"Finding time to sit down to three meals regularly each day just isn't feasible for a lot of people. Social shifts such as irregular working hours, longer time spent in transit, and fragmented mealtimes mean that more and more consumers are increasingly seeking out food and drinks to consume on the go. As a result new snacking occasions are emerging at different times and in new locations - people snacking when working late, those looking for an on-the-go energy or performance boost, or simply a light, informal snack meal."

Chris adds: "Recently published Datamonitor research has revealed that last year European consumers ate food on the go on an average of 242 occasions1 - that's effectively eating on the hoof on two out of every three days - and the report forecasts that this will rise to 263 occasions a year by 20111. This sea change in eating patterns and behaviour and the move towards more impulse snacking occasions opens up a whole host of opportunities where vending can provide an ideal solution."

Müller also underlines the fact that vending machines dispensing crisps and confectionery have now been removed from schools in the UK, many of which have replaced them with alternative vending options, offering products which contribute towards a healthier balanced diet as well as providing revenue for schools to invest back into their catering service.

Chris McDonough says: "Put these trends together and it's easy to see why progressive, forward-thinking vending operators are already offering alternative options to the more usual crisps and confectionery snacks. Yogurt is a prime example of one of the food products to benefit from these trends. It's increasingly being seen as the healthier snacking option - as well as providing the nutritional benefits of dairy, it's tasty, convenient and versatile as it can be eaten as a snack, a dessert at lunchtime or as part of a healthy breakfast."

As well as providing the nutritional benefits of dairy, yogurt is tasty, convenient and versatile and the Müller core vending range can satisfy a number of different snacking needs.

Müller Fruit Corner® - is the biggest-selling yogurt brand in the UK3. Packaged in 175g pots, it is supplied to vending operators in mixed cases - providing a convenient way of offering the four best-selling varieties- cherry, strawberry, peach and blackberry & raspberry.

Müllerlight® is described as ideal for people looking for a tasty and nutritious fat- free snack. Relaunched in January with new pack designs, IT is available in 200g pots in a mixed case containing four varieties - strawberry, mandarin, vanilla and raspberry & cranberry. Each 200g pot contains as much calcium as a glass of milk2, is fat-free and has no artificial colours or preservatives.

Müller Rice - combining natural rice, milk and fruit, offers a more substantial option, yet it still only contains less than three per cent fat. Müller Rice is also available in mixed cases containing 200g pots of the strawberry, apple, vanilla custard & blueberry variants which provide at least 20 per cent of calcium RDA.

Müller 1 a DAY^TM yogurt drinks are the latest addition to the Müller UK vending range. As well as providing dairy nutrition, Müller 1 a DAY^TM also contains one of your five-a-day target. Made with 100 per cent natural ingredients, it contains 24 per cent (80g) of crushed whole fruit plus fruit juices, and it provides almost a third of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of calcium per bottle.

1 - Source: Datamonitor - The Future of On-The-Go Eating & Drinking Patterns. August 2007

2 - 200ml glass

http://www.muller.co.uk/

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