MICRO
forward. But customers quickly realized this and started taking product
from the rear of the cooler — which
increased spoilage. Because of this,
Gallins started mixing the dated fresh
food in the cooler, instead of organizing by oldest to newest. It has helped,
according to Cauble, but hasn't solved
the problem entirely. "For anyone
wanting to go into markets, there's not
a one size fts all solution to spoilage
— it's an ongoing problem," he added.
Careful ordering is another way
Gallins handles spoilage. "We don't
keep a stock here at our warehouse,"
said Cauble, "so when we order
food, we have to be aware of what's
happening at our different market
locations, such as when they have
something going on that will affect
the volume...that's why we have our
open market manager." The open
market manager is responsible for
MARKET
FRESH food, variety and healthy
items get higher price points.
communicating with micro market
clients about events happening on
location that will change the markets' activity. If there's a catered
lunch, for example, Gallins' won't
stock as much food. The manager
also monitors how individual items
are selling, so slow movers can be
rotated out or discontinued.
Fresh food represents a third of
Gallins overall micro market sales.
The best selling points of a micro
market to the location are that the
products can include fresh food,
be healthier, as well as larger with
more diverse ingredients. "It's a better way to present it to them…that's
one thing that grabs their attention,"
said Cauble. "They can pick it up and
handle the product instead of looking
through a window at it."
Cauble believes that in the end,
micro markets really overcome the
uncertainty end users still have about
buying food from a vending machine.
As micro markets bring fresh
food back to proftability for vending operators, they are discovering it's
possible to have a good food program
without a commissary. It takes proper
sourcing, warehouse changes and
food temperature monitoring, but the
increase in micro market sales helps
operators make the commitment.
Breakroom
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CRAN
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Bringing all the Pieces Together Just Got Easier.
888.400.5744 www.light-speed-automation.com
May 2013
VendingMarketWatch.com
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