February 2018 - The Vending Station Blog

trend: (n.) a general direction in which something is developing or changing

– English Oxford Dictionary

Each year Orlando and Central Florida consumers experience new flavor combinations that take the culinary world by storm, and 2018 is no different. While new food trends don’t instantly appear as snacks or meals in micro-markets or vending machines, they will eventually make their way toward the office break room.

Here are a few new food trends that you’ll likely see in 2018.

Foods from Hawaii—where East meets West
For years, the Hawaiian islands have been known for their native dishes such as Poi, a staple food made from the root of the taro plant. The influx of cultures from around the world has, however, created new dishes that have made their way across the continental United States. Don’t be surprised if you see any of the following around Orlando and Central Florida in 2018.

Poke (pronounced “POH-keh”) Bowl: chunks of raw, marinated fish, usually tuna, tossed over rice or quinoa, and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces.
Loco Moco: 1st layer: white rice or fried rice; 2nd layer: a beef patty, Spam, or Portuguese sausage; 3rd layer: brown gravy; 4th layer: a fried egg
Malasadas: a Portuguese, eggy, yeast doughnut (with no hole) that is fried and rolled in sugar

Is it art, or is it food?
Neither—it’s both. Chefs are using a mix of high-antioxidant fruits and vegetables to create eye-candy colored delicacies that that are part art and part food. Whether it’s a snack, a sweet treat, or a gourmet coffee, there are endless possibilities when it comes to combining a variety of flavors and colors to create healthy snacks and beverages. Keep an eye out in Orlando and Central Florida for new snack and meal choices that are almost too colorful to eat.

Green: kale, spinach, peas, broccoli, and kiwi
Red: cranberries, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, and pomegranates
Blue/Purple: beets, purple cauliflower, blueberries, eggplant, and plums
White: bananas, cauliflower, jicama, parsnips, and turnips
Orange/Yellow: lemons, carrots, peaches, mangoes, and sweet potatoes
Brown/Black: coffee, chocolate, mushrooms, or licorice

Figs and Pistachios—Two Rising Stars
Both figs and pistachios have been grown in different parts of the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Middle East for centuries. It looks like they will both now have a permanent place in Orlando and Central Florida cuisine. Figs, a fruit grown on trees, can add a wide range of flavors from a hint of maple syrup to a nutty, coffee flavor to almost any dish. Pistachios, a member of the cashew family, also grow on trees and are a nutritionally dense food that pairs well with a wide variety of other ingredients because of its buttery and smooth flavor. If you see any one of the following snacks around Orlando and Central Florida, give it a try.

Snacks with Figs: fig bars, dried figs, pastries filled with fig paste, and jam made from figs
Snacks with Pistachios: roasted or raw pistachios, pistachio ice cream, pistachio cookies, and trail mixes

Which trends would your Orlando and Central Florida employee like to find in their office break room? If it is time to update your micro-market or vending machine options, The Vending Station can help you customize the right combination of snacks, beverages, and meal choices. For more information about traditional or healthy choices, call us at (407) 891.7632.

Office coffee service is often considered a separate service when it comes to the office break room, but it doesn’t have to be. For a moment, ponder what it would be like to mesh coffee service with a micro-market. On their own, micro-markets and coffee service offer distinct benefits, but when they are blended together in the Orlando and Central Florida office break room, they create a unique employee perk. Employees now have a relaxed on-site spot to grab a gourmet coffee beverage and a snack or meal.

This is even more important as recent research has found that the best time to enjoy a cup of coffee is either mid-morning or early afternoon, not first thing after waking. A simplified explanation is that the human body produces more cortisol at waking. Coffee, or caffeine, increases those cortisol levels even more. When the caffeine and cortisol wear off, an intense drop in energy occurs. Consuming coffee when cortisol levels are low, mid-morning or early afternoon, creates a bigger energy boost than when they were high. That sounds like a bonus for both Orlando and Central Florida employees and employers.

To effectively blend coffee service and micro-markets together, it is important to consider several aspects of coffee service, and how each aspect can help integrate coffee with the micro-market.

Coffee Brewers

choose brewers that make freshly made gourmet beverages; bean-to-cup or single-cup brewers are the current favorites
consider brewers with touchscreens that have the ability to create specialty drinks, including espresso
discover which coffee brewer brands are most sought after in your area—yes, brands matter even with coffee brewers

Coffee Beans

offer a wide range of coffee beans; consider a selection of local and national brands
discover which coffee brands are well known and liked by your Orlando and Central Florida employees
make sure that the perception of the coffee brands matches the perception of the micro-market—both should be high-end

Other Factors

place the coffee service near popular foods and snacks that go well with coffee—whether it is a breakfast item or an afternoon treat, Orlando and Central Florida employees are more likely to make a spur of the moment purchase if the item is nearby
include a wide variety of creamer, coffee flavoring, and sweetener choices
recognize that employees are consumers—brand recognition of coffee brewers and coffee beans/roasters plays a role in purchase decisions

To make the melding process easier, The Vending Station can guide you through the process of integrating office coffee service into an existing micro-market or adding both employee benefits at the same time. For more information about micro-markets, coffee service, or other vending solutions, contact us at (407) 891.7632.

Month: February 2018

2018 Food Trends Impact Snacks and More in Orlando and Central Florida

Coffee Service and the Micro-Market in Orlando and Central Florida