A victorious turning point
Hello, again. I have been away for a few months starting a new job that was taking up much of my time. Now I’m back and ready to continue to bring you all the need-to-know news on vending machines in schools and how this once profitable location for many vendors is changing and what we can expect in the future.
While researching the issue, I came across quite a few articles that demonstrate the grass roots movement to rid schools of junk food. Last year we saw a push from the top to “healthify” the lifestyles of children when Michelle Obama started her Let’s Move campaign. One of the main components of her campaign was to get schools to offer healthier foods to their students.
Now I am seeing politicians from small towns all around the country offering solutions mostly in the form of laws that are intended to reduce the consumption of unhealthy snacks in schools and even in many public areas.
Health Regulators in Massachusetts have proposed to exclude soft drinks, salty and high-calorie snacks, white bread sandwiches and other foods considered to be unhealthy in vending machines, snack bars and a la carte lines at public schools.
A city councilman from Sacramento, California, is exploring a tax on soda sold sold throughout the city. He notes that there is an increasing number of incidences of diabetes and obesity in young adults and the growing costs to take care of these issues. He would like to use the money to increase public parks and city-run recreational programs.
In Carson City, Nevada, a lawmaker is drafting a bill that would levy an extra sales tax as high as 5% on “junk food” purchases.
Can you imagine what vendors are thinking when this news hits their doorstep?
If it were me, I would take a good, hard look at my vending machines located in schools and try to either relocate them in a place less regulated or prepare for the inevitable change. When the local and national governments start to work together, you can be assured that junk food is going to be hard to sell in any public location.
For those that can adapt and get vending machines that sell healthy food and drinks, there is going to be a huge void to fill. Filling this void with your own healthy vending machines will also be able to fill the void in your pocket.