Sliding Scale Vending

Beverage Vending Machine Automatically Changes Price Based on Outside Temperature

While in Chicago the other day for the Shopper Marketing Expo, Coke’s Global Customer & Commercial Leadership Director (responsible for foodservice development and international growth strategy) described the technology used to increase traffic to vending machines at a handful of amusement parks in Spain for the past two years. The machines would automatically lower their prices as the outdoor temperature rose, by means of a software developed by Varadero.

From their headquarters, Coca-Cola spokesperson Carrie Brown explains, “The machines were designed specifically to increase trial of Limón&Nada as a thirst quencher in the summer heat.” Limón&Nada hopes to come to America under a different name as a low-cal, preservative-free lemonade from the Minute Maid brand. Also being offered in test markets is Limón&Nada Peppermint and Limón&Nada Light.

Brown said that the software hasn’t been used in other markets, but declined to comment as to weather (tee-hee) they planned on using this technology in the future.

Hungry for Change

Our Scouts were killing.

It was the Homecoming Game for our local high school. A buddy of mine came to see his son perform his courtly duties alongside the King and Queen of the day. The class of 1993 was celebrating it's twentieth reunion that weekend, so the stands were full of people recently flown to town wearing flannel with fanny packs while listening to Nirvana on their blue Walkmans.

The good ol' home team defense had just intercepted a beautiful pick when my almost potty-trained daughter tugged on my pant leg. With a familiar step dance her slightly raised eyebrows betrayed a distress that snapped me to action. As I was weaving through bleachers and band nerds with daughter in tow, I noticed that the line for the bathroom was certainly too long for her tiny bladder. I snatched the kid up under my right arm, brought my left across my chest to prevent a fumble, pivot and sprint with the all grace of number 10 (the Scouts' wide receiver) towards the school gym. Finally, we reach the sanctum of a clean restroom; and none too soon.

While she sat and playfully sang her version of  "Summertime Sadness," I wandered around the immaculate high school gym, admiring their top-tier equipment and amenities... but then, I saw this:

I was shocked.

Here I am, at one of the top high schools in the country, in the part of the school where they focus on teaching young people about health and fitness, and the almost-empty vending machine is almost all junk food. With all of the talk over the past ten years about child obesity and educating the youth on making healthy food decisions, how is this even possible? It is so counterproductive for government entities like schools to promote junk food and make it so easily accessible to children while other government entities are investing billions in healthcare and health education focused on choosing healthful foods and making healthy lifestyle choices. I can't believe that healthy vending isn't more of a priority for U.S. schools, especially for a school that prides itself on its commitment to wellness.

This is not over.

I got so worked up, I'm going to look into what the disconnect is, and see what we can do to fix this. Sorry Snickers.