The European Best Practice Guidance on Diet and Nutrition aims to make a wider range of products available in the machines. It encourages national associations to be part of the solution for comprehensive strategies at national and European level in the areas of diet and health. These strategies include nutritional education and promoting physical activity, as well as a coherent approach regarding the selection of products on offer in vending machines.

As an example, the EVA welcomes the School Fruit Scheme proposed by the EU Directorate-General for Agriculture which promotes, for example, the presence of fruit in vending machines. However, there are specific issues which need to be addressed.

In a typical location, only one or two spirals of a machine contain fruit. Projects including only fruit have so far proved to be not economically viable. Recent attempts showed that one spiral with mainly packed apples in a 40-selection machine seemed to be a reasonable ratio. Pre-cut apples wrapped in a bag could be another possibility. In any event, the fruit has to be washed and ripe for immediate consumption.

Bananas, peaches and apricots are not suitable because the first become discoloured in refrigerators, while the others cannot stand being dropped. New machines with elevators which pick up the fruit have been launched, but they are still not widely available on the market. All this is problematic, not least because the banana is the most popular fruit in terms of sales.

These examples point to the technical requirements of the venture, ranging from packaging and maintenance material to dedicated staff complying with rules of food hygiene. As to the transport chain, most vans are at ambient temperature, while fruit transport needs refrigerated vehicles.

The location of the machine is another major consideration, as it needs to be in an attractive, prominent place which is easily accessible with a waste bin close by.

If this project is to be successful, schools and public authorities have to allow for the basic economic needs of vending operators, and discuss ways of how to compensate for the very small margins or losses made on a full fruit vending machine, whether it be in the form of subsidies or broader offers (fruit and snacks, fruit and hot drinks, fruit and cold drinks etc).

"In spite of the complexity of the debate, we encourage schools and operators via the national associations to elaborate on new offers", said Catherine. "We are noticing a slow increase in the demand for a greater product variety including siting ‘better-for-you' snacks alongside fruit, and our members are seeking to respond to this demand.

"Fundamentally, the EVA welcomes European programmes and public actions to support the sale of fruit in vending machines. Regulatory bodies should treat vending products equally and in a context that takes into account other elements such as education, balanced diet, physical exercise and healthy lifestyles. "But we also have to stay vigilant because initiatives to ban vending machines in schools will continue. We will have to respond to these threats to our business."

http://www.vending-europe.eu/

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