From free to pay

With companies looking to reduce costs, many are taking a look at their vending offer and considering the move from free to pay vend, says Jonathan Barr, of Selecta UK.

And the greatest challenge: To minimise adverse employee reaction. How can companies get their employees to happily pay for their hot drinks?

"Simply putting a price tag on current vending offerings may cause resentment, but by adding value, companies can introduce a successful pay vend facility with no hassle and, in fact, with staff happily embracing and supporting the decision.

"Consumers must feel they are getting more for their money, through choice, quality and delivery. Warm and wetl served in a plastic cup will no longer satisfy today's coffee-educated consumer who wants to drink specialities such as bean-to-cup lattes and cappuccinos or sustainably sourced products to justify the price.

Selecta combines a sustainable approach - offering a range of ethical and healthier hot drinks including Fairtrade certified miofino coffee, Fairtrade certified hot chocolate and Rainforest Alliance tea (all HVO free) – with what it says are "innovative solutions" which can help clients cut costs while adding value.

"The high quality offering ensures that clients' who switch from free to pay vend find it easy to demonstrate the added value to their employees, and it's also a solution which can successfully compete with other channels like the high street coffee shops.

"In a four-week trial against an established coffee brand at a global financial services provider, we introduced the Grande Milano bringing a High Street coffee experience to the workplace and gained approval from 67% of consumers."

For more visit www.selecta.co.uk