By Jeff Adair, Editor
Do touchscreens on vending machines and micro market kiosks pose a health and safety issue?
The question came to light in late November when a British newspaper reported that order touchscreens at several McDonald’s restaurants were found to contain potentially hazardous bacteria. Numerous U.S. news outlets reported the story.
While no illnesses were reported from the touchscreens, the discovery of bacteria raises a question for companies that provide customer facing devices – such as vending machines and kiosks – in a foodservice environment. Vending Technology News interviewed food sanitation experts who agreed the risk posed by bacteria on touchscreens is manageable.
Larry Eils, a Knowledge Source Partner for health and safety for the
National Automatic Merchandising Association
, said he does not see the bacteria found on the touchscreens as a serious health issue for vending and micro market operators.
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Gimme Vending
, a provider of unattended retail technology that gives sales, cash, inventory and service data, has announced an app for the management of micro markets and a new inventory automation software designed for micro markets and vending machines.
Dubbed "Markets," the new mobile app is purpose-built specifically to service and manage micro markets, allowing drivers to inventory markets twice as fast as ever before, even in areas without a cell signal.
Whether route drivers are servicing vending machines, micro markets or both, the app saves time by allowing them to use the same device to service their entire route. The app decreases the time needed to inventory a micro market by more than 50 percent, while nanomarkets take less than 15 minutes to inventory, the company claims.
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PepsiCo Foodservice
has introduced a Bubly branded machine to the vending trade using a standard Dixie Narco
501E
. The machines are currently available on loan from PepsiCo, Bill Moxey, director of PepsiCo Foodservice, told Vending Technology News.
Vending operators interested in placing the machine can contact their Pepsi bottler, Moxey said. The bottlers also provide the Bubly product, a sparkling water.
Bubly vending machines have been installed at 150 high schools in the U.S., according to Bloomberg News, while the company is also pitching its Aquafina water station for colleges that allows students to customize flavors.
Bubly was released earlier this year as part of PepsiCo’s pivot to drinks with less sugar, according to Bloomberg News. The company put its marketing muscle behind the brand in a bid to compete with LaCroix, which is produced by National Beverage Corp.
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USConnect
, a wireless, integrated foodservice network, has endorsed Nayax’s cashless payment solution, the VPOS Touch, as a preferred cashless and telemetry device. Nayax provides operators of unattended automatic machines a complete cashless solution.
USConnect’s recommendation to its affiliate network, which includes operators across the United States and Canada, will provide solutions in cashless payments to help operators optimize their operations and elevate their revenue.
USConnect’s addition of the VPOS Touch to its recommended solutions provides consumers with next-level ease of use via color touchscreen and the widest variety of cashless payment options. Installing the VPOS Touch will make it possible for consumers to choose from contact and contactless credit and debit cards, EMV chipcards, mobile payments and QR codes.
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Destini
,
a provider of product locator services and store level intelligence for consumer packaged goods, has teamed with
Vengo Labs
, a provider of an interactive vending machine and sampling network, to provide digital media and sampling opportunities to CPG companies targeting consumers. Vengo Labs has more than 1,000 locations in gyms, colleges, hotels and corporate offices.
The Destini/Vengo Labs partnership combines proprietary digital technology to provide an interactive sampling experience supported by customizable graphics and HD video to encourage consumers to sample products. Brands will be able to maximize both the depth and reach of consumer engagement to improve their shopper marketing ROI.
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National Sales Director / Editor
Call 847-331-4256
Reach over 10,000+ vending professionals!
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Your are receiving this information because you have expressed interest in vending, office coffee and/or micro market convenience self-service industries. Sent to you by
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1-800-956-8363.
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