Kepak is bringing a one-stop solution to this year’s HRC & IFE expo for caterers who are seeking automated retail and vending solutions; working in partnership with industry leading businesses across food to go, interior design and payment technology to provide the ultimate turn-key operation. A founding partner of the Smart Retail Solutions Group, the collaboration combines expertise from 365 Retail markets, Britvic, Coffetek, Kepak, Nebrak, & PepsiCo.
‘Moving from a traditional solution to an unattended offer is a giant leap for many who have been tasked to ‘make it happen’, with design, payment systems, manufacturers and products to consider’, says Kepak’s Carl Hunter. ‘We’re proud to be able to incorporate all these services and more to make the transition as simple and hassle free as possible.’
Representatives from members of the Smart Retail Solutions Group will be available on Stand H470 at HRC, 20th to 22nd March.
Keeping up with demand
The desire for consumers to treat themselves with food, which was particularly prevalent during the pandemic, is now giving way to the need to cut costs, to convenience, and to ‘something that will be filling’. This shift has led to ‘quick and easy’ becoming the No.1 purchase driver in food-to-go, which has seen 22% growth*.
Meal Trak data from TWC shows food-to-go occasions in out-of-home establishments are all in decline*, including sandwich shops (-8%), coffee shops (-5%) and the high street (-29%), paving the way for a resurgence in convenient, grab-and-go options.
Bucking this trend, total food-to-go performance is up by 1%, being driven by transportation +14% and in workplace & vending, which has experienced a phenomenal increase in demand at +61%*.
‘Rustlers has been taking the lead in providing quality hot and convenient meal options for many years in the retail sector’, Carl added. ‘With the addition of iconic brands including Pepsi MAX, Naked, Robinsons and Walkers, we are now able to provide pre-programmed meal-deal solutions within automated retail, offering a burger or sandwich, a drink and a snack together, for a set price. The value meal deal offers are increasingly popular with consumers in the current economic environment, while also shifting the perception of inflated costs for vended products.’
*Source: Mealtrak, Wave 108 12we 26th November 2022
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