Bon Appetit heats up vending market

The Bon Appetit company says its Little Tasty Food Outlets are surging in popularity among firms wanting cheaper and round-the-clock canteens—either as standalone offers or in addition to existing services. The concept provides hot food from frozen dishes, reducing levels of food waste and slashing catering costs by up to 90%, according to Bon Appetit.

The company’s CEO Keith Pordum said: “Recent take-up has been off the scale. For years firms have been dealing with cost issues arising from canteen staff wages, pricey equipment and wasted stock, but many have viewed traditional canteens as core services—essentially the last place to cut costs. Now the economy has nose-dived again, profit conscious managers are evidently looking at bold new ways to save money, and our hot food outlets fit that bill, while simultaneously extending catering hours and providing a healthy, varied menu.”

Bon Appetit, which launched in 2005 and is based in west Sussex, bills its offer as ‘hot food bistros’ rather than vending machine, which it thinks has negative connotations. It works for 100 clients including large organisations like the NHS, Barclays, Harrods, GSK, Honda, Nestle and the RAF. It offers nutritional information for each of its dishes and has ranges including breakfast, main meals and snacks like ice creams. “We work with chefs and nutritional experts to ensure that fresh, locally sourced products are turned into delicious, restaurant-quality meals and snacks before being frozen, ready to heat.”

For more about the company’s vending concept, click here.