Meat + Poultry - December 2005 - 46

beef, pork and poultry," he says. "But
For the 18th Street Deli, food safety es," Schroder says.
I can't go to my vending operator and boils down to common sense. If fresh
Guzzardo, whose company supraise the price of product because sandwiches aren't sold and eaten with- plies automotive manufacturers in
I'm paying more per pound. We have in three to five days, they should be dis- the Detroit area, has seen business
commitments and contracts to hold carded, Guzzardo says.
decline in that sector because of plant
pricing and maintain business."
closings and employee layoffs. "As
Food safety issues also pose chal- Cashing in on convenience
the automotive industry in this town
lenges to food manufacturers of this
People from all walks of life eat food gets leaner, there are fewer mouths to
segment. "Vending has the same food from vending machines. They work at feed," he adds.
safety and quality issues as any busi- automotive plants, hospitals and office
The vending business has grown
ness that handles perishable food," says buildings. Many have at least one thing steadily within the company and the
Tony Schroder, vice president of vend- in common: They don't have a lot of category since the 1980s, notes Yost.
ing for Cincinnati-based Pierre Foods, time so they eat on the run. Vending He says Bridgford's business has
which provides a variety of sandwiches fits in well with the lifestyle of today's grown between 5 percent and 8 percent
for vending. "The difference is, typi- busy consumers.
the past several years.
cally, it is your name
on the label, so if it's
mishandled, it is your
reputation and brand
(on the line)."
Product temperature
and handling during
distribution are concerns, Gaiser says. "As
with any snack item,
such as chips or candy
products, the concerns
center around the
potential temperature
and handling abuse
that can occur in the Pierre Foods offers a wide variety of meat foods for vending machines, seven of which are among the Top 15 selling
distribution channel," frozen foods in the vending machine segment.
he adds. "Extremely
hot temperatures and
excessive handling can lead to product
While vending has its share of pros
"There's an old saying that says
deterioration either in flavor or in pack- and cons, it's definitely all about con- the second and third shifts create the
age integrity."
venience, Schroder says. "You can put demand for vending products," Yost
Yost says his distributors handle vending machines just about anywhere says. "If companies lay off employproducts carefully. He says the com- there is people traffic," he adds.
ees, that tends to reduce the demand
pany hasn't had problems with its disVending machines are also conve- for vending. But I think the economy
tributors and suppliers in the 18 years nient for the factory worker who works has been doing well, and because of
it has been in the vending business.
the third shift. He won't be able to dine that I think the vending trade will
To ensure products are handled prop- at the Olive Garden on his break, but continue to do well."
erly, the company puts directions on he will be able to spend $3 or $4 at a
It's difficult for companies to grow
products on how long to merchandise vending machine.
the business of their products because
them from a refrigerated or frozen state
But as the economy goes, so goes of the lack of marketing flash associas well as "sell-by" stickers.
the vending business. A robust econ- ated with vending.
"Products are prepackaged so no- omy with job growth is good news
"Vending machines lack the wow
body is going to touch them until they for vending. The opposite could mean factor that a convenience store-type
are ready to serve them," Yost notes. bad news.
environment can provide with lighting
"The only other thing we have to be
"The industry in general is chal- and signage," Schroder says.
careful about is that it's always main- lenged with adapting to the loss of
Trail's Best and other companies are
tained at the proper refrigerated or manufacturing jobs, which can be the limited in their ability to market prodfrozen state."
core of (some companies') business- ucts directly to consumers because of
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