Vending is not what it used to be. In this episode, we discuss how the frontier of food retail is unattended, how vending companies are trying to adapt, and how most are failing. 🧠What makes a smart fridge smart? We break down what constitutes a true smart fridge and what is just a cooler with a credit card reader slapped onto it. 🍦 The Provisions Suite: Sell ANY product 24/7 We introduce our new smart pantry and smart freezer and how these are leading the way in unattended retail of food ...
What happens when you combine the security of Amazon Go, the variety of a micromarket, and the flexibility and food safety of a smart fridge? You get FoodSpot’s new Provisions Suite — the next generation of unattended retail. In this episode, we explore how the Provisions Suite enables 24/7 access to any type of product anywhere — from gyms and universities to hospitals and office campuses. We also talk about the tech behind it: RFID tracking, theft prevention, and food safety that redefine w...
Higher ed campuses and hospitals represent the largest market for smart coolers due to... The command audience that need 24/7 smart coolersThe existing foodservice that can stock the coolersThe existing buildings to place the coolers inIn this episode, we discuss how higher ed and healthcare institutions are using smart vending platforms and outline best practices for launching one on your campus. You can watch the episode here. As always: Learn more at launchfoodspot.comReach out at hello@la...
Are you considering launching a smart cooler for your food business? In this episode, we give a market analysis, give an overview of smart coolers, outline the different types of smart cooler technologies, and discuss how to choose the right one to sell your food 24/7. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to reach out here or at hello@launchfoodspot.com! Watch the episode here!
What are smart fridges used for? And how much can they profit? Operators use smart fridges to solve many different problems, and therefore achieve varying levels of profitability. In this episode, we discuss different smart fridge applications, including Revenue Generating Microstore24/7 Food PantryPure Amenity...We give a realistic range of revenue numbers based on data from our own clients at FoodSpot. Click here to watch this episode on YouTube. Have questions or want to reach out...
Smart vending is fairly new in the United States. In this episode, we discuss the five biggest mistakes operators make in researching, launching, and operating a smart vending solution. Watch this episode on Youtube. If you have questions about operating a smart vending technology, we'd love to hear from you! You can reach out at hello@launchfoodspot.com For more information about smart fridge technologies for your food business, you can visit us at launchfoodspot.com
23% of college students face food insecurity. Many campus programs and resources are being established to help solve this issue but are mostly geared toward undergraduate students. What about adult learners coming back for education after years away? Dr. Anita Hicks is the Associate Director of Auxiliary Services at Oakland University and has spent much of her research career studying food insecurity in adult learners. We discuss why food insecurity is prevalent among adult learners and what...
In this episode, we discuss how a fresh food smart vending solution needs three components to succeed: an app, the hardware, and a dashboard. We discuss how this looks in a smart fridge operation. App: You need a brand-forward experience that connects you to your customers 24/7.Hardware: You need a smart fridge that suits your brand image and unattended retail application (snacks/convenience store items/restaurant quality meals). To compare the 6 different smart fridge companies in the US, se...
There is an abundance of fresh food in the US – more than enough to end food insecurity – but there's a distribution problem. In this episode, Isaac and Nathan discuss... America's fresh food distribution problemanecdotes of food insecuritythe difference between food security and food equitythe 3 pillars of food equityhow fresh food companies can address shrinkage, contribute to food equity, and increase their bottom line with smart fridgesWatch: https://youtu.be/nN1_uC40mLU Learn more: http...
"Brain food" is a common term thrown around schools and workplaces, but what foods actually improve cognitive performance? In this episode of The Fresh Vending Podcast, a neuroscience junkie sits down with a professional chef to discuss some science-backed principles. Isaac Wu and Nathan Downs discuss how, even though different people can see vastly different results from the same food regimen, the literature clearly points to some basic principles that most people can follow to support high...
Coffee had 3 waves: it started in a can, moved to a cafe, and now it's a craft. We argue food vending has had 3 waves, too. In this episode, we distinguish Third-Wave Vending – modern unattended fresh food solutions – from its predecessors. We discuss how this has opened unattended retail up to more operators, from large foodservice firms and mom-and-pop shops to farmers and fishermen. If you're interested in learning more about how a Third-Wave vending smart fridge, visit us at LaunchFoodS...
Nathan and Isaac discuss the 6 different retail smart fridge manufacturers in the US. They also discuss what attributes to look for in a fresh food retail smart fridge solution depending on your fresh food business, including size, design, data security, and more. Learn more about fresh food microstores: https://www.launchfoodspot.com/blog Get in touch: hello@launchfoodspot.com Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/NGXSFHN2cFM
FoodTech is popping up everywhere, but only some of will stick. In this episode, we discuss promising foodservice technology that is being adopted among institutions, food chains, and influencers. Some of the FoodTech we discuss: Mobile Ordering: Grubhub Campus Robot Delivery: Grubhub & StarshipFresh Food Vending: Farmer's FridgeRobotics: Jamba + BlendidRobotics: ChowboticsFood Lockers: Automat and ApexSmart Fridges:CryowerxByteHubzFoodSpotHot Food Vending: LBX...
How much does a smart vending platform cost? Where can I go to research smart vending? How do I pitch locations? We discuss these questions and more in our latest episode of the Fresh Vending Podcast. There are a dozen turnkey smart vending platforms in the U.S. Follow Nathan Downs and Isaac Wu on the Fresh Vending Podcast to learn if smart vending is right for you. Sources in this episode: The Spoon Podcast Tech2Food.com Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/RVSd-LjGOsM Learn more about ...
In this episode, we discuss the long-term effects the pandemic is having on foodservice. We cover shifts in labor supply, digitization of brands, ghost kitchens, FoodTech, and other topics. In an industry still recovering from the affects of COVID-19, operators are faced with heavier costs and larger shifts in consumer behavior than every before. Food operators are adopting new technologies, business models, and marketing strategies to help them thrive in the new normal for foodservice. In ...
Join us as we discuss topics anyone should consider when opening a smart vending business: Why is the U.S. so slow to adopt smart vending?How much is it to operate an RFID fridge?How much revenue can a fridge generate?Does one need a whole fleet of smart fridges?Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/y7GADbwjrB4 Learn more about smart vending: launchfoodspot.com Reach out to get started in smart vending: sales@launchfoodspot.com
In this episode, we talk about choosing the right smart vending platform and researching the best location for your smart vending machine. Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/UmAabN3Uyc4 Connect with us: hello@launchfoodspot.com Learn more about smart vending: launchfoodspot.com
In this episode, we discuss what smart vending is and its importance in the modern foodservice industry. We outline the problem that smart vending solves and give examples of smart vending hardware and software. We also give some background on ourselves, and share why we both got into smart vending. Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/vNwhD7O_xyI We'd love to hear from you! You can reach us at hello@launchfoodspot.com To learn more about smart vending platforms, visit LaunchFoodSpot...