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In a pilot study at Gundersen Lutheran and its regional clinics, Stansfield Vending has increased the number of healthier food options and decreased the amount of candy in its machines.
Stansfield also dropped the prices on healthier food options and increased candy prices to promote healthy snacks.
Before the five-week study, only three 500 Club items were among the top 10 sellers in the machines at the medical center. But after the study, eight 500 Club items were in the top 10, and 55 percent of total snack sales were 500 Club choices. The 500 Club items are determined by Gundersen Lutheran registered dietitians to be 500 calories or less and controlled in fat.
“It’s a hurdle to try something new, so I was pleasantly surprised,” said Janet Stansfield, president of Stansfield Vending. “What I feared was that nothing would happen.”
Jennifer Larson, Gundersen Lutheran administrative director of nutrition therapy, said she had a taste-test each day for 10 different 500 Club snacks, and employees at the La Crosse and Onalaska clinics voted on the top three to help determine which options would end up in the machines.
Larson said 1,575 votes were cast, and the top three choices — Nature Valley Almond bar, Flat Earth Baked Farmland Cheddar chips and Quaker Baked Cheddar snack mix — were among seven new healthy options added to the machines.
Larson said she received only a few complaints about the change that went into effect March 24.
“We increased the price of nonhealthy items and created a health subsidy in the machine,” Stansfield said. “Eight 500 Club items are subsidized by the nonhealthy items.” Super-sized candy bars also were removed from the machines as part of promoting good portion control.
Stansfield said the Gundersen Lutheran study showed that people are interested in choosing healthier, good-tasting snacks.
“It’s a balancing act because I would love to offer and sell more healthy snacks, but I also need to put in what’s selling,” Stansfield said. “I have to look at profitability when I take this out to other businesses.”
Five years ago, most people weren’t talking about healthier food options, she said.
“It’s really changing, and I’m happy to see it,” she said. “I have employers interested, but I want to see more data. I have to see a buy-in from employers and employees.”
Stansfield said she wants to see the vending machine results at Gundersen Lutheran for a few more weeks before rolling out her program elsewhere.
“This is not something a lot of people in my business are doing,” Stansfield said.
Stansfield said she anticipates sales from healthy snacks will increase significantly five to 10 years down the road. “I’m trying to be pro-active in my industry, and I want my business to thrive in the future.”
