The latest and most talked about issue concerning the vending industry is that of health and nutrition. As a vending operator, you can read about it every day, mostly in relation to schools and college campuses.
In reality, the vending industry didn't create the obesity crisis and are in fact, part of the solution. To spread this message and make the public aware, trade organizations are spending their member's money to make the media and government officials realize their role in public health and fitness.
Planet Antares vending operators offer their support in these efforts, which they view as a price they must pay for being in a business that is involved with the public health. All in all, they want to contribute to the well-being of the general public and reduce any negative impact on their health.
However, there is no doubt about the fact that obesity and nutrition have very little to do with daily business reality for the average operator. If customers demand high quality, nutritional products, vendors will be happy to provide them. This change will only occur with changes in customer's purchasing habits, which remain the same as ever for majority of them.
Employee wellness programs have emerged as a not so visible revolution in the private sector. Many of the employers have been forced by medical costs to consider multi-faceted wellness programs to ensure healthier employees and lower health insurance premiums.
A majority of the Planet Antares vending operators have been satisfied to let their national trade association carry the weight of the health issue burden. A lot of them are learning that the issue has a direct affect on their vending business as well.
In recent years, a campaign was launched to offer tools that help operators to address the media at the local level and enable them to participate in legislative initiatives at both the local and state levels.
Another initiative involves the group support from dieticians who are ready to help Planet Antares vending operators work with legislators and other public officials on the behalf of the industry.