Middlesex YMCA
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Patrick Connelly
Senior Director
Middlesex YMCA
99 Union Street
Middletown, CT 06457
860.343.6207
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Re: Fresh Healthy Vending
I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for Fresh Healthy Vending, a company that we have been working with since December 2010.
In the fall of 2010 we began to examine alternatives to the soda and snack vending machines that had been here at our YMCA for years. It was our goal to offer our members a convenient way to make healthier snack options and hopefully at the same time increase our vending revenue. Fresh Healthy Vending has succeeded on all counts.
Convenience & ease of operation: with a single phone call and a few emails we were on our way to hosting our new machines. The local franchise operator met with me in advance and since has been very responsive. The machines themselves are easy for members to operate and accept credit cards directly.
Healthier options: our Fitness Director describes herself as a “health food nut” and she observes that the machine has the same products that are in her home. The variety of products is nice and allows that there is something for everyone (not just the health food nut). My own 4 year old son always wants to get something from the machine (even when I pack a snack) and there is always something that he likes and it’s not junk.
Increase our vending revenue: not only is the percentage of revenue share better than we were receiving with our previous machines, but our sales have increased. Our YMCA members are generally health seekers that are trying to make healthier choices and Fresh Healthy Vending has really resonated with them.
The YMCA has as one of its areas of focus “For Healthy Living”. Fresh Healthy Vending is a simple way to move closer to putting that statement into practice.
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Billings Family YMCA
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Tina Postel, CEO
Billings Family YMCA
406-248-1685 x 209 work
406-697-0261 mobile
402 North 32nd Street
Billings, Montana 59101
www.billingsymca.org
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How have your members responded to the healthy choices?
Our members like having alternatives to unhealthy soda and chips. Kids beg parents for anything out of the machine and this gives parents better options.
How reliable is the machine?
The machines have worked well. Our members have also enjoyed using the credit card option.
Has your FHV franchisee been responsive to your needs?
At the Billings Family YMCA we have strict standards for which foods qualify as fresh and healthy. Our franchisee was receptive to working with our YMCA dietician to establish clear guidelines for which items could and could not be sold in the machines.
What motivated you to take part in the FHV healthy vending program?
One of our key areas of focus is Healthy Living. Healthy living must include healthy eating habits in addition to exercise. Many of our families here at the YMCA have crazy, hectic schedules and often eat and snack on the go. A majority of quick snacks often include unnecessary sugars, saturated fats and artificial ingredients. We were happy to partner with Fresh Healthy Vending to provide better alternatives for those families on the go.
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Edward Jones Family YMCA
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Stephanie E. Dane
District Marketing Director
Edward Jones Family YMCA, MO
Kirkwood-Webster Groves Family YMCA, MO
Phone: 314.439.9622 x227
Fax: 314.439.9667
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How have your members responded to the healthy choices?
We have had very positive responses regarding the machine. We've had a few comments that come of the items are pricy, but I think the option of using a credit/debit card to make a purchase offsets that issue. If you didn't bring enough cash for the item you want, you have another option if you are a card user. How reliable is the machine?
95% reliable. Some of the larger sized items (Pirate Booties) occasionally get stuck, but we've been satisfied with its consistency otherwise.
Has your FHV franchisee been responsive to your needs?
They were very receptive not only to what we wanted included in our machines, but also regarding items we could not have due to contracts with our drink machine vendor. They try new items and if it doesn't sell well, they switch it out for something similar or more of the same product that sells the most.
What motivated you to take part in the FHV healthy vending program?
As part of a health and fitness facility, we were very passionate about offering only "healthy" choices in our facilities. After several years of battling our past vendor, who consistently put regular chips and candy in our machines, we were ready for a new vendor that would appreciate and respect our guidelines. When we were approached by HFV, we immediately jumped on the opportunity. It offered so many great options: cash or credit payment, cold items, natural and healthy items, a system that tracks the frequency of items selling. We're extremely happy we had this opportunity and would recommend it to any company looking to incorporate healthier options to their members and employees.
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West County Family YCMA
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Cindy Wilhelm
Branch Administrator
West County Family YMCA
16464 Burkhardt Place P O Box 4038
Chesterfield, MO 63006-4038
636-532-6515 ext. 264
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How have your members responded to the healthy choices?
We have only had the machine a couple of weeks and I haven't monitored it closely, but I was told that it was nearly empty within a few days of installation. Members and employees love the debit card feature.
How reliable is the machine?
So far it seems to be working well. I did see one bag of Bootie that didn't drop but my lobby personnel have not indicated that this has been a huge problem.
Has your FHV franchisee been responsive to your needs?
He's been great! Very easy to work with.
What motivated you to take part in the FHV healthy vending program?
We are encouraging healthy choices to all of our members, guests and employees. It is also part of the new Y logo mission.
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Fresh Healthy Vending Reviews from Keesler Air Force Base (Biloxi, Mississippi)
 Keesler Air Force base Services Business Manager Paula Strawn listened to their proposal to make healthier snacks available to airmen, and Perez's company, Smart Snacks LLC, was given the go-ahead to place a Fresh Healthy Vending machine on base.
"We all do sometimes forget the cumulative effect of calorie laden snacks over time," says Strawn. “Smart Snacks proposal to try out a healthy vending approach made great sense to me, and actually fit in nicely with our command's general fitness goals."
-- Paula Strawn - Services Business Manager
Fresh Healthy Vending Reviews from Prime Outlets (San Marcos, Texas)
 “We’ve just installed our fourth healthy vending machine this past week” said Mall manager Tom Jenkins says. “We wanted to get our fresh vending machine installed in time for our big Spring Break retail period here at Prime Outlets.” “The machines are vending from the time we open till the time we close. Many of our customers are sick of the junk food in a lot of our machines and have repeatedly asked us for healthier options! “Many of our customers have commented positively on our healthy snacks and drinks and especially the mother’s with children” said Jenkins. I believe we will end up putting our fifth healthy vending machine in the mall by this Summer 2010.”
-- Tom Jenkins - Manager
Fresh Healthy Vending Reviews from Davis Atheletic Club (Davis, California)
 We introduced healthy vending at Davis Athletic Club and it has been enormously successful. Our club members love this machine and we want to add a second machine to be placed at our Club within the next 30 days. All health and fitness clubs in the U.S. should offer healthy vending in order to “practice what they “preach”!
-- Ryan Beede - Owner
Fresh Healthy Vending Review from Brea Community Center (Brea, California)
At Brea Community Center in Brea, CA.” families are enjoying the healthy vending machine so much we have to restock the machine every few days, says Renee Talbot.” Everyone that comes into our center is attracted to the machine. I have had many parents comment on how happy they are, because we have given them and their families and opportunity to eat healthy foods.
-- Renee Talbot - Manager
Fresh Healthy Vending Review from Aviara Oaks Middle School (Carlsbad, CA)
 We have had our machine up and running at Aviara Oaks Middle School for a couple of months now and have been very impressed with the quality of service, our students’ response to the products, and the profit share that we receive. It is great to be able to supplement the food that our cafeteria offers with the alternative healthy snack choices from our healthy vending machines. The machine is always clean and well tended. We are very happy with the program and highly recommend it to any schools looking to shift the eating habits in a healthier direction
Fresh Healthy Vending Review from St Jude Medical Center (Fullerton, California)
 Thank you for installing a healthy vending machine into our hospital at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, CA. Our patients and especially their visiting families and employees have been thrilled about having healthy snacks and drinks to choose from. Healthy Vending has exceeded all of our expectations with its popularity that we are now going to add more of your healthy machines and completely eliminate the other “unhealthy” machines from our hospital.
-- Karen Freeman
Fresh Healthy Vending Review from YMCA - Candada/Crescenta (La Canada, California)
 “One of the best thing that has happened to the YMCA-Canada/Crescenta since we opened was to have a healthy vending machine installed into our location,” says Rosanne Malogolwkin. “We have had overwhelming response from the kids, parents, and staff alike.” “It has been so popular that we have had to install our second machine recently. The fresh healthy products taste great and we’ve been provided with great service by our operator who is in here practically every few days filling up the machines.
-- Rosanne Malogolwkin - Executive Director
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