How a Business Increased Sales & Productivity with a Vending Machine

A mid-sized food wholesale company based in Kingston, employs 150 workers across warehouse, sales, and delivery teams. They supply supermarkets, corner shops, and restaurants with packaged goods and beverages.

The Challenge
The company noticed that during lunch and afternoon breaks, many employees were leaving the property to buy snacks, patties, and drinks from nearby shops. This caused:

• Lost production time (10–20 minutes extra per break).
• Reduced focus as employees came back late or sluggish.
• Low morale because healthier options weren’t easily available onsite.

The Solution
In early 2024, they partnered with a local vending machine provider to install a modern vending machine in the warehouse’s break area. The machine was stocked with popular Jamaican favourites alongside healthier choices, such as:

• Juices, water, and coconut water.
• Jamaican patties, sandwiches, and fruit bowls.
• Snacks like Plantain Chips, Big Foot, Cheese Trix, and nuts.

The machine made it easy for all employees to use.

The Results (First 6 Months)

1. Improved Productivity:
   With employees no longer leaving the property during breaks, late returns dropped by nearly 75%. Management estimated this saved over 100 hours of productive work per month.
2. Boosted Staff Morale:
   An internal survey showed 89% of employees preferred having the vending machine onsite. Workers liked that they could grab a quick snack, especially during night shifts and overtime when nearby shops were closed.
3. Additional Revenue:
   Through a profit-sharing arrangement with the vending provider, the company earned an extra 5% passive income from machine sales.
4. Better Work Culture:
   The break area became more lively as employees gathered to chat over snacks and drinks, which improved teamwork and morale.

Conclusion
Installing a vending machine turned out to be a win-win. The business saved valuable time, boosted employee satisfaction, and even added a new income stream all without managing inventory or maintenance themselves.

This shows how Jamaican businesses of any size can benefit from having modern vending machines onsite.