Snack Sales Hold Strong Despite Recession

Though consumers are being more conscientious on what and how they spend their money, snack foods remain on their shopping lists.

Note: Here is one more article showing the snack food continues to be firmly rooted in our society. That’s why vending continues to be a strong and profitable industry.

For more information on why snack foods have remained popular click here

Hershey Kisses Brand Top Choice

The 2010 results of the renowned annual brand equity study, EquiTrend®, ranks the Hershey Kisses brand at the top of the list.

The global market research firm Harris Interactive bases its findings on consumer awareness and perception of brands.

For the top 25 highest ranked brands click here

School Vending Restrictions A No Go Says Utah Legislature

While the Obama administration is looking into childhood obesity the Utah Lesiglature says no to regulating product sold in vending machines in Utah schools.

To read about both sides of the argument go to The Salt Lake Tribune.com

Pennsylvania School’s Wellness Program Includes Regulation of Vending Machines

In an effort to improve student health and well-being in Pennsylvania its board of education plans to, among other things, replace unhealthy snacks and drinks with healthy ones in school vending machines. The State Board of Education, which is targeting student health as a top priority, is following the lead of the First Lady and her obesity campaign to combat childhood obesity.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s board of education childhood obesity campaign click here

Tampa, FL Students Say It’s Our Choice - Educate Us, Don’t Restrict Us

High School students in the Tampa, FL area say the best way to combat childhood obesity is to educate young people, not restrict them. This is one argument against the federal government’s possible ban on “junk food” in school vending machines which would be part of the childhood obesity campaign. Another is that nutritional habits are learned at home, not school.

For more on this story and why the ban may never get off the ground click here

Ohio Newspaper Weighs In On Restricting School Vending Machines

An editorial published in the Marietta Times in Marietta, OH supports state and national efforts to restrict products sold in vending machines in schoools.

See MariettaTimes.com for the full editorial

Tough Economic Times Have Nothing On Chocolate

Reports show that chocolate sales have gone unaffected in the U.S. and throughout the world, during the recession. In fact, some market’s chocolate sales have increased.

Click here for the complete article

New York Lawmakers Back Away from Attack on Non-Diet Soda

The proposed tax on non-diet soda in the State of New York has been shelved - at least for now. Governor Patterson and the NY Legislature had proposed the tax to help make up for budget shortfalls. The proposed tax, along with taxes on Internet downloads and clothing costing more than $100, had not been received well by New York residents.

The tax proposals were shelved after federal stimulus dollars were promised.

Read the whole story from Reuters.

Chocolate Milk Best After Exercise
Chocolate milk has taken first place in a post-exercise energy recovery trial in competition alongside both a fluid- and carbohydrate-replacing beverage, according to new clinical research. The findings appearing in the journal, Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, found that over three experimental trials, trained cyclists sustained exercise longer after drinking chocolate milk versus other beverages.

Read the full story from foodproductiondaily.com

‘Comfort’ Foods Thriving In Recession

Cost and convenience are motivators in unexpected growth of comfort food categories during recession. Sales of foods such as bread, easy-to-prepare side dishes and frozen meals exceeding expectations.

Get the full story here

Sears Selling Suites Made Of Recycled Plastic Bottles

Sears to sell environmentally conscious men’s suits made of fabric from recycled plastic soda bottles.

Check out environmentalleader.com for more info

Energy Drink Sales Unaffected By Recession

Despite recession and 20 ounce soft drinks holding their own there remains a strong upward trend in energy drink sales.

Click here for the whole story.

National Automatic Merchandising Association’s ‘Fit Pick’ Program Highlighted In Centers For Disease Control Publication

The National Automatic Merchandising Association’s unique ‘Fit Pick’ Program and their partnership with Washington’s Clark County Steps Program highlighted and lauded in the CDC’s “Preventing Chronic Disease, Public Health Research, Practice and Policy” publication.

Click here for more on NAMA’s ‘Fit Pick’ Program

Parents And The American Dietetic Association Taking Stand Against Junk Food In School Vending Machines

The National Parent Teacher Association and the American Dietetic Association urging Congress to pass a law against the use of junk food in school vending machines.

For more on this story click here.

According To Research Consumption of Non-Carbonated Drinks Rising While Soft Drink Declines

Our more health-conscious society is turning to healthier alternatives to regular soft drinks, says Mintel. According to their November 2008 survey 15.6 million adults stopped consuming old-fashioned soft drinks between 2003 and 2008. During that time consumption of diet sodas, bottled water, energy and sport drinks increased.

Check out this link for more info.

University of Idaho Knows How Best To Assess A Customer’s Product Needs

In an attempt to offer more healthy vending choices in on-campus vending machines University of Idaho’s Health Physical Recreation and Dance Department provided surveys as well as snack samples. Snack samples are a great way to better gauge a customer’s product needs.

Read more of this story at The University of Idaho’s Argonaut.

Tennessee Making A Move Toward Energy Efficiency With State Vending Machines

Bill requiring energy efficient lighting in vending machines on state property unanimously passed in the Tennessee Senate. Improving Tennessee’s clean energy standards on Governor Phil Bredesen’s agenda.

For more on this story click here.

Environmentally-Friendly Sun Chips Rolling Out Compostable Snack Bag

Sun Chips’s commitment to its customer’s and its own environmental awareness has lead to the first fully compostable snack chip bag. Made from plant-based materials the brand claims the bag will decompose in approximately 14 weeks under the appropriate conditions. The bag is due to be introduced in 2010.

For the full story click here.

Red Bull Introduces Energy Shot

Red Bull expanded its product line in June 2009 with the Red Bull Energy Shot and Red Bull Sugarfree Shot. Red Bull Energy Drink’s strong reputation in the energy drink market opens a promising door for the success of its new energy shot product.

For the full story click here.

Research Group Takes A Close Look At The Lunch Hour In The U.S.

Research and Markets indicates in their “Lunchtime Eating in The United States 2009″ report that value is key consideration in the consumer’s selection of lunchtime fare.

For the full story click here.

Consumers Making Meals Out Of Snack Foods

Report shows that snack foods make up 21 percent of all meals consumed in the U.S. Consumers turning to snacks that offer a sense of indulgence and healthfulness.

For the full story click here.

Research Shows Consumers Willing To Part With Coins Over Bills

Studies conducted in the U.S. and China show consumers more readily spend coins over bills. Less thought and concern given to using smaller denomintations known as the “denomination effect”.

For the full story click here.

Significant Growth Of Organic Product Sales Reported During Recession

Organic product sales continued to climb in 2008 despite the recession. Both food and non-food sales in 2008 grew 17.1 percent over 2007.

For the full story click here.

New Line Of Meat Snacks Creates New Partnership

PepsiCo’s Frito Lay partners with Jack Link’s to market and sell new line of Matador meat snacks. The Matador line of meat snacks is aimed at young adults with active lifestyles.

For the full story click here

Vending Industry Comes Together To Support Tennessee Law Requiring Vending Machines On State Property Be More Energy Efficient

The Tennessee Automatic Merchandising Association and the National Automatic Merchandising Association supported and assisted in the legislation passed in Tennessee requiring vending machines on state property to be more energy efficient. It is estimated this could save the state $438,000 in annual utility costs.

(The RC-800 vending machine sold by 1.800.Vending has energy efficient lighting as a standard part of its design.)

For the full story click here

Convenient, Needs More Variety Say Utah Students of School Vending Machines

Though Utah high school students would like more variety they appreciate the convenience and option of vending machines at school.

For the full story click here

Bottled Water Not Purchased For Health

Survey says consumers are motivated less by health reasons than by convenience, cost, and taste factors when purchasing bottled water.

For the full story click here

California Says No More to Trans Fats In School Vending Machines

In order to help school children focus and study more effectively a new law has been passed in California banning all food items containing trans fats from being sold in schools in vending machines and by outside contractors.

(The Healthy You machine from 1.800.vending is a great option for schools.)

Read the whole story at The Los Angeles Times.

Industry Supports Limiting Junk Food In Schools

The food and beverage industry is stepping up to offer their support of efforts in Washington to put limits on junk food sales in school vending machines.

Check out The WSJ’s Health Blog for more info

Kentucky School’s Healthy Initiative Includes Vending Machines

Vending machines in Kentucky schools were restricted but not removed despite new healthy initiatives. Vending machines are now stocked with healthier snack and drink choices to coincide with Kentuck’ys school lunch and nutrition-education programs.

For more on this story click here

Debate Grows Over Soda-Drink Tax

Organizations are joining forces to oppose tax on what one calls “simple pleasures”, soda-drinks. Proponents say something needs to be done about the health care costs resulting from consumption of these “simple pleasures”.

However, the debate is not as straight forward as this. To learn more about the points of this debate go to USATODAY.com

The California Milk Processor Board Issues Challenge to School Districts

The California Milk Processor Board has issued a challenge to some California school districts to increase breakfast consumption among their teenager students. The school that shows the greatest increase over last school year’s numbers wins a $2,500 cash prize.

For the full story click here

Coffee Consumers Loyal During Recession

Consumer spending may be down during the recession, but not coffee consumption. Coffee has continued to sell well, in part, because it has been a long-time American mainstay and, in part, due to well-crafted corporate advertising.

For more on the success of coffee sales go to TheStreet.com

Study Suggests Dairy Consumption Important For Long Life

Though the study authors acknowledge that more research is needed to confirm their early findings they claim childhood consumption of dairy products can help some to live longer.

Click here for additional information