Vendtrade

One of the world’s strongest healthy lifestyle brands, WeightWatchers, has teamed up with merchandising systems specialist, Wittern, to develop its first vending packages for the UK market. Offering WeightWatchers’ new range of sandwiches, snacks and drinks in two formats, the vendors are tailored to meet the growing demand for healthy eating alternatives and are targeted at commercial sites, leisure centres and offices.

The merchandisers are based around two of Wittern’s established platforms: the Gemini Dual-Zone and the Mirage GF40. The Dual-Zone machine, uses a combination of special insulating barriers and precisely controlled chilled air currents to create two independent temperature zones within the main display cabinet. This versatility has allowed WeightWatchers to maximise the offering in a single location by allowing its new fresh food, snacks and cold drinks products to be presented in one machine.

WeightWatchers is offering two sizes of Wittern Dual-Zone vendor: the Gemini 5 and Gemini 3. Depending on the machine configuration, the larger Gemini 5 unit can accommodate up to 30 snack/confectionery selections, 10 canned cold drink selections and 5 food with a total stock capacity of 575 items. The compact Gemini 3, can accommodate 18 snack/confectionery selections, 6 cold drink selections and 3 food with a total capacity of 345.

The Mirage GF40 is Wittern’s successful, high capacity glass-fronted cold drinks vendor. Its use of the latest automated pick and delivery system means that it is capable of simultaneously carrying up to 56 different plastic and glass bottles, cans and Tetra Packs. Delivering selected product direct to the customer through a special presentation hatch, the smooth mechanism eliminates any risk of carton burst or drink agitation.

“WeightWatchers needed an efficient and versatile vending package that could be adapted to the great diversity of potential machine locations and to the long-term development of its drinks and food range,” says Mark Boland, Managing Director at Wittern Limited. “We have been able to do this with just two merchandiser platforms, which both offer the durability, reliability and performance that WeightWatchers required to ensure consistency with its core brand values.”

 

Yazoo, the market-leading flavoured milk in the UK, has chosen Wittern cold drinks vendors to spearhead the re-launch of its new, reduced-sugar recipe across UK secondary schools. Satisfying the forthcoming Food for Schools Standards, the compliant Yazoo recipe will be dispensed in a new ‘single-serve’ 200ml bottle, as well as its standard 500ml bottle, from two specially branded merchandisers from Wittern’s Mirage range of can and bottle vendors.

The Food for Schools Standards, which come into effect from the start of the new school year in September, regulate the types of food and drink that can be distributed in the school environment. The new Yazoo recipe fully meets the standards as it now contains less than 5% added sugar.

“The incoming standards will see the removal of many traditional snack and drink vendors from schools. For many, this will mean the loss of a valuable, additional income stream,” comments Walter Gill, Marketing Director at Wittern Limited. “The distinctive bright yellow Yazoo merchandisers have always delivered excellent returns for operators, and now with a new recipe that will see the drink remain in schools, we have developed a new range of equipment that can help reinforce important healthy lifestyle messages.”

The two Wittern machines chosen to dispense the four Yazoo flavours - chocolate, strawberry, banana and vanilla ice cream - are the Mirage CB500 and the Mirage CB300. The CB500 has an illuminated glass product display and has maximum capacity of 500 items. Ten vend selections are available, allowing schools to include other healthy drink alternatives such as bottled water.

The Mirage CB300 is Wittern’s versatile, small footprint drinks merchandiser. Approximately the same size a standard filing cabinet, the machine can be installed in virtually any location. Providing up to six vend selections and holding a maximum of 300 items, the machine gives a performance equivalent to a much larger merchandiser.

Both machines are also equipped to carry a new range of integrated audio visual displays which can be used to broadcast messages on improving lifestyle balance through healthy eating and exercise. These can also be used to inform pupils on dealing with wider issues such as bullying and knife crime.

 

The Green Machine, has chosen two Wittern vendors to carry its latest range of 100% natural snacks and cold beverages. Both snacks and cold drinks will be available from a versatile, dual-zone Wittern Gemini DZ5 vendor whilst cold beverages alone will be dispensed from a Wittern Mirage CB500 merchandiser. Both machines are finished in The Green Machine’s high-impact, distinctive green livery.

The Green Machine was established over three years ago as a pioneer of a healthier vending within the education sector. Its innovative product range has been developed with the support of The Hyperactive Children’s Support Group (HACSG) and is made from only natural ingredients that are free from artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners and preservatives.

With fat, sugar and sodium levels also carefully controlled, The Green Machines latest snacks and drinks range fully complies with the forthcoming Food for Schools Standards which will control the types of food available within UK secondary schools.

“The Green Machine was the first to recognise that schools could benefit from providing snacks and drinks that not only improve nutritional balance but also help develop better behavioural patterns,” says Walter Gill, Marketing Director at Wittern Limited. “The introduction of the new standards has endorsed this approach and will create many new opportunities for operators looking to increase business in this expanding sector.”

By selecting the Wittern dual-zone vendor, The Green Machine allows schools to maximise the vending options from a single machine. By using unique transverse-flow air curtains and high performance insulating barriers, the main cabinet is split into two discreet temperature zones that can be independently controlled, allowing fresh food, snacks, confectionery and cold drinks to be to simply and safely vended.

Depending on the machine configuration, the Wittern Gemini DZ5 merchandiser can accommodate up to 30 snack/confectionery selections, 10 canned cold drink selections and 5 food with a total stock capacity of 575 items.

The Wittern Mirage CB500 can and bottle vendor is fitted with an attractive, illuminated glass product display and has maximum capacity of 500 items. Ten vend selections are available, allowing schools to stock The Green Machines’ new range of still and flavoured waters, fruit juice drinks and flavoured milks.