Micro Markets: What You Need to Know

Micro markets are self-checkout retail spaces located in your workplace that offer a range of fresh food and beverage products, giving employees more lunch and snack options without having to leave work.

With a broader range of on-site food options and easy-to-use touchscreen checkout kiosks, along with a friendlier feel, micro markets are becoming a popular alternative to traditional vending machines. According to Vending Market Watch, there are already more than 18,000 micro market locations in businesses around the nation, and that number is expected to double by 2022.

Some experts view micro markets as a necessity for businesses that want to drive the productivity they need to remain competitive. By offering employees healthier, more readily available meal and snack options, companies can balance productivity and efficiency with employee wellness.

Stand out from other employers

With US unemployment rates at their lowest point in decades, companies are beginning to feel the pain of a talent shortage. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 60% of employers struggle to fill job vacancies within 12 weeks. And there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight – research from the Korn Ferry institute shows that, across the hardest hit industries of financial/business services, technology/media/telecommunications, and manufacturing, talent shortages will cost US employers $670 billion in unrealized revenue by 2030.

In this environment, employers face fierce competition from other firms when it comes to recruiting and retaining workers. A fresh, healthy micro market on-site demonstrates your commitment to employee health and well-being, and contributes to a more friendly, inviting workplace. Any company can install a row of vending machines in the break room, but adding a micro market to offer fresh food options tailored to what your employees want makes your company stand out from the rest.

Improve productivity and collaboration

Studies from Population Health Management have found that unhealthy eating habits can lead to a 66% increase in risk of productivity loss. When employees have limited time to eat, they’re likely to choose whatever is convenient – by making healthy options convenient, you promote healthier habits and reap the productivity benefits.

Micro markets can also foster greater workplace collaboration. Reporting from the Wall Street Journal found that fewer and fewer workers are going out to eat lunch during the week, either because they’ve adopted the mentality of “working lunch,” or their jobs don’t lend themselves to a long lunch break. Instead, more employees are choosing to eat at their desks or in a shared workspace. Creating a central hub around your micro market where employees can select meal options, socialize, and eat together cultivates a stronger culture of collaboration and can spark innovation.

Decrease health care costs

According to the journal Health Affairs, every dollar spent on wellness programs reduces medical costs by $3.27. Offering healthy, fresh meal and snack options through a micro market improves employee nutrition. As such, HR, wellness programs, or other health initiatives can use a micro market as a vital tool to promote employee health and drive down health care costs.

Micro markets can also foster greater workplace collaboration. Reporting from the Wall Street Journal found that fewer and fewer workers are going out to eat lunch during the week, either because they’ve adopted the mentality of “working lunch,” or their jobs don’t lend themselves to a long lunch break. Instead, more employees are choosing to eat at their desks or in a shared workspace. Creating a central hub around your micro market where employees can select meal options, socialize, and eat together cultivates a stronger culture of collaboration and can spark innovation.

First, let’s dispel some common misconceptions about micro markets:

Micro markets are only for companies with a large workforce. Usually, companies with 100 or more employees are a good fit for a micro market – but there are exceptions. Depending on how many hours employees typically stay on-site, and what other dining options are close by, a micro market may be the right fit for you.

Micro markets are only for certain industries. Any environment where the workforce stays on-site for long periods of time, and/or doesn’t have a lot of time for meals or snacks, can make for a great fit. At Florida Fresh, we work with clients across many industries, including industrial and manufacturing, hospitals and clinics, schools of all sizes, hotels, government agencies and more.

Micro markets are not for companies that already have on-site cafeterias. Micro markets and cafeterias do not need to be mutually exclusive! In fact, a micro market provides an excellent counterpart to a cafeteria, handling employee needs outside of serving hours as well as during peak times when waits may be long.

Micro markets take a lot of work to install. All you need to get started with a micro market is a designed employee area for the market location, a power supply for coolers, freezers, and checkout kiosks, and Internet access. That’s it.

Micro markets can offer fresher, healthier options than traditional vending machines, as well as a broader variety of choices. They also give a break room a completely different feel, offering a more inviting, modern space. Another advantage is that employees won’t get their dollars “eaten” or products “jammed” in the vending machine – instead, employees can touch and feel products as they browse, and the checkout kiosks erase the need to use cash at all.

Here are some examples of products that micro market vending companies can offer:

• Fresh, pre-made salads
• Fresh fruit
• Deli sandwiches and soups
• Premium beverages, sparkling drinks, and juices
• Popular salty snacks, candies, gum, and mints
• Low-calorie, low-fat healthy alternatives to snack favorites
• Breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and cereals
• Ice cream and other frozen treats
• Medicine and sundry items
• Chips, cookies, and snack packs

Not all micro market vending companies are created equally. Here are some questions to ask a potential vendor:

• What fresh, healthy food and beverage options do you offer?
• What technology do you use to ensure ease-of-use and security?
• Can we customize the layout and design of the market?
• Are coolers and other equipment energy-efficient?
• Can we tailor product selection and delivery times according to our needs?
• Is the market monitored by a security system 24 hours a day?
• What kind of customer service and support do you offer?

With these questions in mind, you’ll be ready to get started with a micro market that can help you compete for talent, drive productivity, and improve employee health and wellness.