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Preparing Micro Market Breakrooms for Employees Returning to Work
10 Ideas for Micro Market Company Break Rooms During COVID Times
Employees are increasingly returning to work as stay-at-home orders due to Covid-19 are being lifted. Micro market hosts locations can take this opportunity to partner with their market operator to reintroduce their micro market break room to those employees. Having a great onsite company break room with fresh foods can encourage employees to stay on-site for meals and breaks. This can limit the chances of virus exposure compared to leaving the workplace for meals. Below are ten ideas for company break room micro markets best practices during this time.
- No-Touch Purchases
- Mobile App Use
- Floor Decals
- Market Signage
- Market Cleaning Logs
- Micro Markets vs. Vending- Which is Safer?
- Market Sanitation Communications
- Market Re-Grand Openings
- Communicating with Market Operators
- Employee Rewards Programs
No-Touch Purchases & Using the Mobile App
As employees return to work, it’s important to remember that they can make a purchase at the market without touching the kiosk screen. Simply scan items and then scan market member card or mobile app for payment. If users have not yet setup their mobile app, encourage them to download it. They can associate an existing member card with the app and transfer any existing balances. They can also create a new account right from their phone.
Floor Decals & Market Signage
Physical distancing is probably something you are already thinking about in your workplace and breakroom. Work with your market operator to use floor decals to make sure shoppers keep appropriate distance from one another.You can also post market signage to remind employees to wash their hands before and after using the market, and to only touch items they intend to purchase.
Cleaning Logs & Sanitation Practices
With today’s heightened awareness of cleaning and sanitation across company locations, market hosts may want to partner with their operator to align on cleaning schedule and tracking. Some Avanti operators may be using specially-designed cooler handles to keep high-touch handles safe. Partner with your operator to employ correct cleaning techniques so equipment does not get damaged.You can also keep a joint cleaning log so market users know when the market was cleaned and feel more confident using the service.
Considering Vending Instead?
There are differences between micro-markets and vending as it relates to consumer touch points. While products may be behind glass in a vending machine, making a purchase still requires touching the same control panel as everyone else, as well as reaching into the same dispensing slot. With micro-markets, foods can be picked up and purchased without touching the kiosk screen. So while the ‘open’ concept of a market may seem less safe, markets can actually be used in a very safe manner with limited touch points.
Market Re-Grand Openings
This may be the time to work with your market operator to host a ‘re-grand opening’. This will reacquaint your employees with the market and can be a great way to showcase no-touch purchase options and other safety measure you have put in place.
You can even work with your service provider to add credits to employee market accounts to encourage them to use the market and stay onsite instead of going out for meals and snacks and lending themselves to further exposure.
Communicating with your Market Operator
Communicating openly with your market operator about the steps you are each taking to maintain safety will go a long way in the strength of your relationship. Communicate openly about new policies or procedures at your workplace that may affect how the market drivers come on site to stock the market. Are there specific doors to use or traffic flow they need to follow? What times of day are they permitted inside? Proactive communication can help the market continue to be well-stocked to meet your employee needs.
Employee Rewards Programs
Work with your market operator to enact a new rewards program for your employees. You can use meal allowances, one-time use coupons, or product promotions to show appreciation to your employees and encourage them to use the market.
Reopening Breakroom Micro-Markets Safely for Employee Returning to Work
With health and safety at top of mind for everyone right now returning to the workplace, working with your market operator on some or all of these ideas can help maintain the confidence of your employees. They’ll want to know the steps you are taking to keep them safe and the ideas here can help you achieve that goal.
Check out the CDC Guidance for Office Buildings
for more tips.
The effects and reality of COVID-19 changed the workplace for now and into the foreseeable future. One of the biggest concerns for employers is how to keep employees safer while at work, including reducing the need for workers to come and go during the course of their workday.
New Auxiliary Kiosk provides more flexibility for market operators and host locations.
Whether you have had employees on furlough or working from home, chances are that your workplace turned into a bit of a ghost town when COVID-19 rules forced your operation to adapt. You may still have only a fraction of the number of employees coming to your physical location to work right now.
Even before COVID-19 changed the restaurant and retail landscape in 2020, micro markets were growing at a nearly unprecedented rate due to: increasing consumer demand micro market operator earning potential versatility of micro market options underserved markets which represent opportunity for entrepreneurs ever-evolving micro market technology and capabilities Micro market revenues grew nearly $1B between 2016-2019, climbing to a record high $26B in revenues in only two years. We believe there has never been a more exciting time to become a micro market operator , and here are five reasons why, including the benefits of partnering with Avanti Markets on your micro market business. 5 Reasons to Open an Avanti Micro Market Business Right Now 1. Consumer Demand and Preferences The growth of micro markets is not just about the consumer’s demand for food and beverages. Micro markets answer consumer preferences in many areas, especially now in the aftermath of COVID-19 and its impacts to food service. Micro markets answer the consumer’s growing demand for convenience, self-service, and touchless payments, especially among younger consumers (and a younger workforce). Micro market technology enables unattended retail as a food service solution that can be placed in nearly any setting, such as: Office buildings, lobbies, and corporate campuses Colleges, universities, high schools, and other educational institutions Hospitals, medical buildings, medical office parks, etc. Airports, train stations, bus stations, and other commuter facilities Hotels and motels Adjacent to (or in place of) traditional cafeterias Resorts, arenas, stadiums, convention centers, entertainment venues Neighborhood convenience retail locations Automobile service and sales facilities Today’s COVID-19 era consumer also demands food safety and security. Micro markets offer safer, smarter vending solutions where foods and beverages are safely stored, minimally handled, and where inventory can be managed in real time to avoid shortages and respond to demand. The size and type of items which could be dispensed by traditional vending machines limited their ability to satisfy the needs of consumers who are increasingly aware of the benefits of eating healthy. Micro markets and intelligent vending solutions are not constrained in the same way, and so they are able to deliver access to the healthy, fresh foods that consumers want from food service solutions in retail and employment settings.
Micro markets are popping up through the country and transforming traditional breakrooms with food and beverage options through choice and versatility combined with a perfect blend of technology for ease and functionality.
PART 4 OF A SERIES CONTACTLESS OPTIONS FOR THE WORKPLACE - OFFICE COFFEE INCLUDED Contactless shopping is a term we are all hearing a lot lately. It’s one of the strategies being enacted to keep people safe given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But what could that mean for the workplace breakroom? The good news is that companies do have options to help keep their employees safe with contactless options while maintaining office perks such as coffee service or breakroom food options. With the new normal of minimized shared contact points in our everyday lives, the office coffee pot has come under scrutiny. Self-serve pours from the same containers used by virtually all employees no longer feels safe. To combat this, fully contactless coffee solutions are being introduced to the office coffee service landscape. Many convenience service operators are offering coffee programs that limit shared touchpoints to align with consumer expectations. One such example is a bean-to-cup brewer with a software add-on that allows for contactless beverage selection. Users can scan the 2D code on their smartphone and be taken to a mobile interface to make their drink selections. Once selection is completed, the coffee machine will dispense the coffee or hot beverage to the user’s specifications. Companies can use this system to continue to offer free coffee for employees. Or, if they want employees to pay or want to subsidize the cost, the payment can be completed through an associated micro market kiosk. The benefit of a bean-to-cup brewer is that employees can get a fresh, customized cup of coffee at a fraction of the cost of going to the local coffee shop. Not to mention, this way, employees are staying on site to get their coffee instead of traveling to an outside establishment. These are important benefits related to morale and safety of workers. As mentioned, a contactless coffee system can be used in conjunction with a micro market kiosk. An Avanti micro market in your breakroom is another contactless perk not to be overlooked for your facility. Fresh food micro markets offer a variety of fresh, healthy, and in-demand food and beverage items that are likely to keep employees on site for lunch instead of going out to pick up food from a different location.
Micro markets are on the grow nationwide. The revenues generated by micro markets increased 99 percent between 2016 and 2018, representing more than $2B in annual sales. While they initially found success in manufacturing businesses and office buildings, micro markets and smart vending solutions have the potential to grow exponentially in other industries as well.
Smart N Go Markets give hospitals and medical facilities a reliable and secure food service solution that is available 24/7. Smart N Go markets are a revolutionary self-service food service alternative that is ideally suited to better serve the needs of hospitals and medical facilities beyond open cafeteria or traditional snack vending. Available at little or no cost to your facility, Smart N Go intelligent vending allows a variety of fresh food, beverages, snacks, coffee and more to be ready to grab 24/7 behind secured glass doors.
Seven organizations recognized for their accomplishments this year through virtual presentations of awards.
7 Benefits of Micro Markets in Light of COVID-19 Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, micro markets were an emerging trend. These unattended retail establishments began cropping up in offices and apartment building lobbies since 2010 and are especially popular with Millennials and Generation Z. During the pandemic micro markets have evolved from fun novelty conveniences into essential businesses that provide key benefits to the general public and businesses, including the healthcare industry. Here are seven benefits micro markets offer during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: 1. No-contact, touch-free transactions 2. Safety and security 3. Provide safe and healthy food options 4. Entice employees back to the office 5. Not affected by labor shortages 6. Versatility and convenience 7. Opportunities to serve underserved markets 1. No-contact, Touch-free Transactions Micro markets are unattended retail spaces and even prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided customers with a contactless way to purchase healthy food and beverages. Furthermore, micro markets provide added safety in that they offer consumers touchless payment options that can include things like subscription options and payments via an app they can easily download to their smartphone. 2. Safety and Security Micro markets provide the COVID-19 era customer with the added security and food safety they demand. Even fresh produce can be pre-packaged, providing consumers with the added confidence that a piece of fruit, such as an orange or an apple, hasn’t been handled by other people. And for added security, sneeze guards and other plexiglass display options can be installed as well. Additionally, the food and drinks at micro markets have always been safely stored and offered in an easy to access self-service environment where it’s easy for customers to stay socially distanced from each other for added peace of mind. 3. Provide safe and healthy food options According to a recent survey of nearly 1,500 adults, 56 percent of the respondents admitted they found it challenging to eat healthy, in spite of 89 percent also saying that nutrition is important to them. And because micro markets aren’t vending machines but mini one-stop shops, they can provide your customers or employees with healthy snack options in conveniently wrapped and sealed packaging. Furthermore, larger items like sandwiches, salads and fresh produce aren’t a size issue like they are for vending machines that are more limited to less healthy options such as candy or chips.
