Tackling Vending in Public Sector sites Michele.sandelson@towerhamlets.gov.uk Public Health Lead Dietitian 020 7364 5362

Soil Association’s report 2007 https://www.organix.com/sites/default/files/activity_sheets/not-what-the-doctor-ordered.pdf

About Vending 2 types: Operated and Self Fill Income generated: fixed space rental or % turnover of profits to the site Minimum 3 year contract, maybe awarded through EU tender process “Free on loan” machines are most popular: cost of purchasing, installing, training for and maintaining equipment are recovered through higher cost of product supplied

Email conversation with vending company – May 2011 This is what they said “Healthy snack vending is tricky” “Regulations would only allow for nuts, seeds and dried fruit” – [what regulation?] “Vending machines selling healthy products are not commercially viable at this time due to low sales” this is true if there is a choice of unhealthy and healthy Reluctance from all involved to reveal profits/loss

Vending foods (as opposed to snacks) Carousel food vending machines with wedge shaped spaces are available Sandwiches, yoghurts and fruit etc However chilled food requires a different type of supply chain and site storage facilities and is generally more expensive Sites generally take on a lease purchase with an engineering contract Cost to public sector £5000-£7000 to buy Degree of risk due to capital outlay

Healthier Vending: a cautionary tale Two companies with enough capacity to bid for large leisure centre contracts across multiple sites Contract is large due to leisure centre providers such as GLL contracting out en masse Selecta and Rude Food Selecta won’t be bidding for the new GLL contract as have made a loss over the last 3 years Rude Food gaining ground across London Most money made in Leisure Centres with swimming pools, ie children

Rude Food

255 kcals 11.7g added sugar 152 kcals 12.7g added sugar 228 kcals 17.1g added sugar 128 kcals 18g added sugar 353 kcals 68g added sugar

Lessons from Wales Welsh Assembly Government directive 2008 All vending in hospital sites to meet guidelines Caterers & Dietitians worked hard to find suitable vending snacks – few were suitable Staff complained Following introduction of healthier vending, 37% drop in sales.

Our research Audit of Vending in leisure centres and the Town Hall in Tower Hamlets – 2011 Student Vending project: investigation of vending in leisure centres – 2014 Analysis of Selecta and Rude Food products - kcals, fat and sugar Student vending project 2016 – survey of consumers in leisure centres and the Council Please let Michele know if you’d like any of the documents

Contractual levers It will be a challenge asking vending companies for healthy options – profit and sourcing Working with industry and giving them time to reformulate London Boroughs PH Depts could collectively work with a vending company such as Selecta One voice asking for real healthier vending options with “promise” of favourable procurement of those machines? Or…….withdraw all vending. Do we really need it? [small research project in TH says not really]