Vending Machine

This Summer’s Hottest Drinks

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Summer is here!

While the season may conjure up images of sunbathing on a beach or skipping out of the workplace early to cool down with an evening cocktail, you don’t have to wait until after hours to indulge in some of your favorite summer drinks.

A wide selection of cold, refreshing drinks full of tropical flavors will bring the island vibes right up to your desk. We’ve been keeping an eye on what drinks consumers are cracking open this season and which products you should have on hand in your breakrooms.

Well, Well, Wellness

Starting with the definition of what’s on trend, new-age drinks are taking our markets by storm. These drinks are healthier alternatives to the legacy beverages known to dominate the market.

With reduced sugar and added nutrients, these drinks are perfect for a health-conscious public looking for alternatives to high-sugar, carbonated beverages like sodas. Despite the name, new-age beverages aren’t new; they’ve been around for nearly a decade!

The desire for guilt-free indulgence allows these products to stay relevant throughout their tenure. Often made with electrolytes and other nutrients, these drinks are designed to refresh and hydrate without sacrificing delicious flavors.

So Juicy

You don’t have to be ashamed of sneaking a juice box for yourself. These childhood favorites are for adults too. With bold citrusy and fruity flavors, not to mention all the great-for-you vitamins and nutrients, fruit juice is a summer fan favorite.

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes are especially great sources of water and vitamin C in the summertime. According to several lifestyle news outlets, they help to reduce body temperature, and vitamin C is a great nutrient to prevent skin damage in hot weather.

A classic glass of OJ, a bottle of grape juice, or an apple juice box will help you stay cool and energized this summer. And you won’t be alone; juice rises in popularity as summer comes around. Stock up and enjoy!

A Bit of the Bubbly

It seems like everywhere you turn there’s a new brand entering the sparkling water or seltzer market. It comes as no surprise given how often people have plucked these fizzy favorites from store shelves.

The number of brands in the sparkling water space is increasing, and so are the innovative flavor combinations. Sparkling water distributors are pairing tropical tastes like pineapple and coconut with the citrus of lemon and lime. Fruit flavors from passionfruit to peach are capturing buyers’ attention.

Alternative sodas are also trending. Carbonated with ingredients like apple cider vinegar, these alternatives are a health-conscious replacement for a classic cola.

Go with Your Gut

Alternative sodas aren’t just a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Often paired with prebiotics and probiotics, they also support gut health!

Probiotics, the healthy bacteria in your gut that aid digestion, are essential to a healthy diet and lifestyle. Fermented tea drinks like kombucha are loaded with these, and their cult following is steadily growing. Kombucha might not be king for long, though. New brands are constantly popping up with probiotics in flavored sparkling and water varieties.

As the summer sun blazes on, everyone will be looking for cold, refreshing drinks. This summer, pack up your cooler and fill your workplace with summertime flavor and hydration-forward beverages. After hours, you can enjoy some happy hour fun, but you’ll have to keep the drinks zero-proof when at work. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Take 5 Vending keeps all of your team’s favorites in stock all summer long. Get started today to kick off the season in style.

Subsidized Vending Can Be A Great Cost-Effective Solution For Offices

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An Intro to Subsidized Vending

At Take 5 Vending, we provide healthy snack and beverage delivery to Boston-area companies. But while some of our clients are willing to foot the entire bill for the healthy products their employees consume, others are looking for a more cost-effective solution. And we have one: subsidized vending.

How Does Subsidized Vending Work?

Here’s how it works: we install a vending machine at your company (which can vend both snacks and drinks) and you decide how much of the product cost your company would like to pay. Maybe it’s 30% or 50% or $1.00 off everything in the machine.

Whatever you decide, employees will still be getting access to healthy, delicious products and they’ll be happy to be getting items at a discount.

At the end of each month, we send you an itemized bill with what employees consumed. We do find it’s better to start with a smaller subsidy and increase it later once you see what employee demand is like. That way, you’re not in the position of taking something away from your colleagues that they’ve gotten used to.

Want to Learn More About Vending in the Boston Area?

If you’d like to learn more about our subsidized vending program or about our healthy snack and beverage delivery to offices in the Greater Boston area, please contact us. Wondering why you should care about having vending in the workplace? Checkout this article on the top benefits of having vending machines at the workplace.

 

How to Get Vending Machines in the Office

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Thinking About Getting Vending Machines in Your Office?

Are you considering getting a vending machine in your workplace, but don’t know where to start? Luckily, you’re not alone. Until you are at work, thinking about where to get that next snack or beverage, many people do not have vending machines at the top of their mind. You might have questions like: How much does it cost? Do I have to buy a vending machine? Can I pay for my workers snacks? Do I have to pay for my workers snacks?

We’re going to lay out the answers to all these questions below! And as always, we are more than happy to chat via phone (508-697-0800) or email about any other questions you might have.

How much does a vending machine cost?

Lucky for you, nothing! We supply all of our vending machines to businesses for free. You will never pay a “rental fee”, “setup fee or service fee when you choose to make your breakroom snacking space with Take 5 Vending.

Do I have to buy a vending machine?

Unless you want to start your own vending business, the answer is no! We provide all equipment, whether a coffee setup or vending machine, to businesses free of charge. Our business model works because you provide the space to place the machines in, while we make profit solely on what is sold through those machines.

Can I pay for my workers snacks?

Certainly! While a lot of businesses simply bring in vending machines or micro-markets for workers to purchase product themselves, some business owners want to reward their employees through providing free snacks and beverages. This can be done through a few avenues. You could opt for a pantry service where desired snacks are brought to your place of work and placed in “the pantry” of your office, then you are billed for the cost of the snacks/drinks. Another option that larger businesses opt for is the setup of a micro-market. This basically means we create a “mini store” in an area of your business where employees have access to fresh food, cold drinks, and snacks. The micro-market uses a self-checkout system, where each employee can have a preloaded “spending allowance” provided by the business to use on snacks, drinks, and other items in the market.  The last option would be to bring in a vending machine that doesn’t require payment on the front end to your breakroom, then we would retroactively bill you for the items bought from that machine.

picture of a micro-market
Picture of a Micro-Market

Do I have to pay for my workers snacks?

No, absolutely not! Businesses are doing employees a service through providing a breakroom they can obtain snacks from without having to leave the office. Many businesses opt to bring in vending machines or micro-markets and have employees pay for their own snacks as wanted.

How do I get started?!

Please feel free to visit our website at take5vend.com, visit us on Facebook, email us at tfivevending@gmail.com, or give us a call at 508-697-08000 – whichever works best for you! We are family owned and operated and have been since 1980. We are THE ONLY small vending business left in the Bridgewater/Rhode Island/ South Shore area, and truly appreciate your business.

Rhode Island Business Looking for Vending?

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Rhode Island Vending

Whether you’re a factory warehouse, sales office, or manufacturing business, your employees have to eat.

Wondering what your options are as far as bringing in food for the office goes? Ordering pizza for the crew might be a tasty treat, but it’s not a practical option for everyday lunch. Going out to pick up take out is nice sometimes, but it certainly can take up more time than that 30-minute lunch break allows. Bringing in vending machines for your Rhode Island business is a great way to ensure workers can eat what they want, when they want to, in a doable amount of time during their working day.

Vending Machines Filled with Food YOU Want

We are a small, family-owned business with a passion for customer service, and we have been since 1980. This means that unlike our big competitors, we are able to communicate with you directly to ensure your needs are met. Whether that means filling an extra 2 rows with Diet Coke for the soda lover in the office, providing more healthy options for your student-facing vending machines, or servicing the business at a certain time – we want to provide you with the best experience possible.

Vending Options that Work for YOUR Rhode Island Business

Are you worried that your office is too small to fit a vending machine? Or that a drink and snack machine might take up too much space? We want to work with you to find a breakroom snacking solution that works for your business and your employees. We have plenty of options, ranging from combo machines to micro markets that can be installed in a variety of spaces.

Worried About Payment Options for Vending?

Let us start off by saying we do not charge to install vending machines. We do not charge to maintain or repair vending machines.

Worried about employees having to carry cash to use vending machines? Don’t be. Our machines are all equipped with digital payment processors accepting debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay, and more!

Want to provide your employees with free snacks and meals? We can work out options that will allow your business to cover all costs associated with your vending machines or micro market so employees can snack freely and be thankful to their employer for letting them do so!

Give us a call today at 508-558-5033 or send us a message on our website to get started on a breakroom snacking solution for your Rhode Island based office, warehouse, or factory!

 

3 REASONS TO UPGRADE YOUR BOSTON OFFICE VENDING MACHINES

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When office vending machines and break rooms are done right, they can become the heart and center of your company office. After all, the break room is where employees spend their time when they’re not working at their desks. It’s where colleagues go to rest, collaborate, refuel, and get to know their fellow co-workers. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why even small upgrades to an already great Boston break room can go a long way! Therefore, it’s a good idea to create the best break room environment possible. So, what exactly does that look like? For many businesses, that can mean upgrading to high-quality refreshment services and state-of-the-art vending equipment with a new refreshment services provider.

Does your break room have vending machines? If so, then one great place to start is with your Boston office vending service. Contrary to popular belief, the snacks in your vending machine aren’t the only thing that matters! Additionally, it’s the vending machine itself that can make all the difference in customer satisfaction. With modern vending machines, you can trust that your hard-working employees are getting the best break room service. From user-friendly features to cashless payments and a better-looking workspace, here’s why it’s time to upgrade your Boston office vending machines.

MODERN EQUIPMENT LOOKS BETTER

You know that saying, “look good, feel good”? Well, that goes beyond just a person’s appearance! When you create a break room that looks updated and welcoming, workers will be more inclined to take advantage of this useful employee benefit. The truth is that modern equipment can transform the look of your break room. In turn, it makes any break room look well organized and inviting. Not only that, but it’ll provide employees a nice place to wind down and chat between tasks. Therefore, changing your old Boston beverage vending machine or snack machine in order to upgrade your office aesthetic is well worth the effort.

CASHLESS PAYMENT OPTIONS

Nowadays, most people carry little to no cash in their wallets. So, why have an office vending service that’s cash-only? By upgrading to modern vending machines with newer vending technology, you can provide a more valuable break room to your employees. Cashless payment options, such as payments using a credit card or smartphone app, are more convenient and efficient. These simple payment options help Massachusetts workers choose their snack, drink or healthy vending option with ease. Therefore, it ends up saving them time and keeping them on-site during their breaks. It’s just another example of how one small upgrade to your vending services can make a big difference!

MORE ECO-FRIENDLY VENDING MACHINES

More people now than ever are committed to living an eco-conscious lifestyle – and for good reason! What this means is that more people are concerned about the environment. This includes the impact of their daily routines both at work and at home. Therefore, one modern vending machine feature that employees will appreciate is LED lighting. This updated technology makes for a more energy-efficient vending machine that’s just as useful as it is green. It’s a win-win! In addition to eco-friendly vending services, you can take it a step further with compostable utensils and encourage everyone to bring their own water bottle.

So, what are you waiting for? Upgrade your Boston break room today! Find us at Take 5 Vending or give us a call at 508-697-0800.

Warm Food and Vending Machines?! It’s Possible for your Boston Breakroom.

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Vending Machines and Warm Food?

When one thinks of vending machines, they don’t necessarily picture eating a warm meal. What comes to mind is usually a bag of chips or a candy bar, and maybe a cold soda to go with. Although these are nice snack options to have, they don’t necessarily fulfill the hunger of someone who might be stuck at work for 8 hours. With the advent of new vending machine and breakroom technology, there are now ways to enjoy a warm meal at work without having to order takeaway.

Food Vending Machines vs Snack and Drink Machines

Unless you’re in the vending business, thinking about different types of vending machines isn’t probably at the top of your mind. We’re here to let you know that yes, there are more varieties of vending machines than the 2 most commonly used: snack & drink machines. There are coffee and tea machines which offer customers the pleasure of getting a warm cup of coffee how they want it right in front of them. There are combo vending machines that allow an array of items to be placed side by side in one machine. There are food vending machines which allow the entire machine to be refrigerated at a certain temperature or in some cases even allow certain compartments to be refrigerated at various temperatures. food vending machines(Food Vending Machine)

There’s also the option to install a micro-market in your building, which is essentially an unmanned retail space where individuals can purchase food and beverages. Micro-markets can be adjusted to fit a variety of spaces, and can provide free standing freezers, refrigerators, microwaves, and toaster ovens for food to be prepared in.

Fresh Food in Micro-Market Refrigerator Micromarket frozen food in micro-market refrigerator

(Pictures of a Micro-Market)

Why Choose Full Vending Over Snack Vending?

Healthier Options

Traditional snack vending machines don’t have the ability to offer as many healthy options as a full-service vending setup would provide. Through installing a micro-market, or a food vending machine, freshly made sandwiches, salads, and other foods are able to be offered through refrigerated spaces.

Convenience for Employees

Many full-service vending machines offer items that can be considered full meals. When you provide this type of vending service to your employees, they’re going to be far more likely to stay in the building during lunch, which, in addition to being incredibly convenient for them, usually means that they’ll take shorter lunches and increase their productivity. If your machines only offer snacks, then your employees will be more likely to leave your office for lunch.

More Variety Means More Business

People like variety. If your vending machine sells nothing but unhealthy snacks, you’re going to miss out on a huge potential client: the individual who likes the convenience of vending machines but wouldn’t be caught dead eating Doritos. Because of this huge market opportunity, it makes sense to add more variety into your vending machines.

Thinking About Bringing Food/Vending Service to your Business?

Please visit our website Take 5 Vending to learn more about services that we offer. If you would like to get started on a breakroom snacking/food service solution today, contact us at (508) 697-0800 anytime 7am-3pm, Monday-Friday OR shoot us a message on our Facebook page Take Five Vending  

Our service area includes but not limited to the following areas:
Boston, Providence, Braintree, Quincy, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River, Pawtucket, Norwood, Dedham, Bridgewater and Plymouth.

Healthy Snacks that Sell in Boston and Providence Schools and Colleges

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Healthy Snacks that Sell in Boston and Providence Schools and Colleges

Wondering what healthy snacks appeal to students? With today’s snack regulations, deciding which healthy snacks to stock your schools with is no easy feat. Despite these new regulations, students have shown they will in fact purchase healthy snacks in school. According to a study done by Y-Pulse that surveyed 1,314 consumers, including 177 full-time college students, college students snack more than all other demographics and are snacking at all times of the day. Whether after a long day of learning, before their after-school activities, or during a finals study break, healthy snacks are an important component to student’s everyday lives. 

College Student Snacking

Our goal at Take Five Vending is to ensure students have good quality, healthy snack options that they look forward to eating. Let’s take a look into what healthy snacks are being sold in Boston and Providence colleges and schools. 

Baked Chips – A Great Snack for Schools

Baked chips are a healthy alternative snack to the classic potato chip. Not only are they significantly lower in caloric value and fat content, but their taste doesn’t stray far from the original flavorful bite you’re expecting. Consuming baked chips as an alternative has the ability to leave students feeling less groggy in the classroom, allowing them to focus more on learning. Consider keeping a wide selection of baked snack options in your vending machines, because offering a variety of flavors like Baked Lays BBQ, Sour Cream, Original, and Onion encourages healthier snack consumption among students in schools and colleges. 

Granola & Protein Bars – To Keep the Students Going

One of the more obvious healthy snacks being sold in Boston and Providence schools and colleges are granola bars and protein bars. These healthy snacks are full of vitamins and fulfill student’s hunger with ingredients designed to keep them going throughout their day. There’s a type of snack bar for every different type of student. RX Bars are high in protein but made with as few ingredients as possible. Whereas Kind Bars make a wide selection of whole grain, whole nut, products with varying fruits. All of which are healthy snack options for students. 

RX Bars that are great for students

Beef Jerky – A Portable Treat for Students in College and High School

This simple snack has origins that date back to 1550, yet it remains popular today. Though there isn’t much to it, beef jerky is a healthy snack option that’s low in calories, high in protein, and a great source of vitamins and minerals. Jerky’s portable nature makes it accessible in almost every situation, perfect for a student on-the-go taking snacks with them to class. Most importantly, it’s a healthy option that leaves them feeling nourished and ready to be active.

Dehydrated Fruit Chips – A Healthy Option for Boston and Providence Schools

Getting students to eat fruit has never been easier with dehydrated fruit chips. What’s better than a refreshing piece of fruit? A fun way to eat it! Fruit chips allow students to indulge in the fun chip crunch while actually eating a healthy snack. Students might lean away from eating traditional fruit in school due to the messy nature of it. By supplying them with dehydrated fruit chips in the vending machines instead they have the option to make the healthy choice with no messy inconvenience. Offering items like plantain chips exposes students not only to healthy snacks, but to snacks they might not have been exposed to yet. 

Plantain Chips for Schools

Thinking about stocking your vending machines with healthier snacks? We’d be happy to go over options that work best for your school system whether it be a public school or private college. Contact us at (508) 697-0800 anytime 7am-3pm, Monday-Friday OR shoot us a message on our Facebook page Take Five Vending.

 

    

 

Benefits of a Micro-Market in Boston Businesses

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Do you wish you could offer your employees a wider selection of snacks than a vending machine can offer in the breakroom? A micro-market is the perfect solution. It offers a wider range of snacks, beverages, and fresh food in open-front coolers and on free-standing racks. Your break room will become a welcoming space for everyone in the office.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider installing a micro-market into your business’s break room.

Micromarket that Take 5 Vending has setup for a Boston business
Micro-market setup in a Boston business.

More Variety in the Breakroom

The main purpose of a micro-market is to offer everyone in the office tasty snacks, beverages, and pre-packaged fresh food. With a bigger physical layout than vending machines can offer, micro-markets are the way to go if you would like to offer your employees a wider selection of refreshments. Access to delicious on-site choices means your employees don’t have to go off-site for their lunch or coffee breaks. And, as a result, staying on-site creates many benefits, from unplanned team work to increased output.

Part of our job is to make sure your employees have the options they crave. Whether it’s the latest energy drinks or coconut waters, the newest healthy snack trends, or delicious fresh food we are always updating our selection. Also, don’t forget the coffee service. With most Boston and Providence adults drinking coffee every day, access to freshly brewed cup of joe is something everyone in the office will love.

Easy Payment Technology

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, technology must keep up to meet new demands. We have designed our micro-markets so the technology that powers them can do just so. Unlike a store, a micro-market does not need a cashier. One (or multiple) self-checkout kiosks are installed with every micro-market to ensure quick and easy checkout. Businesses have the option to pre-load payment cards for employees or to have each transaction be paid separately by the person buying the snack, like in the case of a vending machine.

Carefully placed security cameras help deter theft and keep an eye on the space. Additionally, wireless technology helps us track inventory and equipment status. We use the real-time data to keep everyone’s favorite products in stock, and as always, we welcome suggestions from employees themselves to ensure everyone can have their number one snack on the shelf.

Flexibility for your Business

Huge staff? We got you. Small staff? We got you. Hungry Staff? We most certainly got you.

Each company’s break room needs are different from the size of the staff to the time of the day employee’s visit the breakroom to the room’s layout. Micro-markets are flexible in the way that they can be sized up or down, and don’t need certain spacial requirements like a vending machine to be installed. No matter what your situation is, we’re confident we can customize a breakroom snacking solution that will leave the office satisfied. For more information about our micro-markets, coffee service, and vending options, please contact Take 5 Vending at 508-697-0800. We look forward to hearing from you.