People are busier than ever. And they are eating more frequently in shorter amounts of time. So it’s no surprise that snacking has become part of just about everyone’s lifestyle in Atlanta.

In an effort to understand this consumer trend, Mintel, the research firm, surveyed consumers on their snacking habits and found that salty snacks have become the new comfort food.

Three in five (62 percent) of consumers are eating salty snacks as a stress reliever, compared to 16 percent a year ago. What’s more, 30 percent eat salty snacks when they are bored, with half (51 percent) agreeing that salty snacking is a good way to relieve boredom compared to 25 percent who said this a year ago.

“Consumption of salty snacks is largely driven by emotion, including stress and boredom,” says Amanda Topper, senior food analyst at Mintel. “Consumers are looking for ways to manage their wellbeing, and the impact of food on emotional and mental health is becoming more important.”

This is especially true for parents, the majority of whom say salty snacks relieve stress. “Not only do parents’ hectic lifestyles force them to snack while on the go, but the majority who buy salty snacks agree that snacking throughout the day is a healthy alternative to regular meals,” Topper says. “Brands that highlight health and wellness benefits can appeal to parents that are often buying snacks that can be consumed by themselves and their children.”

Parents are increasingly likely to snack on salty options while on the go (41 percent say they do this), at work (36 percent) and throughout the day (34 percent). Parents are more likely than non-parents to see snacking as a stress reliever (73 percent versus 55 percent).

Fifty-eight percent of parents say it’s healthier to snack throughout the day than eat regular meals (compared to 21 percent of non-parents).

As much as they like salty snacks, consumers aren’t any less interested in eating what’s good for them. Mintel found that three quarters (74 percent) of consumers are interested in healthier salty snacking options.

Three in five consumers (61 percent) say salty snacks have too many artificial ingredients, while four in five (79 percent) find it important to be able to recognize the ingredients in salty snacks.

What’s more, 58 percent of salty snack purchasers agree that it is important to buy salty snacks that contain only a few ingredients.

But when it comes to snacks, nothing is more important than taste.

Three in five consumers agree that taste is more important than how healthy a salty snack is. A new flavor (38 percent) is the most influential purchasing factor for salty snackers, along with spicy flavor (30 percent) and limited-edition/seasonal flavor (22 percent).

Which is not to say that taste and health are polarizing Americans. Four in five (82 percent) agree that salty snacks can be both healthy and tasty.

“While consumers are concerned about ingredients and express interest in seeing healthier options on shelves, they still want to indulge, and flavor is a highly motivating factor. Brands that focus on products with bold, new flavors that incorporate simple ingredients will offer the best of both worlds to consumers,” says Topper.

Looking for a variety of snacks for your Atlanta breakroom? Call Eagle Vending today at (770) 426-1969 for a free no-obligation consultation of your breakroom needs.

Coffee isn’t just a way to caffeinate in the morning throughout Atlanta. For millennials, selecting coffee is an emotional experience. The social and environmental effects are vitally important to millennials. While freshness and affordability are still important, a new survey shows that millennials are emotionally connected to coffee’s history.

What the survey says

According to an online survey (of more than 900 millennials), “The language millennials use and the attitudes they have indicate that they are deeply connected to coffee on an emotional level.” The study was conducted by Datassential (a Chicago-based foodservice research firm) and published by custom coffee roaster S&D Coffee & Tea, who added, “For them, coffee is not just a drink, it’s an experience.”

The opinions of millennials are important because they are current and future consumers. John Buckner, S&D Vice President of Marketing says, “The magnitude of this generation [millennials] is such that we know their attitude toward coffee will significantly impact our customer’s growth for years to come; we’re excited about being able to better understand their preferences and perceptions and how those evolve over time.”

The survey results indicate a strong preference for knowing how the coffee they drink is grown and harvested. As a result, sustainability determines if millennials will buy coffee in most situations. How is the coffee helping socially, environmentally, and economically? In other words, millennials believe in being smart consumers, whether that’s branded coffee or brewed at home.

If you want to reach millennials, offer sustainably sourced coffee. The study said, “Sustainable sourcing is a consistently powerful term whose influence extends beyond just improved perceptions around an operation’s coffee offerings.”

About 45% of millennials feel better about places that offer sustainably-sourced coffee. This was most important to them, even above Fair Trade Certification, USDA organic, locally-sourced, direct trade coffees. Additionally, more than a quarter would go out of their way to obtain sustainably-sourced coffee. The “vast majority” of millennials would also “be willing to pay a small premium for coffee that is sustainably sourced,” the survey stated.

Interestingly, only 22% of millennials knew the exact definition and specific requirements necessary to qualify as sustainable.

What the survey means for your office coffee service in Atlanta

When offering coffee to millennials at your Atlanta breakroom, it’s clearly effective to use coffee that sustainably sourced. Yet, the survey noted that it has a chance of backlash. If the consumer thinks it’s being used insincerely, they may avoid it altogether. “Use of coffee terms as mere labels will render them powerless to sharp-eyed millennials who are increasingly skeptical of unsupported language,” the survey noted. Choose your coffee with caution and wisdom. Do you believe that the coffee brand is sustainably sourced? If not, then millennials probably don’t either.

Slightly over 40% of consumers associate organic with sustainable, the study found, with a little over 30% associating sustainable with Fair Trade Certified or environmentally-friendly harvesting practices. Only 22% associate sustainable with better taste and even fewer (only 15%) associating it with better aroma. Environmental factors were also more important than labor practices and social impact.

Best solution for you

If millennials are drawn to sustainable sourcing, the coffee you offer in your Atlanta breakroom must be truthful. Furthermore, there needs to be easily accessible specifics about the chosen coffee brand. If “sustainable sourcing” is just slapped onto the coffee, millennials may see it as dishonest. Thus, there must be proof of “sustainable sourcing” or it will be worthless. If the coffee says it is “sustainably sourced,” along with other well-known labels, it will make millennials trust the coffee offered. In fact, having a list of what makes coffee “sustainably sourced” in a millennial workforce breakroom might be powerful when paired with a coffee that is truly sustainably sourced. Essentially, be honest and transparent when appealing to millennials’ coffee needs, and they will love your coffee.

If you are looking for office coffee to offer in your Atlanta breakroom, call Eagle Vending today at 770-426-1969 for a free, no obligation consultation, where we can help you with your breakroom needs.

Want to freshen up your vending and/or micro market selections? Take a lesson from the chocolate industry and C-stores.

Why? Because in a recent Packaged Foods report, “Chocolate Candy in the U.S.,” published by Puro Research Group, in a time where consumers are more and more health conscious, chocolate sales are still rising in C-stores. And here’s why:

Outside Factors

• Cheaper gas is increasing the amount of consumers visiting C-stores
• Dark chocolate is perceived as healthier (why its sales are up by 9%) and why 70% of shoppers will occasionally switch to dark chocolate as an alternative to milk chocolate

Main Factors

• C-Stores are still carrying the traditional favorites (standard candy bar sizes and flavors are still the largest part of the market).
• The chocolate industry is catering to three main needs:
  • Portability – conducive to the on-the-go lifestyle of most Americans
  • Portion-control /Resealable packaging – helping Americans in their desire to be healthier
  • Shareability – Sharing is a means of portion control
• The chocolate industry is also paying attention to top trends, responding to consumer tastes by adding more: dark chocolate, almonds, gourmet salt, coconut and super seeds

According to Jenn Ellek, Senior Director of trade marketing and communications for the National Confectioners Association, “it’s still about having the right core items (most often National brands [think Snickers, Reeses, etc.]) while adjusting to include and feature regional favorites.” In other words, people are still interested in their favorites but they’re also ready to try something new.

We believe the same is true for your Atlanta snack and beverage service. Our promise to you is that we will keep your favorite core items in stock but also pay attention to new trends (both tastes and health concerns), rotating slow movers for new and local items.

For more information on how we can improve your existing snack and beverage service in Atlanta call Eagle Vending today at (770) 426-1969. One of our team members would love to get a better idea of the product that you and your co-workers love while also suggesting some new items that you may want to rotate in to your Atlanta vending machines and/or micro market.

Have you noticed how busy the break room is nowadays in Atlanta? The refreshment area plays a more important role in employees’ lives, thanks to the great selections now available that not only taste good, but allow consumers to follow healthy diets.
One reason many consumers are snacking more is that unlike in years past, they know they can get their nutrition in the snacks they eat.
Another reason is that the taste of healthy products has improved considerably in Atlanta. Some of us can remember a time when “better for you” had an association with being bland and tasteless. Those of us who have been in the refreshment business a long time are well aware of the change. People are buying “better for you” snacks and beverages because they know they don’t have to sacrifice good taste to follow healthy diets.
A lot of the credit goes to product manufacturers that have focused on developing great-tasting lines of snack mixes, bars, teas and waters.
General Mills Cereals has committed to removing artificial flavors and colors in response to consumers’ changing preferences. Today, more than 60 percent of General Mills Cereals such as Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Original Cheerios are without artificial flavors and colors.
The company plans to have more than 90 percent of its portfolio free of artificial flavors and colors by the end of the year.
“At General Mills Cereals, we have been upgrading the nutrition and ingredients in our cereals for years to meet people’s needs and desires,” said Jim Murphy, president of the General Mills cereal division. “We’ve continued to listen to consumers who want to see more recognizable and familiar ingredients on the labels and challenged ourselves to remove barriers that prevent adults and children from enjoying our cereals.”
Trix and Reese’s Puffs will be among the first of the remaining brands to change. Trix will use ingredients like fruit and vegetable juices and spice extracts such as turmeric and annatto to achieve the red, yellow, orange and purple colors. Reese’s Puffs will continue to use peanut butter and cocoa and incorporate natural vanilla flavor to achieve the same great taste that adults and children have always enjoyed.
Not only is taste of “better for you” products getting better, but the availability of these items is growing as well. This is where vending plays an important role. The product manufacturers are aware of the role vending plays in consumers’ lives, and they’re packaging their healthy products for vending.
PepsiCo recently revealed its Hello Goodness vending initiative, offering good- and better-for-you product choices from the company’s food and beverage portfolio. It features a thoughtfully-chosen selection of PepsiCo products such as such as Naked Juice, Smartfood Delight popcorn, Lay’s Oven Baked potato chips, Quaker Real Medleys bars, Pure Leaf iced tea, Propel Electrolyte Water, Tropicana Pure Premium and Sabra Ready-to-Eat Hummus cups.
“Consumers want more choice when it comes to what they eat and drink on-the-go, and we’re providing the choices they want,” said Kirk Tanner, chief operating officer at PepsiCo North America Beverages. “For years, PepsiCo has been transforming its portfolio to offer more and better food and beverages. We’re continuing this journey with our new Hello Goodness vending initiative.”
Not only are the food and beverage companies offering healthy items in Atlanta; many are changing their products to fit these shifting consumer preferences. And they’re packaging them so they can make them available in the workplace.
The break room is at the forefront of today’s healthy eating movement in Atlanta.
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options available in Atlanta, contact your vending partner Eagle Vending at (770) 426-1969 to discuss your customized break room solution.