As a purchasing professional, you know that sourcing goods and services for your organization is no easy task. It's a multi-step process that includes a lot of research and supplier evaluation before a final decision is made. The last thing you want is to sign a contract and immediately regret it. The same holds true for a vending management program.
Dried fruit is a common item in vending machines, especially when healthy snacks are requested. Most people assume dried fruit is good for you because, well, it's fruit! But is it healthy? Some argue it is, while others swear it's nothing more than candy. The answer, however, is not as simple as a 'yes' or a 'no.'
If you wanted to get vending machines installed at each of your properties nationwide, where would you begin? Probably with Coca-Cola or Pepsi, right? After all, both companies have a global presence--and you see their vending equipment everywhere--so it should be simple to set up a national plan with either company to provide vending services for more than one location.
Vending machines have a long history of providing a convenient way for people to purchase merchandise, most notably sodas and snacks. But what if they also sold shirts? Or coats? Or accessories? That's the direction in which some retailers are going.
Remember having substitute teachers back in grade school? It was almost always a welcoming surprise, especially if you forgot to complete an assignment that was due. Upon learning of your teacher's absence, you'd let out a sigh of relief, then do whatever busy work you were handed to pass the time.
While that approach might work for high school, keeping your employees busy for the sake of being busy might not be the best strategy for the workplace.
It's the start of a new year, which means new resolutions for many people. If your goals include eating healthier, then perhaps you're taking a serious look at how much your sugar intake is each day and figuring out how to cut back on it. Maybe you've decided to replace some of your favorite snacks or drinks with sugar-free or diet versions. Whatever your approach, it's important to stay informed.
Have you ever eaten a bunch of junk food then tried to do something active? How about lay around the house all day then suddenly attempt to clean out the closet that you've been meaning to organize for months? You probably weren't all that motivated to give it your best shot. Now, just think about this idea in terms of the workplace. How effective can employees be if they're not eating healthy and remain stationary nearly all day every day?
It can be tough to eat healthy while at work. All the sugary and trans fat loaded foods in the break room makes it even more difficult. Besides, with all the time constraints it's a wonder some people have time for a meal at all!
To make vending machines accessible for disabled people who use wheelchairs, the U.S. Department of Justice revised some regulations to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Issued in 2010 and put into effect in 2012, the new rules offer guidelines for vending operators who provide services for any of the following types of locations:
Deep in the heart of Texas, just outside Austin, is the Berdoll Pecan Farm. A 340-acre farm with over 100,000 pecan trees that grow a variety of pecans. It's pretty hard to miss if you're driving down Highway 71, as their unique roadside statue--a giant squirrel holding a pecan--aptly marks its location.