Automatic Merchandiser - 29

all day long in refrigerated vending
or micro markets can bring in sales
beyond the breakfast daypart."
Runyan Meadows said consumers are looking for more snacks or
mini meals throughout the day, and
operators are asking for products that
deliver a smaller portion size, such as
protein-filled breakfast items.
"Many of these asks are tied to a
change in focus on better-for-you, but
not based on traditional definitions of
healthy - it isn't about low-calorie or
fat-free but more about protein level
and portion size," she said.
As workforce demographics continue to shift, the younger workforce of
millennials - and soon, Gen Z - will
certainly continue to impact breakfast
trends. Ritthaler noted that the Kellogg
study revealed that younger adults are
more likely to look for natural and
organic options, and Allahyar said he

expects to see growth in products that
offer better-for-you options.
May added that the changing
workforce will only bring new changes
to micro markets, vending, and office
coffee and pantry services.
"We're seeing the consumer
change," he said. "With boomers retiring, Millennials and Gen Z are greatly
impacting the product selection."
WHAT'S NEXT FOR BREAKFAST?

With the rapid expansion of pantry
service and the increasing popularity
of breakfast in the workplace, operators should prepare for more interest in
breakfast items from their customers.
"Breakfast is ripe for continued
growth for operators," May said. "Innovation is important. Consumers are
always looking for new items. With so
many choices, products need to be differentiated and competitively priced.

We need to be creative and unique."
With increased choices for consumers, operators need to be able to
source the items their clients want.
"We have people contacting us
all the time asking for snacks that we
don't have," Jones said. "Just because
we don't have it in our product book
doesn't mean we can't get it for them.
If someone wants us to carry a new
cereal or a new breakfast sandwich,
we will absolutely look into it for
them, and most of the time we can
get it."
For operators who haven't yet
committed time, energy and money
to capturing the increasing workplace
breakfast opportunity, it's not too
late to start. In convenience services, breakfast is not only the most
important meal of the day, but it can
also be a major revenue driver for
operators. ■

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October/November 2019 * VendingMarketWatch.com

29
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Automatic Merchandiser

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