Fresh Healthy Vending, International Inc. Announces Launch of Education Platform as Smart Snack in School Nutrition Standards Take Effect in July
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) January 13, 2014 -- San Diego, Calif. – (January 13, 2014) – Fresh Healthy Vending International, Inc. (OTC Markets: VEND), North America's leading healthy vending franchisor, today announces the launch of its education platform program for schools nationwide as the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards go into effect in July 2014. As part of the program, the company’s wellness advocates will engage in video conferences with students and teachers, from schools across the US, to educate them on Fresh Healthy Vending’s initiatives, machines and products, which align with this new mandate.
As part of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, the new nutrition standards require US schools to sell only food items that meet certain requirements in relation to their calories, ingredients, sodium, fat and sugar.
Fresh Healthy Vending has machines placed in over 400 schools across the nation. The company has consistently had an extensive list of snacks that meet these requirements, but has recently compiled variations of “planograms,” or customized menus, consisting of these healthier snack products to fill vending machines, all in line with the new standards prescribed by the USDA.
“Since the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards were announced in June 2013, we knew we needed to not only have the right products and planograms available for schools, but also go the extra step of educating students, teachers and parents emphasizing the beneficial aspects of these changes,” said Alex Kennedy, CEO of Fresh Healthy Vending. “With that, our team has been gearing up to launch our new education platform this month, with two video conferences scheduled this week, in which we will share helpful information and realistic tactics for easy adherence to the laws being implemented in less than six months.”
According to the USDA website, the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards support better health for kids and echo the good work already taking place in schools across the country.
“Already this month, healthier meal laws are being implemented in schools across the nation and that has sparked the interest of school and wellness administrators to learn and prepare for the snack standards coming this summer,” noted Kennedy. “Fortunately, our team is ahead of the curve and prepared to provide each school with precise information needed to adhere to the guidelines starting now, well before July.”
In addition to the snack requirements being put into place this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have mandated that vending machine owners who operate over 20 machines post the calories for every item in the machine. The vendor must “provide a sign in close proximity to the article of food or the selection button that includes a clear and conspicuous statement disclosing the number of calories contained in the article.” The rule is slated to be finalized in February 2014.
“The Fresh Healthy Vending Touch machine could not have been introduced at a more opportune time, as we feel that this machine will prove one of the most practical ways to comply with these new mandated snack standards,” said Ryan Ball, operations manager for Fresh Healthy Vending. “As the first digital healthy vending machine of its kind, the Fresh Healthy Vending Touch offers state-of-the-art means of timely nutritional education to consumers at the point of purchase.”
These features include:
• Twitter feeds customized with healthy nutrition facts and figures
• Targeted advertising for healthy products, based on the demographic of a location’s machine
• Promotional videos on fitness, nutrition and overall health
• Detailed product images, giving the snack buyer full visuals of the product’s size, nutrition facts and container
• Health-oriented, interactive games and tailored applications, designed or targeted to location or audience
Since launching the machine in October 2013, Fresh Healthy Vending has sold 21 Touch machines to franchisees across the nation.
Each product in the Fresh Healthy Touch machine has its own packaging design, 3D spin features, “buy me” animations, product categories and ‘healthy item” icons. The fully customizable informational side bar further breaks down each product into categories, such as: Low Fat, Low Sugar, Low Sodium, Soy Free, Gluten Free, Kosher and Diabetic Friendly.
“With vending machines reportedly available in just 52% of all domestic schools, Fresh Healthy Vending believes that as schools rotate out of the junk snack fare now in many or most of their vending machines, these USDA regulations will accelerate further growth and opportunities for our franchisees to service these education markets nationally across virtually all grades and regions,” explained Kennedy.
For more information on Fresh Healthy Vending, the Franchise Program, or to receive a free healthy vending machine in your school or business, visit http://www.freshvending.com or call toll free 888-902-7558.
About Fresh Healthy Vending
Fresh Healthy Vending, based in San Diego, California, is North America’s leading healthy vending franchisor. Fresh Healthy Vending pioneered the concept of vending machines stocked with tried-and-tested fresh, healthy snack options and capitalizes on a growing market of health conscious consumers. The company has appointed more than 205 franchisees throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas and is looking to partner with like-minded entrepreneurs who share its vision.
The company offers three different machines: The Healthy Vending Combo snack and drink machine, Healthy Vending Café that brews gourmet hot beverages in less than 40 seconds and the brand new Healthy Vending Touch-the only 46” 3D interactive touch screen vending machine.
The company has more than 2,300 machines installed in schools, universities, hospitals, community centers, military bases, airports, fitness facilities, YMCAs, libraries and many other types of locations.
Fresh Healthy Vending believes that it is currently the only vending company providing a comprehensive integrated business model that:
1. Has an integrative focus on securing qualified locations for vending machine placement on behalf of franchisees
2. Has an in-house products department which creates specialized menus specific to each location
3. Has a corporate owned machine division that serves as a “test-kitchen” to provide an independent revenue stream
4. Provides franchisees with best practices obtained and enhanced by experience of directly operating machines and managing routes
5. Delivers a one of a kind franchise coaching program to assist franchisees with developing their healthy vending business using the company’s Steps to Success Program
Fresh Healthy Vending’s stock is traded through the OTC Markets, Symbol: VEND.
For more information on Fresh Healthy Vending, the Franchise Program, or to receive a free healthy vending machine in your school or business, visit http://www.freshvending.com or call toll free 888-902-7558.
Cautionary note on forward-looking statements
Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events that are based on management's belief, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. While the Company believes that expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that goals, results and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. In addition to statements which explicitly describe risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with such terms as "believes," "belief," "expects," "intends," "feels, “anticipates," or "plans" to be uncertain and forward-looking. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect Fresh Healthy Vending's actual results are described in Fresh Healthy Vending's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 and those referenced in its Form 10-Q filed for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013. All forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on Fresh Healthy Vending's current beliefs and expectations. Fresh Healthy Vending undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Christine Takara, Fresh Healthy Vending International, Inc., http://www.freshvending.com, 8582104226, [email protected]
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