junejuly2024 - 11

Linda Saldana from Seventh Wave
Refreshments, Fabian Campos
from InReach, Kim Lenz from
Associated Services and Bill Kirchoff
from Distant Lands, was worth the
price of admission. " Hearing them
share their thoughts on listening,
understanding the pantry and micro
market differences and how to make
pantry service and micro markets
more successful - that's what I
needed, " Welch said.
Hats off to the NAMA team for
putting together a series of education
sessions that resonated with operators.
4. THE NEW ENTRANTS
The education sessions were
full of new operators. Suddenly,
the industry is attracting a new
generation of entrepreneurs
- attracted by technology, the
opportunity and the idea of " passive
income, " a concept that is regularly
promoted on social media. From all
indications, the many new entrants
are eager to learn. They want to do it
right from the beginning.
Jennifer Montana of 605 Vending
and Markets, a new operator from
Souix Falls, South Dakota, said
she was at the show to learn as
much as she could, with a special
interest in OCS, because she sees
the opportunity of using OCS to get
in the door at some major micro
market and pantry locations. " I see
that coffee service is an easy adjunct
to add to a location. I need to learn
how to be an expert in the coffee
business, " Montana said.
" In multiple education sessions
that I attended - and I mean
multiple - I heard many people
raise their hand and say, 'I am a
new operator,' " said Arthur Siller of
Evergreen Refreshments in Seattle.
" They would either be asking the
panel questions or members of the
audience questions, and to me, that
is the healthiest sign we can have -
lots of new people who are excited to
be a part of it. " ■
About the author
VendingMarketWatch.
com contributing editor
and industry consultant
Bob Tullio is a content
specialist who advises
operators in the
convenience services
industry on how to build a successful
business from the ground up and advises
suppliers on how to successfully connect
with operators. Tullio's YouTube channel,
b2b Perspective, is designed to " elevate
your business in two minutes. " Visit www.
tulliob2b.com or email bob@tulliob2b.com.
Did You Know*
Little Debbie® Is America's Favorite Snack Cake
A family of FLAVORS
Sunbelt Bakery® Chewy Granola Bars Offer
The Tastiest Flavors Under The Sunª
Little Debbie Cosmic® Brownie Is
#1 Item with 56% Share Of Brownies
Little Debbie Double Decker Oatmeal Creme
Pie is the #1 Item with 8.86% share of cookies
Little Debbie Nutty Buddy® Bar is the #2 Item
with 8.83% share of cookies
Perfect For:
* Vending * Micro Markets * Pantry
* Catering * Cafeterias
*The Nielsen Company, SCANTRACK, Total US Convenience, 52
Weeks Ending 10/07/2023. Baked Sweet Goods Category, Cookie,
Brownie and Breakfast Cake segments, ranked on unit sales;
Automatic Merchandiser State of the Industry Report 2022; NACS
State of the Industry Report of 2022 Data
McKeeFoodservice.com | FoodService@McKee.com
© 2024 McKee Foods Corporation
2407AUTM_McKeeFoodService.indd 1
June/July 2024 * VendingMarketWatch.com 11
4/22/24 8:24 AM
http://www.tulliob2b.com http://www.tulliob2b.com http://www.McKeeFoodservice.com http://www.VendingMarketWatch.com
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