Nestlé Professional puts snacks and confectionery into vending under its MultiSnack division. Martin Lines, Marketing Director says: "If life is about balance, then profitable vending is about offering choice. The growth of the snacking market, currently worth around £9bn in the UK is driven largely by today's fast-moving lifestyles. Consumers expect to be able get their hands on a decent snack, wherever they are and whatever time it is. By next year, the number of healthy on-the-go eating occasions is expected to have risen by 15 per cent over a three-year period. It is clear the role of vending in providing a 24/7 catering service has never been higher."

The Nestlé Professional MultiSnack vending solution delivers a range of products, from confectionery and snacks to soft drinks, including Kit Kat, Aero, Yorkie and Vittel. Rejoining the portfolio is Drifter: MultiSnack's no.2 best selling product in 2006. As household-named brands, these products are almost guaranteed to appeal to consumers.

Snacking is traditionally a male dominated arena, so in an effort to redress the balance and tempt women to the vending machine, Nestlé has recently launched Kit Kat Senses - a combination of light crispy wafer, creamy hazelnut centres and smooth milk chocolate. At only 165 calories, Kit Kat Senses offers the healthy minded female a well-deserved, everyday vended treat, whether at the workplace, gym, campus or mall and offers a significant sales opportunity for vending operators.

Worth £15.3m in the out of home market alone, Kit Kat is the number one confectionery brand within Nestlé MultiSnack, with a 25 per cent share of the market. The addition of Senses to the Kit Kat brand, and a £9m media campaign promoting Kit Kat Senses throughout 2008, is helping to ensure widespread consumer interest in both the foodservice and vending arenas. With 77 per cent of consumers in trials stating they would definitely/probably purchase Senses, there is already a clear market and demand for this new product.

"In terms of location, Mintel's research tells us that leisure centres, hospitals and the workplace remain the key channels where people buy snacks from vending machines", continues Martin.

"Many of our operators are already well placed within these channels but recognising that there may be room for growth or new opportunities, we have a ‘Machine Incentive Scheme for Regional Operators' whereby they can get free on loan MultiSnack machines in return for targeted volume growth. In this way, we can drive and support market growth but without our operator partners having to CAPEX additional machines - of course, it also helps to make stocking Nestlé Professional confectionery products even more attractive!

"Lastly, rather than a one vend solution, demographics such as age, gender and social profile should all be considered - after all, the majority of consumers in the UK now fit an ABC1 profile and have tastes which reflect this lifestyle, therefore vending operators will need to tailor their offer to reflect this. Move with the trends, know what's in demand and reap the rewards."

http://www.nestlefoodservices.co.uk/