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Following the Student Government Association’s (SGA) request for healthier options to be integrated into campus vending machines, Michael Garcia, director of Business Affairs, said campus vending machines will start to include snack brands like Nutri-Grain and Fiber One within the next week.
Garcia said healthier alternatives will replace existing unhealthier snacks of similar type that take up more than one slot in vending machines.
The implementation of healthy snack alternatives alongside sweet and salty options is in addition to the health-inclusive vending machines found in Jubilee Hall and Xavier Hall. Vending machines on campus are provided by Canteen Vending Services.
“Canteen provides the machines per our contract with them,” Garcia said. According to Vendingsolutions.com the cost of a regular snack vending machine starts around $3,000. Franchises offering healthier machines can start at $20,000 to join vender franchising opportunities, according to the Franchise Direct website.
Patrick Barron, sophomore history and economics major, supports the initiative and said that these vending machines should offer these healthier options. He said, “Some of the candies can be replaced with granola bars.”
Some students like Michael Kwok, junior accounting major, resorts to vending machines for a quick treat. In reference to vending machines on campus Kwok said, “I just want some candy.”
According to Canteen’s website it is the largest and only national operating vending company in the United States.
Canteen products, including name brand and locally grown items, are distributed in schools, factories, sporting arenas, offices and health care facilities.
Samantha Todd can be reached at samantha.todd@student.shu.edu
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