Denise M Brown, PhD, RD, LD Project Coordinator Associate Professor Department of Nutrition and Food Systems The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS “Leadership 2006: Preparing Our Children for the Future” 2006 MASS/Alliance Winter Conference Secondary School Section Meeting

Changing Beverage Vending Machine Choices in Schools Case Study Project Sponsorship by The Bower Foundation in coordination with the MDE Office of Healthy Schools

Introduce changes to beverages offered in vending machines at school Assess the financial impact on individual school profits Study Objectives

1.Change Advertising on Beverage Machines –No advertisement for soft drinks –May include company name –School logo 2.Change choices in vending machines in Middle Junior High and High Schools –50% of slots in vending machines Soft drinks or other fruit flavored drinks –50% of slots “Healthier” Beverage Choices of Water, 100% fruit juices, Sports Drinks –Machine locations determined by schools Initial Project Requirements

3.Price “Healthier” Drinks 25% below soft drinks 4.Collect and submit monthly financial data and drink sales data throughout School Year 5.Invoice three times for $1000 incentive grants for a total of $3000 per school Initial Project Requirements

Beverage sales from School meals data from Monthly beverage sales for Monthly inventory of beverage vending machines Monthly School meals data from Data Required

Location of current vending machines – Power sources – Marketing strategies Size of Cans and or Bottles Pricing strategies – 25% lower for healthier choices – Price all beverages the same – Price based on ounces Lessons Learned

Choosing beverages to offer – Plain water – Flavored water – Sports Drinks – 100% Fruit drinks Potential profits – Smaller profit margins – Increase volume of sales Working relationship with vendors Lessons Learned

1.Encourage children to select healthier beverages 2.Compare School Year beverage sales to sales 3.Determine financial impact of changing beverage choices Expected Study Outcomes

4.Determine student purchasing preferences for healthier beverages 5.Identify approaches to recommend to superintendents and principals Expected Study Outcomes

Learn from your colleagues –What beverages sell? –What impact can you expect on profits? –What pricing strategies work? –How do Middle/Junior High schools compare to high schools? How can this study help you?

Learn from beverage vendors –Type of beverages available –Types of machines needed –How to price for maximum profit –New marketing strategies How can this study help you?