He explains: “Catering managers are currently investing significantly in the quality of the campus café service to compete with high street brands to entice students to spend their disposable income on site. However, they often make the mistake of ignoring the investment on automated solutions such as coffee machines and out of hour food provision to complement this. A considerable number of evening students are either left without adequate service or caterers are asked to run excessive labour costs to cover evening trade.

“In addition to this, during busy periods at lunchtime, many students would be happy to grab and go from quality machines with a cappo and baguette rather than queue. Allowing vending to act as a support service makes sure sales are maximised across the site.”

Springbank’s reputation for being image and product conscious makes them an ideal partner for universities looking to raise their game on vending. This position enables them to research the sector, to see what students are really looking for with regards to catering. Fully co-ordinated machine banks, can be strategically placed across refreshment zones in key student locations to maximise sales.

Paul continued: “We believe students’ purchasing decisions for refreshments are driven by a combination of reasons including style, quality, ethical stance, location and price and most likely in that order! When installing a new system, we look at key locations where students will be coming in at all hours of the day and evening and are able to sit down in a chill-out area and purchase quality hot drinks, healthy and traditional snacks and non-carbonated soft drinks, water and juices. It’s easy to use and easy to manage and can help caterers save excessive labour rates.

“Students can buy cheaper freeze dried drinks if they prefer at around 60 pence or they can enjoy a coffee-shopstyle bean to cup drink at 80 pence. Despite the higher price the bean to cup beverages out sell the others by 4-1. Where coffee is concerned the higher the quality, the higher the demand.”

Vending retail shops designed specifically for students, now offer everything from bean to cup coffee, Fairtrade and ethically sourced products in stylish glass fronted machines with tables and chairs. It’s just getting people to change their outlook and take vending seriously.

Contact Springbank on tel: 01785 524750 or visit their website www.springbank.co.uk

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