When you hear, “I know a good food spot,” what do you think of?
Odds are, it’s not a vending machine with Snickers and soda.
Rather, it might be a local cafe serving gourmet breakfast sandwiches or a sushi restaurant in town. Food spots are places where consumers know they can get quality food.
While our founding team is made up of former foodservice operators, FoodSpot isn’t in the business of making food. So who puts the food in a FoodSpot? You! As the operator, you have something special to offer your community. We’re just here to make it available when and where people want it most.
With speed and convenience being a top consideration for consumers and labor costs being a top concern for operators, 24/7 fresh food accessibility is needed more than ever in places like hospitals, condos, and universities. Smart fridges present a promising solution for all these communities to create a 24/7 food spot for their people. Below, we outline two business models our clients use to launch FoodSpot fridges.
Model 1: Being the Operator
Candidates: Universities, Hospitals, Cafes, & Restaurants
If you already have a foodservice operation and highly trafficked locations in mind, you are a great candidate to be an operator. Here’s why:
- You know your community: You know your community and what they like to eat. They know you and like your food. Offering your food 24/7 with a brand-forward experience is a natural extension of the relationship. Successfully launching a smart fridge depends on many factors, but if you check this box, you’re in good shape.
- You can increase your influence: Fresh food vending platforms are exactly that, platforms for your brand to shine. For example, using the FoodSpot consumer app, your customers can know exactly what’s in your fridges in real-time, and you can communicate new products and offer rewards to keep you top-of-mind.
- You can learn more about your community: You can gain many new insights when selling your food 24/7. For example, if you have never sold breakfast in your cafe but Noosa yogurts have been flying off your smart fridge shelves at 6 a.m., you may consider including them in your main locations, or even creating your own yogurt product to sell.
- You can increase your ROI: With a smart fridge, your staff can prepare product and stock the fridge any time. Your fridge then sells around the clock without retail labor. With the right product mix, location, and marketing, your same-store sales has the potential to skyrocket. For instance, one university did $14K in revenue from one FoodSpot smart fridge in its first month.
Model 2: Outsourcing an Operator
Candidates: Gyms, Condos, Apartment Buildings, Police Stations, & Manufacturing Plants
If you do not have an in-house foodservice team, you can outsource an operator by partnering with a local food vendor to stock the smart fridge. Our clients who outsource an operator often ask their community who they would love to see inside the building. This way, the community gets their favorite local food right from their building and feels that management cares about them.
Most local cafes would jump at the opportunity to sell 24/7 inside a busy building. As you outsource operators, ask yourself if their brand and products would resonate with your community. Ultimately, you know your community best.
Your People Will Love Your Food Spot
Whether you operate the smart fridge yourself or partner with a local vendor, your community will love having 24/7 access to fresh food.
- Your nurse can grab a yogurt parfait at 3 am if she didn’t pack a lunch.
- Your resident can grab his favorite breakfast sandwich at 5 am on the way out the door to the airport.
- Your student who studied through dinnertime can now have a salad or sushi roll at 10 pm instead of chips and soda,
Smart fridges can be the 24/7 food spot your community needs. To learn more about launching and operating a smart fridge, check out our other blogs and podcasts. If you’re ready to take steps towards launching, feel free to book a call with one of our smart vending experts. We’re here to help!
