SAN DIEGO - With the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, schools across the country are scrambling to fill vending machines with more healthy fare, MSNBC reports.
"We€™re at the beginning of a major movement in vending," said Jolly Backer, founder of Fresh Healthy Vending.
Many vending machines in fitness centers, office buildings and schools will soon be stocked with fresh fruit, gluten-free snacks, granola bars and organic yogurt.
With a third of consumers today purchasing organic products each month, demand for new organic-filled vending machines is expected to grow. For example, organic snacks in machines at four Chicago-area high schools have outsold the previous soda-and-candy vending machines, said Jeff Carr, business manager for the district. "It€™s the direction a lot of kids want to go," he said. "And it€™s our job to provide them with healthy choices."
Coca-Cola and Pepsi have changed the mix in their vending machines to lower-calorie and smaller beverages. There€™s also vending machines that stock fresh fruit. The vending machine industry€™s Fit Pick program places stickers next to snacks and beverages low in fats and sugar.
For more on nutrition in convenience stores, be on the lookout for the February NACS Magazine and an announcement from NACS about a new nutrition campaign.