Calbee, a major supplier to Japanese convenience stores and vending machines, has launched a whole new line of healthy veggies. Last year Trend Hunter wrote about the line of drinkable veggies, but the phenomenon has since expanded to cover snacks and sweets. Other suppliers have joined the movement, offering sweet potato cookies and pumpkin pudding available next to the junk food. Socio offers “farm fresh†ingredients like sweet potato chips.
Implications - These healthy snack vending machines are a reflection of the priority given to healthy living and nutrition in nations outside of the Western world. These junk food alternatives are packaged in a way that is still appealing to kids, but also nutritionally enriching and tasty! Schools and offices that incorporate these machines into workspaces will surely notice a difference in the eating habits of consumers.
Healthy Snack Vending Machines
Japanese Feast on Sweet Potato Cookies
Trend Themes
1. Healthy Snack Vending Machines - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop more diverse and nutritious snack options for vending machines to cater to health-conscious consumers.
2. Veggies as Snacks and Sweets - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative and tasty vegetable-based snacks and sweets to cater to the growing demand for healthier alternatives.
3. Farm Fresh Ingredients - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilize locally-sourced and fresh ingredients in snack production to align with the farm-to-table movement.
Industry Implications
1. Convenience Store Suppliers - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Partner with convenience store suppliers to introduce healthier snack options and expand their product offerings.
2. School Food Services - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with school food services to incorporate healthy snack vending machines into schools, promoting better eating habits among students.
3. Office Supply Companies - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Provide healthy snack vending machines to offices, promoting employee wellness and productivity.