By James Barzda
(James, pictured with Options MD Paul Ure, is a graduate in International Business from Staffordshire University who is presently on a 12 week internship as a Business and Data Analyst at Options. Read his story here.)
Staffordshire based vending operator Options Management has been awarded a runners’ up certificate at the 2015 Sentinel Business Awards.
The awards ceremony, promoted by the local ‘Sentinel’ newspaper and widely regarded as the area’s most prestigious, attracted an audience of 400 entrepreneurs, all eager to discover who would come out on top in each of the eleven categories.
Options, having already achieved environmental and innovation awards at regional and national level, entered the ‘Innovation’ category, proudly presenting its brand-new ‘Refreshing Options2Go’ micro markets – that’s already installed in selected north west businesses.
Following significant investment in research and development, particularly in the supporting communications technology and programming, (which was created specifically for Options), programmes blend in with existing systems to improve data retrieval, to deliver more efficient logistics and resupply, and to ensure security.
Options says the concept is ‘unique’ and that it ‘provides huge benefits for all parties, from suppliers to clients and their staff or visitors.’
Each micro market consists of vending machines serving hot drinks and ready meals, that are re-heated after dispensing by barcode operated microwaves, which automatically heat the product to the correct time and temperature with one swipe of the packaging.
Every user is registered via a simple touchscreen process, and once they have selected their meals and snacks they pay either with cash, credit or debit cards, or with a pre-paid card at a self-service till.
The registration process, backed up by a sophisticated CCTV sentry system means anyone attempting to abuse or defraud the facility can easily be identified.
And now, thanks to continually developing software, the layout, food options, special offers and even the availability of the service can all be tailored to suit the needs of every customer.
‘A lot of businesses have had to close staffed-canteens because of cost, and in those circumstances this is a very competitive solution to the problem of keeping staff fed, watered and happy.’ Paul Ure on Refreshing Options2Go
Otions MD Paul Ure told PV ‘in terms of healthy eating and staff well-being, this ticks the box. For companies which have people on site 24/7, this ticks the box. There is no ‘them and us’ friction between day and night staff anymore because, thanks to Refreshing Options2Go, as everyone has access to the same facilities regardless of what shift they happen to be on’, he said.
‘A lot of businesses have had to close staffed-canteens because of cost, and in those circumstances this is a very competitive solution to the problem of keeping staff fed, watered and happy. Refreshing Options2Go lifts our profile and that of the whole industry, because it demonstrates that food vending doesn’t have to be dissatisfying and unwholesome.’
‘We’ve left nothing to chance, even working on the packaging so that the meal can transferred easily onto a quality plate before being enjoyed using with quality cutlery.’ Paul Ure
Paul insists that Refreshing Options2Go is capable of delivering higher standards than the staffed systems it replaces. He explained ‘the meals we supply have all been freshly prepared using premium ingredients. We’ve left nothing to chance, even working on the packaging so that the meal can transferred easily onto a quality plate before being enjoyed using with quality cutlery’, he said. ‘ Just because it has been regenerated through a microwave, doesn’t mean a meal is inferior.
‘We think this is the most user friendly and effective way of offering a high quality 24 hour food service to staff. What we are finding is that we are getting double the spend per head with our Refreshing Options2Go offer we than that we associate with traditional snack and drink machines’, Paul added. ‘Customers tell us it’s just like being in a little deli or coffee shop, and we can see it becoming a standard facility in many places.’
It’s all about matching the products on offer to the requirements of potential customers. ‘When we come on board’, Paul said, ‘we ask our client’s staff to complete a short survey of the two-hundred odd products we offer. We show them our prices too and we undertake taste testing. Based on that feedback, we can identify the products people want, and the meal deals that they want to see. Gone is the old, impersonal ‘take it or leave it’ attitude; on the contrary, this is all about ‘what you want, when you want it!’
By all accounts, Refreshing Options2Go has helped Options Management to increase sales, by delivering greater customer satisfaction (and therefore stronger customer loyalty), by offering special deals, delivering costs savings, and, all in all, giving ‘Staff Catering’ a much-needed shot in the arm.
Options was the only vending and catering business to be shortlisted in the Sentinel Business Awards for Innovation 2015 and were one of only two service companies to make it to the finals, where they rubbed shoulders with some high-tech companies from the multi-media sector.
‘We are thrilled to be awarded the runners-up certificate for the Sentinel Business Innovation Award 2015’, Paul said, ‘it’s yet another accolade to add to our growing portfolio of achievements.’
