Automatic_Merchandiser_October-November_2020 - 6

EDITOR'S NOTE

Feeling Grateful

Successful operators continue to go above
and beyond to serve their communities
WE'RE APPROACHING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WHEN PEOPLE

Abby White
Editor
awhite@
vendingmarketwatch.com

We're here
to help our
customers with
recruitment,
retention, and
happiness,
and now to
create a safe
experience."
Judson Kleinman, CEO,
Corporate Essentials

are typically thinking about gratefulness and giving. Despite a very
tough year, gratefulness and giving are more important than ever.
One of the many things I love about this industry is how much
operators give back to their communities. This includes donating food
and beverages to those in need, financially supporting area organizations, or encouraging and enabling employees to volunteer in the communities they serve.
Operators take care of their communities in many other ways.
Throughout the pandemic, operators have been integral in providing
employers with nourishing food and beverage options and break room
solutions to keep their workforce safe, productive and on-site. Successful operators aren't just doing the bare minimum; they're going above
and beyond by staying aware of consumer trends reshaping convenience services and implementing the latest technology to remain
ahead of the curve.
One example of this forward-thinking ethos is how quickly operators incorporated touchless solutions to offer safe office coffee service
(OCS) to clients. Emily Jed explains the new options from suppliers that
are already making a big impact in this space on page 26. We also share
some ideas for OCS operators to maintain and grow accounts throughout the pandemic (page 12).
This issue's featured operator, Corporate Essentials CEO Judson
Kleinman, offers some sound advice for operators: "It may not be what
it was, but the workplaces are returning and reenergizing and we have a
big role to play," Kleinman told Automatic Merchandiser. "We all have
to find ways to change and reinvent and be true to why we're in this
business. We're here to help our customers with recruitment, retention,
and happiness, and now to create a safe experience." Learn more about
Kleinman's pioneering approach on page 30.
Providing breakfast options that meet consumer demand for quality
and convenience is more important than ever. Operators have a unique
advantage over competitors by being located in customers' workplaces,
but make no mistake: Competition is fierce. Quick service and fast food
restaurants have expanded delivery and pickup options while convenience stores have broadened their breakfast offerings to capture morning daypart customers. Flip to page 14 to learn about the latest breakfast
products to lift sales in vending and micro markets.
As American businesses are still in various stages of reopening and
a significant portion of the workforce is working remotely, we asked our
editorial advisory board to share insight on the biggest trends emerging in micro markets. Read up on the five biggest takeaways to build on
micro market success in 2021 on page 20.

Automatic Merchandiser * October/November 2020

Editorial
Advisory
Board
Joe Hessling
365 Retail
Markets

Josh
Rosenberg
CEO, PLNTSOP

John Reilly
Avanti Markets

Anant Agrawal
Cantaloupe
Systems
USA Technologies

Elyssa Steiner
Cantaloupe
Systems
USA Technologies

Carl Moser
Canteen
Corporate

Chuck Reed
Crane Payment
Innovations (CPI)

Jeff Whitacre
Food Express

Cory Hewett
Gimme
Michael Miller
Mondelēz
International

Paresh Patel
PayRange

Jeff Deitchler
Prairie Fire
Coffee

Jim Carbone
Tradecraft

Sandy
Thornton
VendEdge

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/3927197

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