Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
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Lifestyle Foods relaunched its line of compartmental Creative merchandising. A new kind of vending machine called the "Goodie Monster" is designed to capture the inter- est of children and entice them into making healthier choices. The Goodie Monster is a 6-foot-tall vending machine designed to look like a furry, friendly monster that dishes out healthier snacks, including Kind Bars, Popchips, Justin's Maple Almond Butter and Sahale's Snacks. This shaggy vending machine is the brainchild of designer and creative strat- egist Mark Jacobs and designer Mette Hornung Rankin. The Goodie Monster first appeared as a prototype in Community Arts Preschool in Lake Oswego, Ore., and, as Jacobs stresses, is much more than a vending machine. "He doesn't sit back and wait for people to show up with quarters and dollar bills. Once he's in a place, he's on a mission, actively looking for ways to help people be healthier." At the preschool, Jacobs organized events to introduce stu- dents to the Goodie Monster, including such activities as having kids make their own healthy trail mix. While only one of these vending mon- sters is currently out charming schoolchil- dren, the creators hope to bring more to schools and community events. Jacobs is currently looking for another local pre- school to partner with and continues to thoughtfully source his healthy snacks. The Goods: Serving the Vending Industry Carl Weisberg, president of Buzz Strong Cookies, Yuba City, Calif., indicates the healthier side of vending as a way for smaller and newer companies to find a foothold in the industry. Buzz Strong Cookies can be found in a few thousand vending machines nationwide; Vend Natural's Carpenter says they are a best-selling product in many of his machines. In response to New York's school-lunch law for reduced calories from sugars, Weisberg reengineered his 2-ounce cookies last year, replacing some of the sugar with chicory root (a natural fiber with a hint refrigerated healthy snacks and salads with new, sleek packaging. A front-facing symbol system highlights key features such as high protein, low sodium, vegetarian or vegan. of sweetness), raisin paste and whey powder. "This is a way for us to stay ahead of the curve and have a healthier cookie that tastes good," he says. The products, whose flavors include Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Raisin, currently meet nationwide requirements for selling in schools. To function better in the vending machine market, Lifestyle Foods, York, Pa., recently relaunched its entire line of compartmental refrigerated healthy snacks and salads with new, sleek packaging that clearly displays the product name, nutri- tional informational benefits and calorie counts. With products such as best-seller The Hollywood Snack—with honey wheat pretzels, apples, fresh grapes and Swiss cheese—the company has been involved in cold vending since its inception six years ago, but its new packaging gives clearer information to curious consumers. A front- facing symbol system highlights key factors, such as high protein, low sodium, all natu- ral, vegetarian or vegan. Convenience and instant gratification have long been the core appeal of vending. The latest innovations prove this realm is truly adaptable and that health can be a part of the equation too. |SFM| Nicole Potenza Denis is a contributing editor to Specialty Food Magazine. Star Kay White + Since 1890 WORLD PURE */6*63(;, ,?;9(*; + Star Kay White + SINCE P URE (3465+ ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE (50:, ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE *055(465 ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE *36=, ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE .05.,9 ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE 1890 anufacturers of Fine Flavoring Ingredients Since 1890 151 Wells Ave X Star Kay White, Inc. Congers, NY 10920 X www.starkaywhite.com X 845.268.2600 email: inquiries@starkaywhite.com 1890 1890 1890 1890 FAMOUS The Classics For Classic Extracts you can trust, choose Star Kay White. Owned and Operated by the Katzenstein Family for Five Generations. Star Kay White + Gold Star Vanilla SINCE TM 1890 .9(+, 4(+(.(:*(5 =(5033( ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE 3(=,5+,9 ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE 3,465 ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE 69(5., ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE 7,77,9405; ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE + Star Kay White + SINCE PURE 96:, ,?;9(*; INTENSE FLAVOUR + EASY TO USE SEPTEMBER 2012 45 1890 1890 1890 1890 1890