Automatic Merchandiser

APR 2015

Automatic Merchandiser serves the business management, marketing, technology and product information needs of its readers including vending operators, coffee service operators, product brokers, and product and equipment distributors in print.

Issue link: http://automaticmerchandiser.epubxp.com/i/491992

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 44 of 61

ew products invigorate the vending industry. They also drive sales for vending oper- ators and keep the customers coming back to the break room. This year Auto- matic Merchandiser and VendingMar- ketWatch.com asked readers to vote for their most proftable, best-selling or most requested new products in nine separate categories. And readers answered. More than 450 people went online to cast their vote for their favorite products, and chose from more than 60 nominees to pick only nine winners: the must-have products of the year. Health conscious consumers Leaders in retail segments are oftentimes leaders in vending, too. That includes the consumer shift towards healthy-focused items. In 2014, Packaged Facts found that consumers continued yearning for food that is fresh, fast and healthy. Con- sumers are not only paying attention to the food that they purchase, but they are putting an emphasis on the ingre- dients that are included within their food. Health-focused winners included Biscomerica's Sun-Maid Blueberry with Greek Yogurt Chips Cookies and Mondelez International's WHEAT THINS Popped . These products meet a growing demand for "healthy" items with a powerful favor profle. AdvancePierre™ Foods continues its reign as the food category champion with its BIG AZ® Chicken Bacon Cheddar Club , refecting Technomic's fnd that in addition to healthy eating, sandwiches are a key platform for lunch- menu innovation. Although healthy eating is up, con- sumers are continuing to retain a sweet tooth. "Health and wellness is a big trend, but it is not the only trend," said Stacey Inglis, senior vice president of market- ing/research & development at Steuben Foods, Inc. "Everyone needs something indulgent now and then." Chocolate is still a majority winner with Mars Choc- olate North America's MILKY WAY ® French Vanilla and Caramel , Flow- ers Foods' Mrs. Freshley's® Peanut Butter Flavored Swiss Rolls and Steuben Foods' Cold Stone™ Creamery Chocolate Fudge Brownie Milk Shakers™ taking gold in the candy, pastry and cold beverage categories, respectively. A segment that con- tinues to be a power player for vending, offce coffee service and micro market operators is the hot beverage category. The National Coffee Association found that coffee is Americans' favorite daily beverage next to water, with 59 percent of Americans saying they drink coffee each day. It comes as no surprise that a must-have product in locations — and the overall hot beverage category winner — is Kraft Foodservice's Gevalia Pumpkin Spice Espresso . This year reader votes refected a move towards technology innovation and consumer engagement with the wins of the PayRange System in the technol- ogy category and Crane's Merchant MEDIA in the equipment category. N April 2015 VendingMarketWatch.com Automatic Merchandiser 45 R E A D E R S ' C H O I C E A W A R D S 2 0 1 5

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Automatic Merchandiser - APR 2015