Vending machines are a great way to provide convenience and satisfy cravings for employees, customers, and visitors. Different workplaces have unique needs, so it’s important to cater to those preferences when choosing snacks and drinks. Here’s a breakdown of the best snacks and drinks for different types of businesses, along with popular product brands.
1. Teachers’ Lounges
Teachers need quick energy boosts to keep up with their busy schedules. In a teachers’ lounge, it’s ideal to offer healthy options alongside comfort snacks.
Best Snacks:
- Nuts & Trail Mix: Brands like Planters (Nuts & More Trail Mix), Nature Valley (Crunchy Granola Bars), and Kirkland Signature (Mixed Nuts).
- Granola Bars: Quaker (Chewy Granola Bars), Nature Valley (Oats ‘n Honey), Clif Bar.
- Fresh Fruit Cups: Dole and Del Monte offer fresh fruit cups that are easy to grab.
- Crackers & Cheese: Triscuit and Cheez-It paired with Laughing Cow cheese.
Best Drinks:
- Coffee & Tea: Starbucks Frappuccino, Peet’s Coffee, Tazo Tea.
- Water & Hydration: Smartwater, Dasani, LaCroix (sparkling water).
- Juices: Tropicana or Minute Maid (orange juice or mixed fruit juices).
2. Factories & Warehouses
Employees in factories and warehouses often work long shifts and require filling snacks and energy drinks for sustained productivity.
Best Snacks:
- Protein Bars: Quest Bar, Clif Builder’s Protein Bar, RXBAR.
- Chips & Pretzels: Lay’s (Classic Chips), Pringles, Snyder’s of Hanover (Pretzel Sticks).
- Beef Jerky: Jack Link’s (Original Beef Jerky), Slim Jim (Variety Packs).
- Popcorn: Smartfood (White Cheddar Popcorn), Orville Redenbacher (Classic Butter Popcorn).
Best Drinks:
- Energy Drinks: Monster Energy, Red Bull, Bang Energy.
- Soda: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mountain Dew.
- Iced Coffee: Starbucks Frappuccino, Dunkin’ Iced Coffee.
3. Gyms
Gym-goers prefer healthy, high-protein snacks and beverages that fuel their workouts and help with recovery.
Best Snacks:
- Protein Bars & Shakes: Quest Bar, Pure Protein, Muscle Milk (Protein Shakes).
- Greek Yogurt & Granola: Chobani (Greek Yogurt), Yoplait, Oikos.
- Nuts & Seeds: Planters (Mixed Nuts), Blue Diamond (Almonds), Sunflower Seeds.
- Rice Cakes: Quaker (Rice Cakes), Lundberg (Organic Brown Rice Cakes).
Best Drinks:
- Sports Drinks: Gatorade, Powerade.
- Water & Electrolyte Drinks: Coconut Water (Vita Coco), Smartwater.
- Protein Shakes: Premier Protein, Orgain.
4. Daycares
For daycares, the focus is on healthy, child-friendly snacks and drinks that parents will approve of.
Best Snacks:
- Fruit Snacks & Applesauce: Mott’s (Applesauce), Annie’s (Organic Fruit Snacks), Stretch Island (Fruit Leathers).
- Cheese Snacks: Laughing Cow (Cheese Wedges), Sargento (String Cheese).
- Whole Grain Snacks: Goldfish (Cheddar Crackers), Annie’s (Cheddar Bunnies).
- Animal Crackers & Cookies: Barnum’s Animals, Keebler (Zooland Cookies).
Best Drinks:
- Juices: Tropicana Kids, Honest Kids (Organic Juice).
- Milk & Milk Alternatives: Organic Valley (Milk), Silk (Almond Milk).
- Water: Nestlé Pure Life, Gerber (Pure Water).
5. Car Dealerships
Car dealerships often serve customers who are waiting for extended periods of time, so offering a range of snacks and drinks can enhance their experience.
Best Snacks:
- Candy Bars & Chocolate: Snickers, Twix, M&M’s.
- Chips & Pretzels: Lay’s, Pringles, Herr’s (Pretzels).
- Granola Bars & Healthy Snacks: Nature Valley, Clif Bar, Kind Bars.
- Cookies: Chips Ahoy, Pepperidge Farm (Milano).
Best Drinks:
- Soda: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite.
- Water: Aquafina, Nestlé Pure Life.
- Coffee & Iced Coffee: Starbucks Frappuccino, Dunkin’ Iced Coffee.
6. Hotels
Hotel lobbies and guest lounges are prime spots for offering snacks and beverages. Guests might look for something quick while waiting or in between meetings.
Best Snacks:
- Chips & Crackers: Lay’s, Cape Cod (Kettle Chips), Triscuit.
- Protein Snacks: Clif Builder’s Protein Bar, KIND Bars, Quest Bars.
- Snack Mixes: Chex Mix, Planters (Trail Mix).
- Chocolate: Hershey’s, Reese’s, Ghirardelli.
Best Drinks:
- Coffee & Tea: Peet’s Coffee, Twinings Tea, Lipton (Tea Bags).
- Water & Sparkling Water: Evian, San Pellegrino (Sparkling), LaCroix.
- Juices & Soft Drinks: Tropicana, Minute Maid, Coca-Cola.