Katie Waxman, Author at Riverside Refreshments

Vending Service Options in Augusta Break Rooms

February 25, 2021 by Katie Waxman

Which type of vending service would be a better fit for your break room or facility? Everyone knows what a vending machine is. Micro-markets, on the other hand, haven’t existed for as long. Understanding which service is better for your company, however, may require a bit more knowledge.

While making that decision might feel like a lot, it doesn’t have to be. Let’s break down the things that are similar and different between vending machines and micro-markets.

Each Vending Service Offers

To begin, both services are open 24/7, making it easy for employees to access at any time of the day. Menus can include healthy and regular snacks, cold drinks, and fresh food. Employers only need to choose the products their employees want.

Technology plays a big role. State-of-the-art tools such as mobile payment options and wireless inventory tracking ensure a smooth purchase.

In addition, refreshment providers can turn any break room into a workplace benefit. All it takes is a great vending service. When Augusta employers cover all or part of the cost for their employees, the break room becomes an even better benefit.

Things That Are Different

…In a Vending Machine

A vending machine is a self-contained store. In the past, they only sold sweet and salty snacks or cold beverages. Today, however, vending machines can sell anything as long as it is small enough.

Two positive things about vending machines are their footprint or size and product security. Because of these, a vending machine can be put almost anywhere. The one must for choosing a spot is access to electricity. Without electricity a vending machine won’t work.

…In a Micro-Market

A micro-market is like a convenience store. It has open racks or shelves and glass-front coolers full of options. As a result, the extra space means that there is more product variety. More variety might mean more healthy snacks on the racks or fresh food in the coolers. Augusta employees can pick up an item and read the nutritional information and ingredients label before making a purchase.

Self-checkout kiosks, wireless inventory tracking, and security cameras are just a few of the tools a micro-market uses. Each tool helps the market to run smoothly 24/7. Unlike vending machines, products in a micro-market are always out in the open. So, security cameras watch over the space to help prevent theft.

Are you ready to take the next step? Riverside Refreshments can help your Augusta business decide which vending service would be the best fit for your space and employees. For more information about our vending, micro-market, and accompanying coffee services, please call us at 706-793-2723.

The Break Room Affects Augusta Companies

February 18, 2021February 15, 2021 by Katie Waxman

What is your workplace’s personality? You know the feeling you get when you walk into the break room on a Tuesday morning looking for something from the vending machine or walking down the hall on Thursday afternoon. Hopefully, it comes across as a welcoming, friendly, and purposeful place.

While many characteristics create a company’s personality, there is one space or room in the building that can have a big impact. That space is the break room.

Let’s take a look at what three types of break rooms can do.

I don’t really have an opinion.

A generic space will likely have minimal impact, either good or bad. It’s just sort of there. The choice of snacks and beverages will be okay. Even though this type of room isn’t negatively affecting the workplace personality, it is a missed opportunity.

I only visit if I have to.

Unlike a generic break room, the unpleasant break room is a space that drives employees off-site during breaks and mealtimes. For whatever reason, Augusta employees feel they can’t find what they need, whether that’s fresh food, a great coffee, or just a comfortable place to relax for a few minutes.

Let’s go to the break room!

The vibe of an inviting and energetic space spills out into the rest of the office or facility. It’s a place where people want to be. Employees will want to go there for coffee breaks and snacks or meals. They can see that their employer understands which products are most trendy.

With more people visiting the space, there are a lot of occasions for unplanned conversations and brainstorming. These types of interactions can be energizing and inspiring. Both of which can positively affect productivity.

A great break room can also let everyone know that it’s okay to take a few minutes to relax and recharge. Employees appreciate being treated by their employer as a person instead of a number or machine.

The Break Room Solution

Not sure where your Augusta break room fits in?

Thankfully, it’s easy to turn an unpleasant or generic space into one that boosts morale. Riverside Refreshments offers Augusta companies several types of vending services, from micro-markets to vending machines. Each service can be customized to fit your organization’s unique needs. Choose from a selection of fresh foods, better-for-you and traditional snacks and beverages, and coffee service.

For more information about updating your current refreshment menu or designing a complete overhaul, please contact us at 706-793-2723.

Coffee Elevates Augusta Break Rooms

February 4, 2021January 30, 2021 by Katie Waxman

Can you imagine making it through your workday without coffee? No? Well, neither can I. Caffeinated beverages including coffee and tea are also essential for many Augusta employees. Without them, everyone would be less alert, energized, and focused, and that would be a bad thing.

Now, what if the break room had a modern micro-market with delicious fresh food but no coffee? Those same employees would have to leave work during the day to buy their favorite caffeinated beverages.

While that might not sound like an issue for one or two employees, over time, it could become a problem. The couple minutes spent now and then away from work will eventually add up. The result is likely to be a lot of time not working and a loss of overall productivity.

Going off-site for breaks also means that coworkers will be less likely to run into each other in the hall or break room. Fewer interactions equal fewer chances for unplanned conversations and brainstorming.

The solution is to offer coffee service as an add-on to your micro-market or vending machine service.

Not Your Average Cup of Joe

While working with one of our professionals to design your micro-market, be sure to add a high-quality bean-to-cup brewer. These brewers grind the perfect amount of gourmet beans at the push of a button. Once the beans are ground, employees choose from a menu of espressos and coffee-based specialty drinks, and the machine takes over. The easily accessible café-style beverages mean your employees don’t have to leave work for their favorite beverages. They only have to visit the break room.

A Single-Cup Coffee Boost

Or maybe your organization already has a bean-to-cup or single-cup brewer they’d like to use instead with their new micro-market or vending machines. No problem. The bean-to-cup brewer is a great addition to any micro-market. Employees buy their coffee by the cup with their snack or fresh food at the self-checkout kiosk, creating a seamless experience. Vending machines and micro-markets can also be set up to sell k-cups for Augusta companies who have Keurig single-cup brewing equipment.

Access to great-tasting coffee and specialty drinks at work does one more thing. It boosts morale. A break room filled with everyone’s favorite snacks, cold beverages, and hot caffeinated beverages is a perk that employees love. Offer everything at a reduced cost or for free, and your Augusta company will come out on top.

To learn more about our break room refreshment services, please contact Riverside Refreshments at 706-793-2723. We look forward to hearing from you.

Your Augusta Break Room Can Boost Morale

January 25, 2021January 15, 2021 by Katie Waxman

2020 was difficult for everyone, but especially for Augusta businesses. While things aren’t back to normal, employers have a tool—the break room—to help bring back a bit of normal. Every Augusta company has a break room, and we can help customize it to meet your employees’ needs. Here are three reasons why a great break room can make a difference.

Your Break Room Delivers More

When things are tough, it’s hard to maintain energy levels and productivity. Whether your break room includes well-stocked vending machines or a micro-market, it’s a great place to refuel and recharge. Employees love having easy access to both their favorite candy or chocolate and healthier fresh food. Employers can increase morale even more by paying for some or all the costs.

Vending Machines Make Break Time Easy

Today’s vending machines deliver more. The days of finding random products that have been sitting for who knows how long are gone. Vending machines now offer everyone’s favorite snacks and drinks plus great-tasting, better-for-you options.

Access to everyone’s favorites is only one benefit. Vending machines filled with a diverse menu also means employees don’t have to go off-site for a snack, reducing a loss of time spent working. It’s a relatively easy way to increase productivity.

Micro-Markets Make Room for Healthy

Too much stress can negatively affect Augusta employees. One way to combat that is to offer a wide choice of better-for-you snacks, beverages, and fresh food in your break room. Since micro-markets are bigger than vending machines, more products can be offered on the menu.

Employees spend most of their day at work, making easy access to healthy options essential. A healthy diet helps workers get the nutrients they need and avoid becoming sick. Healthier employees also have higher energy levels and can work more efficiently and get more done.

To learn more about updating your Augusta break room services, please contact Riverside Refreshments at 706-793-2723. We look forward to working with you.

Bottled Water in Augusta Is Here to Stay

January 5, 2021December 31, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Have you ever wondered who purchases bottled water? As it turns out, just about everyone does. In fact, its sales continue to grow year after year. The still or flat varieties sold the largest percentage last year followed by seltzer or sparkling water and jugs or bulk water. Continued growth keeps happening because of an “interest in health, product innovation from water brands and the surge in popularity of sparkling waters.”

So, what makes this cold refreshing beverage so popular?

The answer depends on who you talk to. Found in both vending machines and micro-markets, bottled water offers many benefits and has the potential to meet a wide variety of Augusta employee needs. The following are just a few of the features that make it popular.

Bottled water is…

Versatile

It can be consumed at any time of the day.
Water mixes well with many other types of beverages.
You can drink it cold or hot.
It can be found with carbonation or without, and flavored or plain.

Healthy

Contains zero calories
Keeps the body hydrated
Improve one’s mood and focus
Helps replenish lost electrolytes

Portable

Convenient when on-the-go
Easy to carry it with you
Available in many locations
Relatively simple disposal

Safe

Regulated as a food product by the FDA
Has a long shelf life
Should be kept on hand for an emergency or disaster situation
Helps prevent illness when traveling outside of the U.S.

With the great demand for bottled water, it is important to make sure that your Augusta employees have access to a variety of choices during their work day. Hydrated employees are more likely to be in a better mood, be more focused, and be more productive. A large selection of low or no sugar, flavored carbonated waters can also be a refreshing treat during a work break.

What bottled water options do you offer in your Augusta micro-market or vending machines? Riverside Refreshments can help you determine the best combination of flat and carbonated bottled waters as well as other beverages to offer in your office break room. To learn more, contact us at 800 476 2337.

Break Room Updates for 2021 in Augusta

December 23, 2020December 16, 2020 by Katie Waxman

The workplace, including the office break room, has changed. Historically, everyone went to the office to work. Companies then made a shift to having a large number of remote employees. Today, the pendulum has now settled somewhere in the middle. COVID-19 aside, Augusta companies want to bring their employees back to the office.

The days of sparsely decorated break rooms hidden at the back of the building are gone. Companies are redesigning their spaces to be open, communal areas. The new layouts promote spontaneous collaboration, inspire innovation, and increase morale.

One area that is no longer an afterthought is the break room. Gone are the spaces with poor lighting, basic table and chairs, and minimal amenities. To learn more about what your Augusta employees need and want, try surveying them. They know what they want.

Once it’s clear what your employees want, there are various options to choose from. Services include subsidized vending, office coffee service, and the micro-market.

Vending Services but Better

- Employees pay part of none of the cost for beverages, snacks, or meals
- The perceived value is higher than the actual cost to employers
- Employees are less likely to leave the office for a meal or break, increasing overall productivity

Is It a Store or a Break Room Micro-Market?

- Open concept “mini” store with open shelving, glass-front coolers, and self-checkout technology
- Allows employees to read nutrition labels before making a purchase
- Supports healthier decisions by offering fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads, produce, and yogurt
- Meets employees unique work and meal schedules

The In-House Coffee Experience

- Creates a gourmet coffee-house experience without leaving the office
- Includes a variety of teas and coffees
- Uses high-tech brewing systems to create gourmet and traditional coffee

What would your employees prefer? We’d love to help you figure out which one fits your needs best. Think Riverside Refreshments as a partner that can help with all your Augusta break room needs.

To learn more about all our break room services, please contact us at 706-793-2723. We look forward to collaborating with you.

Favorite Break Room Snacks in Augusta

December 4, 2020November 30, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Everyone has their one or two favorite “not-so-healthy” snacks that they enjoy now and then. While we’ve all heard that moderation is key, deciding whether to choose healthy can be quite the dilemma. Often Augusta consumers want to eat healthily, but at the same time, they want to visit the break room vending machine and grab their favorite sweet or salty guilty pleasure.

Favorite Snacks List

Many of Augusta’s favorite sweet and salty snacks have been around for more than 30 years. Is yours in the following list?

- Confections (chocolate, candy, etc.): PEZ (1950), Swedish Fish (the late 1950s), Nerds (1983), anything made with chocolate
- Salty: sunflower seeds, Cheese Balls (the 1980s), Combos (mid-1970s), Goldfish, Doritos (1974), Pringles (1975), chips, crackers
- Cookies and Snack Cakes: Famous Amos cookies (1975), animal crackers (1902), Rice Krispies Treats, Oatmeal Cream Pies (1960), Oreos, Pop-tarts (1964)
- Other snacks: Dippin’ Dots (1987), Fruit Roll-ups (1991) or fruit snacks, granola bars, Milk ‘n’ Cereal Bars or breakfast bars (the 1990s – early 2000s)

Your Break Room Menu

If Augusta employees are looking, however, for something a little healthier, there are a lot of healthy sweet and salty options available too. Healthier snack options include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, popcorn, yogurt smoothies, salsa, and hummus. Many of these healthy snacks can also be combined to create a healthy mini-meal when there isn’t enough time for a sit-down meal.

No one can predict when a craving will hit. They can strike Augusta employees at any time of the day or night. Micro-markets and vending machines are open 24/7 to meet those needs. Providing an easily accessible, on-site location where various snacks and beverages are available is just one benefit that lets your employees know they are valuable.

Another benefit is to offer employees everything at a reduced or zero cost. Employees will welcome both on-site snack and beverage options and more cash in their pockets.

Don’t forget to add cold refreshing beverages and office coffee service to your break room menu. Drinks such as cold water are hydrating, coffee or tea are energizing, and snacks are filling. It’s essential to keep your employees hydrated, energized, and satiated.

To learn more about the many different types of break room snack and beverage options, call Riverside Refreshments at 706-793-2723. We look forward to working with you.

Bean-to-Cup Coffee Can Make A Difference in Augusta

December 2, 2020November 15, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Grabbing a cup of coffee during the workday shouldn’t have to be complicated. The whole process of going to the corner coffee shop, standing in line, waiting for your order, and going back to work is time-consuming. And time spent away from work isn’t the only cost. Lost productivity and fewer chances for spontaneous collaboration are two more.

An Easy Solution

Your Augusta break room doesn’t have to mirror a full-service cafe. One with baristas that create works of art to be the perfect location. A micro-market with everyone’s favorite fresh foods, snacks, and beverages plus coffee service or a bean-to-cup brewer will do the trick.

Not only will it help keep employees energized and hydrated, but it’s part of a good business strategy. Coffee and espresso-based beverages are a perk that everyone loves. Your company can choose to offer its beverages at no cost or charge per cup at the micro-market kiosk.

Mike Cochrane, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Cafection, explained, “With bean-to-cup, you get to experiment with new drinks while participating in a sustainable industry that produces less waste.”

A single bean-to-cup brewer offers a variety of hot beverages, is cost-effective, and can have a big impact. Including one in your micro-market keeps Augusta employees on-site during the workday, provides energy, and fuels creativity.

What Is a Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine?

A bean-to-cup machine is precisely what it sounds like. Several different kinds of whole beans are placed in the machine. They are left untouched until needed. When an employee wants a beverage, the machine grinds the beans to the correct fineness, brews them to order, and creates the desired drink. The short time between grinding and brewing makes sure the coffee grounds are as fresh as possible.

The combination of different beans, grind settings, flavor additions, and cup sizes results in a diverse menu. Below are just a few of the options a bean-to-cup brewer can offer.

Traditional Coffee (available in light, medium, and dark roasts)

- Bean Options 1, 2 and 3
- Decaf
- Combinations of the four options above

Hot Beverages

- French Vanilla: coffee plus French vanilla flavoring
- Vanilla Mocha: coffee plus vanilla flavoring and hot chocolate
- Mochaccino: coffee plus hot chocolate or cocoa powder
- Vanilla Mocha: hot chocolate plus vanilla flavoring
- Chocolate Latte: hot chocolate with milk

Gourmet Options

- Energy Shot: a shot of espresso plus vitamins that deliver energy
- Hot Shot Blend: 2 shots of espresso for when you need a caffeine boost
- Long Espresso: a shot of whipped espresso that is more bitter than a regular shot of espresso
- Café Latte: espresso plus milk
- Cappuccino: a shot of whipped milk topped with whipped espresso

It’s time to discover the effect that a single bean-to-cup machine in your micro-market can have on your Augusta employees. If a micro-market isn’t a good fit for your place of business, vending machines and one or more single-cup brewers are a great alternative.

For more information about our micro-market and bean-to-cup options as well as our other break room services, please contact Riverside Refreshments at 706-793-2723. We look forward to hearing from you!

A Micro-Market and Meal Times in Augusta

November 2, 2020October 30, 2020 by Katie Waxman

A carefully planned and well-stocked micro-market is an employee benefit that isn’t fully appreciated until experienced. Employees have access to an inviting and relaxing space with a customizable menu full of delicious products, from fresh food, coffee, healthy alternatives, and cold beverages to everyone’s favorite snacks.

Augusta employers need to consider the types of refreshments and the overall physical space available when determining a break room’s design and menu. The reason is related to recent research performed by Packaged Facts, an expert in research and analysis.

According to David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, “There’s a surging fluidity to modern mealtimes. The reality is U.S. adults are increasingly eating differently.” The adults that Sprinkle is referring to are Gen Z (18- to 24-years-old) and Millennials (25- to 34-years-old).

Not only did the research show that fewer adults are eating “breakfast before 9 am, lunch before 1 pm, and dinner before 8 pm,” but more participants are eating several smaller meals throughout the day instead of the traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Getting back to Augusta break rooms and the micro-market, offering a wide selection of options has a higher chance of meeting the needs of employees who consume various meals at traditional and nontraditional times of the day.

The first of several reasons why a micro-market is a great option is the break room’s overall look and feel. Each micro-market layout is custom designed to fit your unique space and offers an updated look and shopping experience. With open racks, shelves, and glass door coolers, employees can browse and pick up items and read labels before deciding.

Access to the micro-market 24/7 is the second benefit. With modern technology, employees can access snacks, beverages, and fresh food at any time of the day, whether it is 10:00 am or 10:00 pm. Self-checkout kiosks, mobile apps, and security systems remove the need for additional employees to monitor the break room and track product inventory levels.

The third benefit is that we take care of it all. With fully automated technology, we receive data about real-time product purchases. Using that information, we can rotate in more of the products your Augusta employees enjoy and add new products to keep things interesting.

A micro-market is truly a sought-after break room benefit. Access at any time of the day plus a variety of delicious refreshments equals happier employees and a boost in workplace morale. Are you ready to take the next step?

For more information about micro-markets or other break room refreshment options, including office coffee service, please contact Riverside Refreshments at 706-793-2723.

Offer Healthy and Traditional Refreshments in Augusta

November 2, 2020October 15, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Making sure that Augusta essential employees have access to healthy and traditional snacks and beverages in the break room is important especially during this challenging time. Offering a variety of on-site options makes it easier for employees to grab a bite to eat, enjoy a hot beverage or take a few minutes to relax.

Combine the need for easily accessible refreshment options with the challenges that employees had locating better-for-you choices before the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s easy to understand why eating healthy can be a challenge.

A recent survey conducted by the American Heart Association and Aramark, a U.S. based food service company, found that participants were more likely to choose an unhealthy lunch because of convenience (60 percent), taste preference (54 percent), and lack of ability of healthy foods (43 percent). But that doesn’t mean things won’t or can’t change. “More than 4 in 5 (82%) agree that having healthy food options at work is important to them and more than 2 in 3 (68%) value help from their employer in becoming healthier.”

While choosing better-for-you is important, there is one caveat that should be considered. Given the unprecedented stress levels that Augusta employees are under, sometimes traditional or sweet snacks, beverages and fresh food can fulfill an emotional or mental need that wouldn’t arise in normal circumstances.

Rather than assuming which products employees would like to have available, employers should survey their employees to find out. Different individuals will have different preferences that develop from a number of factors including upbringing, genetics, culture, and individual experiences.

For those Augusta employees who are looking for a better-for-you snack, that usually means a snack that has a high nutritional value or one that is high in protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber but low in calories, fat, sugar and sodium.

Ideally, a serving of a healthy snack will have between 150 and 200 calories, about 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein and no more than 12 grams of fat. Choosing fiber and protein will help create a feeling of fullness while avoiding saturated fats, which raise LDL or “bad” cholesterol, can help decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Whether Augusta employees are looking for better-for-you snacks and beverages, traditional options or delicious, freshly made meals, access to variety of refreshments at work is an appreciated benefit. It can also encourage essential employees to stay on-site during breaks and give them the necessary fuel and hydration to focus on their job.

Riverside Refreshments would like to help your local business, especially during this challenging time, by providing the refreshments your employees need. For more information about our micro-market and vending machine services, please contact us at 706-793-2723.