A one-stop automated retail solution, operated by Crawley based PG Group Vending, has got an enthusiastic ‘thumbs up’ from staff and visitors at the East Surrey Hospital, part of the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
The installation offers a wide choice of vending and drink options and is sited in a high-traffic location, close to one of the hospital’s main entrances.
The star of the PG Group Vending show is Kepak’s Rustlers range of microwavable meal options; but the one-stop vending solution will soon add market-leading products from Britvic and Pepsico to the offer. The retail and vending solution was installed by unattended retail specialists Nebrak, and payment solutions are powered by 365 Retail Markets.
These industry-leading businesses, which together form the Smart Retail Solutions Group, continue to benefit customers thanks to their combined expertise across food-to-go, interior design and payment technology, providing ‘the ultimate turn-key solution’.
James Turner, Sales and Marketing Director at PG Group Vending, reports that the unattended system is performing ‘well ahead of expectations’. ‘An open day held to introduce the new turn-key unit to hospital staff resulted in 800 meals and sandwiches being consumed, and after just one month over 600 food products had been purchased, with half of them being Rustlers’, he said.
‘It’s early days, but we’re really pleased with how things are going and the support we’ve received from Kepak has been fantastic,’ James added. ‘The hospital has a restaurant on site, but importantly PG Group Vending is extending food and drink provision outside of core hours, thereby adding real value to the hospital’s catering offer.’
Going forward, usage is expected to increase as the hospital’s 3,500 staff members and its 1,000 daily visitors, become accustomed to teg new addition.
Kepak’s Carl Hunter told PV: ‘The NHS is one of the UK’s largest providers of food and drink services, delivering almost 200 million meals each year for staff, patients and visitors. Hospitals are looking for solutions which enable them to provide accessible, affordable, convenient catering solutions and thanks to our unattended retail solution, clients are safe in the knowledge that our offering provides the round-the-clock convenience and quality people expect, with easy access to some of their favourite food and drink brands.
‘The installation is a testament to the effectiveness of this model and we have really enjoyed working with PG Group Vending to offer staff and visitors at the East Surrey Hospital the ideal automated vending solution’, Carl said.
- Kepak provides a one stop solution for those seeking automated retail and vending solutions. To find out more, click HERE
Visit Planet Vending, HERE - Main Image: the management team at PG Group Vending
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