develop
overall healthy living habits in children where they are no reliant on snacks
from vending machines for their nutritional needs.
More information
H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending
2110 Main St.
• Suite
201
Santa Monica, CA
90405
Phone: (310) 314-9800
Email: human@healthyvending.com
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REFERENCES
healthyvending.com
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