Covid has changed how we think about snacks and beverages
/Like any worldwide event, Covid has affected many in a big way. It’s changed how we think about things, including how we think about snacks and beverages.
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Has it affected what we buy? And how? —A 2022 study identified the following consumer mindsets driving purchases these days:
desire for better health
feelings of nostalgia
wanting comfort
craving adventure and novelty
seeking sustainability
These trends give you some insights into how customers are thinking today. Read on to discover how all this affects healthy, premium vending. This post mentions products available in single-serving packaging suitable for vending machines. There are no affiliate links. Check with your supplier.
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Who doesn’t want better health?
The idea of healthy eating varies from customer to customer. One or a combination of the following factors is usually involved:
physical health
mental health
religion/ethical diets
Many people continue to have a heightened awareness of their immune system health. If a certain ingredient might help boost the immune system, people are apt to seek out foods and snacks that contain it. Even pre-pandemic, there was a move toward foods that have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, or “functional” foods. Functional foods and beverages refer to items that have a potential benefit beyond nutrition.
Drinks flavoured with ginger, which is said to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, are a good example, like Flow Naturally Alkaline Organic Lemon-Ginger Spring Water.
Some customers restrict their intake attempting to improve physical health. The Keto diet has been popular. Customers following this diet will be more likely to purchase Hungry Buddha Keto Bars.
Dark chocolate is thought to have mental health benefits as a mood-booster. Usually chocolate with 70% or more cocoa is recommended. An example of this is Theobroma 72% Dark Chocolate Sticks. Dark chocolate is also considered a luxurious treat and Theobroma sticks fall into the premium vending category on that merit too.
Special diets for religious/ethical reasons can include Halal, Kosher, and Vegan diets. CHIPS AHOY! Original Chocolate Chip Cookies 4-packs are Kosher, for example. Halal gummies, which contain no animal products or alcohol, are available, like Sour Patch Kids. These chewy candies are also Vegan.
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Is there a place for nostalgia in healthy vending? —You bet!
A lot of people grew up eating potato chips as a treat. Barbecue-flavoured chips have been a perennial favourite. But what if customers crave that Barbecue taste and chip crunch but don’t want the high fat found in traditional chips? More non-deep fried snack options are coming to market. Some of them have nostalgic flavours, like BBQ. Three Farmers Roasted Lentils BBQ Flavour are high fibre, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. The lentils in them are grown and packaged in Canada.
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Comfort food does come in vending-size packages …
People used to think of a big family dinner when they heard the term comfort food. They still do! More people are seeking comfort food these days, read about it here. But now people are finding comfort foods in vending machines too. Often crunchy food or chewy food is placed in this category. The repetitive chewing motion required can be soothing. And comfort food for alternative diets is now more widely available in single serving packaging. For example, Clif Bars are not only chewy, but the delicious bars give customers an energy boost. They are a great item to stock if you have a location at a gym or other fitness facility.
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Customer palettes do the travelling
During the Covid pandemic, exotic flavours offered consumers a change of taste when a change of scenery wasn’t practical. Dan-D-Pak Philippine Mango is a good example. The fruit is picked when it’s perfectly ripe and then dried, becoming a delicious snack. Another example is coconut water.
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Snacking can be sustainable
Customers are becoming continually more interested in supporting brands which don’t deplete the planet’s resources as much, says an article on specialty food trends for 2022. Some examples of these snacks from this post include Hungry Buddha Bars, which are non-GMO; Theobroma sticks, which are organic certified, fair-trade certified and non-GMO; and Three Farmers Roasted Lentils, which as mentioned, are grown and made in Canada. These snacks taste great and have less impact on the environment.
That’s a review of some of the consumer tendencies that are trending and a number of healthy and premium snacks and beverages for your vending machine business. Factor in what you know about the demographics of potential customers at each location and check what your suppliers are stocking. When you’re on location, talk to your customers and ask them what new products they’re interested in. Then you’ll be ready to offer some fresh choices for your customers. And remember, when you’re trying new products, it’s best to buy in smaller quantities first, do some testing to gauge customer response and then decide if this is a product you’ll offer regularly at that location.