balance your snack variety between healthy and junk food

Balancing Healthy Snacks & Junk Food in The Office

Healthy snacks are all the rage these days and for good reason. With about 93 million Americans affected by obesity, one of the most common causes of Type 2 diabetes, poor eating habits are at the core of these and other health issues.

Many people seemed to have taken note.

Awareness of the positive impact a healthy lifestyle provides can be seen all around us. You can’t go anywhere without passing by a fitness club or yoga studio or seeing an advertisement for products or services meant to improve your health. 

But can eating healthy all the time be bad?

As it turns out, it can. Sort of. There is such a thing as eating too healthy. It’s called orthorexia. Though not an official diagnosis, some experts in the medical community recognize it as problematic and see similarities to other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. 

Does this mean by offering just healthy snacks in your workplace will have an adverse effect on employees? No. Not at all. But is it terrible to induldge in the occasional candy bar or bag of chips? Nope.

What is important to consider is the variety and balance of snack products you offer in the office.

Why Balance Healthy Snacks & Junk Food in The Office?

Eating habits are largely a personal choice. It’s one thing to stock your own home with nothing but healthy snacks, but in the office there are other factors at play.

The diversity of the workplace is perhaps the biggest reason you want a good balance between healthy items and junk food. Not everyone is a health fanatic, and one employee’s definition of eating healthy could be different from another’s.

For example, some employees might eat as healthy as possible for their main meals and exercise routinely, but they allow themselves to snack on sweet and savory items throughout the day.

Furthermore, even if encouraging healthier eating habits are part of your company’s approach to employee wellness, it’s okay to provide a little candy or some cookies. 

And what of the stress factor? Sometimes the pressure is on at work and while a healthy snack can help you power through the day, sometimes you just want a cookie or piece of chocolate to get through the stressful moments.

What is a Good Balance?

It depends. Because of the diversity among employees vary from company to company, a balance of healthy snacks and junk food will be just as different. 

The best way to find out what ratio will work for your office is to ask your employees. A simple email or a survey will do. Just try to refrain from assuming what everyone will like, as doing so can lead to signing up for the wrong type of snack delivery service for your office.

Finding out what types of snacks your employees want will help you choose a snack program that offers the variety and balances of products your workplace needs. 

man delivering snacks to office

5 Snack Delivery Options for Your Office

Office snack delivery services help busy managers save the time and hassle from grocery shopping for their offices. Right from your desk are dozens (hundreds, really) of snack and beverage options from which to choose. No wonder so many businesses are opting for this approach to providing snacks for employees.

But as many choices there are for products, there are seemingly as many options for delivery services. Which one should you choose? Which is the best snack delivery service for your office? Here are five options to help you decide.

1. Snack Nation

One of the core elements of Snack Nation’s snack boxes is variety and their focus on healthy items. They offer something for every preference or dietary need. Prefer low sodium snacks or need gluten-free products? Snack Nation can deliver.

Their pricing starts at $299/month per box, and there’s no contract needed. This is a great option for those looking for variety. However, it’s not a local service, so if you run out of a few items you’ll need to wait until your next box is delivered. They also don’t offer beverage options.

2. Instacart

Instacart is like grocery shopping from your desk. As a grocery delivery service, Instacart connects you with a local grocery store. One of their employees gets your order, does the shopping for you, then delivers the items to your office.

Instacart is good for those wanting fresh items in the office, like fruits or vegetables. Like Snack Nation, there’s no contract. But there are added fees per item purchased.

3. Urthbox

Urthbox is another snack delivery option for your office. This service has a large focus on non-GMO and organic products, which includes beverages.

The boxes they send are always filled with different items, so employees will have new options to try with each delivery. The downside to this, though, is not having control over the products you order. A box of 25+ snacks starts at $49.

4. InstaCandy

Sometimes you just need a tasty treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. If that’s what you’re after, InstaCandy is a good option. This delivery service provides, as you might have guessed, candy. All kinds of it.

InstaCandy delivers a box at the same time every month full of candy from around the world. It’s the 21st century version of the ol’ office candy jar!

5. Supply Wizards

Many snack delivery services lack the local distribution of products. With Supply Wizards, your office can order all the items it wants (by individual piece) and get them delivered by a local vending operator.

And not only with they deliver, but they can help stock your break room for you. Get the items you need fast with 1-2 business day delivery. There’s no contract to sign. Just create an account and start ordering!

resolving workplace conflicts

Resolving Conflicts in the Workplace

Workplace conflicts are inevitable. With so many different personalities crammed into one space day after day, there are bound to be issues–big and small–that arise. If you’re a manager, chances are you’ve spent some time solving problems between employees. In fact, most managers spend 10-26% of their time handling conflicts.

In most cases the issues are work-related, but sometimes it’s personal.

Regardless of the problem, there’s one thing that’s certain: if a conflict is ignored for too long, it can lead to larger issues and ultimately affect office morale.

So, what causes conflicts in the workplace and how do you resolve them?

Common Causes of Workplace Conflicts

Communication issues. Poor communication is perhaps the most common cause of conflicts in the workplace. Sometimes it’s a misunderstanding, other times it’s a failure to communicate at all.

Structural issues. Differences between two departments can lead to problems, particularly when either side is unwilling to compromise.

Personality differences. A clash in personalities can lead to conflict as well. This includes the way one person handles a situation or a difference in values.

Whatever the issue, it is essential for managers and supervisors to recognize the problem and work to resolve it as soon as possible.

How To Resolve Conflicts In The Workplace

According to clinical psychologist Susan Heitler Ph.D., a collaborative effort is the best approach to handling problems between two people. This process works in three steps:

1. Recognition of the problem

2. Exploration of underlying concerns

3. Create a mutually agreeable solution

“For this process to work,” Heitler explains, “participants need to stay collaborative, like they are sitting on the same side of the table facing the problem, never flipping into oppositional or hostile stances toward each other.”

3 Tips To Help Manage Conflicts

1. Wait until both parties are calm. Getting two people to try and resolve the problem while they’re still angry or upset is not effective. Let some time pass to keep tempers from flaring up.

2. Be an active listener. When you sit down with someone to solve a problem, listen to understand. Try and see it their way.

3. Stay focused on the problem, not the individuals involved. By focusing on the problem and not the individual, you will avoid a personality clash that might cause even more problems.

employees enjoying office snacks

Top Snacks to Offer Employees

Offering free snacks as a perk for employees is common practice these days. Workers enjoy the convenience and employers get more productivity since no one has to leave the office for a little nosh. A snack delivery service makes it even easier. With just a few clicks on your computer, you can have a wide variety of products delivered quickly.

The question is (with so many options), what do you choose? Obviously, you want only the best for your office so here are the top snacks to purchase for your break room.

Sweet Snacks

  • Snickers
  • Skittles
  • Twizzlers
  • M&M’s
  • Starbursts
  • Twix

Savory Snacks

  • Doritos
  • Baked Lays
  • Fritos
  • Pringles
  • Pretzels

Granola Bars

  • KIND Bars
  • Nature Valley bars
  • Nutri-Grain bars
  • Quaker Chewy Bars

Healthy Snacks

  • Chobani Yogurt
  • Salads
  • Fresh Fruit
  • Vegetables
  • Sabra Hummus (individual packs)

You get a greater variety of products with a snack delivery service and the convenience of ordering right from your office. With the Supply Wizards platform, you can order by the piece which eliminates having to store inventory somewhere and get 1-2 day delivery from a local supplier.

a focus on hotel food and beverage

3 Reasons Why Your Hotel Needs to Focus on Food & Beverage

Pleasing the palate of hotel guests is no easy task. Their expectations and demands are always shifting, keeping hotel managers on their toes at all times. Not keeping pace can spell trouble and result in decreased revenue streams due to lost opportunities. Recent trends in hotel food and beverage indicate positive growth opportunities for hotel managers, so it’s time you develop a strategy.

3 Reasons to Focus on Your Hotel’s Food & Beverage Strategy

1. Grab-n-Go Concept Growth

In a recent report from Avendra, a group purchasing organization for hospitality, the changing climate of hotel food and beverage strategies are highlighted. Included is the growth of the hotel pantry concept, where guests have quick and easy access to snack and beverage products.

The concept is an alternative to vending machines, which can sometimes be troublesome and aren’t as visually appealing as a small, well-designed convenience market. Chip McIntyre, VP of marketing for Avendra, says “limited-service hotels are seeing outsized volume growth from grab-n-go type occasions. This lodging segment is seeing a larger share of the 2 percent industry supply growth.”

2. Higher Standards Expected From Guests

When it comes to a food and beverage strategy for your hotel, guests are setting the standards. To remain competitive, hotel managers need to keep up. What are the new standards?

  • Local options
  • Creative cocktails
  • Housemade meals

These three elements combined create a fully unique experience, one they can’t get from a chain restaurant in a hotel. As Fernando Salazar, SVP of food and beverages at Interstate Hotels & Resorts says, “I hate hotel restaurants. I like restaurants that happen to be in a hotel, that have their own concept.”

For luxury and independent hotels in particular, a unique food and beverage experience is easier to accomplish as they are not beholden to any corporate or brand requirements.

3. Demand for Fresh Foods

It’s nothing new that consumers are increasingly health-conscious about their food. That’s why many of the pantry and market concepts offer fresh products for guests. As the Avendra study reports:

“Just over half of the sample of hotel industry participants are selling fresh/refrigerated foods in convenience or a market format today. We expect this segment to see further growth as about one-third of those who do not offer fresh foods in a market concept are planning to do so within the next year. On average, about 45 percent of hotel sites that offer fresh foods within on-site convenience stores are seeing better-than-expected revenue growth.”

While sweet and savory treats are always nice to have, a lot of travelers want healthier options. The proof is there.

So whether you’re a luxury, select-service, or limited-service hotel, there’s a food and beverage strategy for you to implement.

 

coffee cup from office coffee service

Choosing a Coffee Pot or Single Serve Machine for Your Office?

Every workplace needs coffee. Whether it’s for a small office or a large manufacturing facility, coffee is the fuel that gets people going in the morning. But what kind of coffee machine is best for your office? Should you use an office coffee service to handle it for you?

The answer is determined by several factors:

  1. How many employees there are
  2. How important it is for the coffee to taste good
  3. How much time do you (or anyone) want to spend dealing with coffee

Employee Count

If your office is small and doesn’t have a lot of employees, it wouldn’t make sense to have a full pot of coffee sitting there every day. You could end up just pouring money down the drain…literally.

The Importance of Taste

Some people are pretty picky about their coffee, and we don’t blame them. Some coffee makers provide higher-quality coffee than others. Take a quick survey of employees to see how important the taste is.

Time Constraints

Not that making a fresh pot of coffee takes a long time, but it can take you away from work for a few minutes. That can get frustrating if you’re the person in charge of keeping fresh coffee available. A few minutes here and there throughout the day, every day can get old.

Now that you have an idea of what kind of demand there is for coffee in your office, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both types of machines.

Single-Serve Coffee Machine

There are several different types of single-service coffee machines out there, but Keurig is perhaps the most popular. It’s convenient and offers a variety of flavors.

The pros:

  • Brews coffee in under a minute
  • Variety of flavors
  • Make coffee, tea, hot chocolate and more

The cons:

  • The pods can be expensive
  • Coffee doesn’t taste as good as fresh-brewed
  • K-cups are not recyclable

Coffee Pot

The biggest question you’ll face if you’re going to choose a pot over a single-serve machine is whether or not you want a commercial grade or consumer grade coffee maker. This will largely depend on how many people work in your office. For small offices up to about thirty people, a consumer grade machine will suffice. But if there are dozens or even hundreds of employees, a commercial grade coffee pot would be better.

The pros:

  • One pot can serve many people
  • The coffee tastes better
  • Just pour and go

The cons:

  • More maintenance
  • If empty, you have to wait for a new cup

Whichever you decide you want, Supply Wizards can connect you with a local office coffee provider that and offer a full range of coffee flavors and brews. Contact us to get started!

Woman enjoying office snack service

3 Ways to Provide Office Snacks For Employees

There’s no doubt that every workplace needs some form of office snack service. Whether your employees got stuck in a long meeting and didn’t have time for lunch or simply need a tasty pick-me-up towards the end of the day, providing snacks in your office makes for a better workplace culture.

  • Productivity
  • Engagement
  • Happiness

These are the results of offering snacks for employees. But the question is, how can you provide them? Here are three approaches to an office snack plan.

1. Vending Machines

Provided your office has space, vending machines are a good option if you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive way to offer snacks and beverages in your office. If you choose a full-service vending program, the machines will be delivered, installed, and maintained all at no cost.

2. Micro Market

Micro markets are great for larger office and workplace settings and allow for employees to purchase items through a kiosk. The convenience of a micro market is what makes it an attractive option for an office snack service.

3. Snack Delivery Service

Many employers are providing snacks as a perk to help attract and retain employees. There are several ways to go about purchasing the items, including a snack delivery service. This helps eliminate the hassle of sending an employee to the store to purchase all the product. The Supply Wizards online ordering platform connects you with a local vending operator that has hundreds of products to choose from and can deliver your choices in 1-2 days.

Company break room

Best Places To Purchase Break Room Furniture Online

Putting together a break room for employees is no easy task. There’s an abundance of options to consider when it comes to designing a comfortable space for employees to seek short refuge from a busy workday. For example, buying the right break room furniture. It might seem like an easy thing to do. After all, it’s not your house you’re trying to decorate. It’s just the office break room, so whatever’s cheapest works, right?

Wrong. There is no *just* anything.

Not that cost isn’t important, but we’re talking about the place where your employees can gather, relax, and grab some office snacks. It helps them regroup after that stressful phone call or a long, data-filled meeting. Break rooms can enhance the workplace in ways you wouldn’t think of, such as increased engagement and productivity. In short, a well-designed break room can improve day-to-day operations within your office.

What to Consider When Buying Office Break Room Furniture

Before you jump into purchasing furniture too fast, take some time to consider what your specific needs are, such as:

  • Price/Budget
  • Spacing
  • Style
  • Comfort

You’re better off taking your time with your buying decision to make sure you get exactly what you want. To help with this process, get the whole office involved. Have everyone vote on the break room furniture you want to buy. It’ll make things easier on you and make employees feel valued.

7 Online Sources to Buy Break Room Furniture

1. National Business Furniture

Buying break room furniture

Since 1975, NBF has been providing office furniture for a variety of businesses and institutions. In addition to furniture, they also provide free office space planning. All of their products are backed by a lifetime guarantee.

2. Wayfair

Although Wayfair’s specialties lie within the home decor category, they are also another great online source for break room and office furniture.

3. Officefurniture.com

where to buy break room furniture

Officefurniture.com is an NBF company offering a full range of furniture for offices an break rooms.

4. Office Depot

break room furniture from Office Depot

If you’re on a budget or looking for something more practical, Office Depot/Office Max is a great source for folding tables and chairs.

5. Amazon

how to buy break room furniture from Amazon

What doesn’t Amazon sell, right?

6. Worthington Direct

purchase break room tables and chairs

Worthington Direct’s specialties include church and school furniture, so if you’re looking for items with a little more flare, this could be a good source.

7. Staples

Staples break room furniture

Staples has plenty more to offer than just, well, staples. Check out their website for your break room furniture needs.

light roast vs dark roast coffee beans

Light Roast vs. Dark Roast Coffee

If you use an office coffee service, there’s probably a lot of debate among employees about light and dark roast. Disputes over which type tastes better or which one has more caffeine are likely common in your workplace. While the only thing that really matters is that they enjoy the coffee, it does make one wonder: Is one better? Does one type have more caffeine?

The Difference Between Light and Dark Roast Coffee

The distinctive features in taste between the two different kinds are a result of how the beans are roasted. A light roast is exposed to heat for less time than a dark roast, which means it retains more of the bean’s original flavor. It also means it will be higher in acidity, so if you’re one whose stomach easily gets upset, a light roast might not be your best choice.

With a darker roast, the beans are exposed to higher heat at longer intervals. This method creates a flavor that is sweeter, heavier, and much less acidic.

Which Type Has More Caffeine?

When a coffee bean is roasted, the natural oils are drawn out from it, as well as the caffeine it contains. So the longer the bean is roasting, the more oils and caffeine content are extracted. That said, lighter roasts have more caffeine because they are exposed to heat for a shorter amount of time than dark roast.

Settling the Dispute Among Employees

Despite the fact that lighter roasts have more caffeine, it’s really a personal choice as to which kind tastes better. The best way to settle this difference among employees is to provide them with a full variety of coffee choices.

How to Convince Ownership to Install a Hotel Pantry

You’ve seen the success other hotels have had with installing a pantry in the lobby, and you want to do the same. But first, you need to get the approval of senior management or ownership. How do you approach them about it? You certainly don’t want to bring it up in passing, so here are the steps to take to help you pitch the idea of installing a hotel pantry for your location.

1. Show Them How It Benefits Your Hotel

It’s easy to get caught up in explaining how other hotels are using pantries as a way to provide guests with food and beverages. But what ownership will hear is a “they’re doing it, so we should too” kind of argument. That’s not a concrete enough reason. Installing a pantry is small investment, so to get buy-in from your boss you need to show them how it will help your hotel. Get as specific as possible. Take a look at your current program and figure out the problems, then show the pantry will provide solutions. For example, if your hotel has vending, are the machines constantly breaking down? Are guests losing money in them? These issues can be a hassle for both guests and staff. A hotel pantry can help eliminate these problems. Pantries are also great for:

  • Greater convenience for guests
  • More variety of products
  • Increasing ancillary revenue

Once you pinpoint the specific benefits of a hotel pantry for your hotel, it’ll make it easier to convince ownership to consider having one installed.

2. Explain What’s Needed to Do It

We’ve written before about the basic needs for installing a pantry. This is a good starting point to help you determine what’s involved with getting started. But your management and/or ownership will want to know specific costs. For example, you’ll need to figure out how much space you have to install a pantry, then determine how much hardware (shelves and cabinets) you’ll need. You’ll also have to decide how you will stock the shelves with products. Will you have an employee purchase the product from local stores? Will you use an online ordering platform like Supply Wizards?

3. Prepare Visual Aids

Once you’ve shown them what’s involved with installing a pantry, create a presentation with proper visual aids to help persuade them. Visual aids help enhance a presentation and overcome barriers where communication has failed to express your thoughts. Visuals you could use include:

  • Images of other hotel pantries
  • Cost analysis
  • Research

4. Prepare to Defend Yourself

Managers are skeptical by nature. If they weren’t, they’d end up making a lot of rash decisions that would have a negative impact. They will likely push back on why a hotel pantry is so necessary. Be sure to prepare yourself for their questions. You can do this in two ways: research as much as you can on the growing demand of hotel pantries, and by practicing your presentation with someone else, either a colleague or a friend.

Why Free Snacks in the Workplace Won’t Improve Employee Engagement

The modern workplace can be tough to manage. The varying demographics make it challenging to keep all employees focused and engaged, which requires a sort of acrobatic approach to managing a workplace. One way to help increase engagement that has become popular–specifically among millennials–is offering free snacks for employees. There’s a lot of buzz about how this is the way to win the hearts of employees and how it will lead them to a happier work-life.

Except for one thing: free food won’t suddenly create a work environment that everyone loves. Not on its own.

Snacks are definitely a great perk that employees appreciate, but increasing engagement really boils down to is culture. If your company’s overall culture stifles growth and happiness and the ability for employees to grow, no amount of free anything will prevent employees from leaving.

So it’s not a matter of offering free snacks, but having this perk be a part of your company’s culture.

Where Free Snacks for Employees Fit Into Your Company’s Culture

The mere mention of a company’s culture likely conjures up images of employees at Google or Facebook lounging around playing games in the break room as if they were hanging out with friends instead of at work.

But culture is more than that.

It’s a combination of the work environment and the company’s overall objectives, including its mission and values. Free snacks help create a work environment that employees value and feel valued, and those who feel valued are more likely to be more engaged and happier at work.

How To Improve Your Company’s Culture

Free snacks themselves won’t magically increase engagement among employees, but it is a start. Here are five other ways to help improve your company’s culture.

  1. Embrace Transparency
  2. Recognizing Valuable Contributions
  3. Foster Strong Relationships Among Employees
  4. Encourage Independence
  5. Communicate Passion

If your employees seem unengaged at work, start looking at your company culture and figure out a way to make changes that reflect the type of company employees want to work for.

 

 

 

 

employees enjoying office snacks

6 Mistakes To Avoid When Creating A Break Room Your Employees Will Love

There are few places where people spend more of their waking hours than at work, which makes the company break room the primary location of comfort for a significant portion of the workweek. It’s a place where they can regroup after a bad phone call or getting yelled at for a mistake. That’s why it’s so important to do it right.

Some companies, like Google and Facebook, are known for elaborate break rooms. Games, TV’s, and modern furniture are some features that employees get to enjoy. The reason these companies approached their break room design int his way wasn’t simply because it’s cool or fun. It’s because they recognize the benefits for a well-designed shared space.

Now, this isn’t to say you need a huge budget to do up the break room like Google. In fact, you can do it for a fairly low cost (relatively speaking, of course). What’s important is that you do it right and avoid these mistakes when creating a break room your employees will love.

1. Buying Uncomfortable Furniture

Budgeting is always a concern when designing a break room, and it’s often why companies skimp on the furniture. But if the break room is a place for employees to relax for a few minutes, don’t you want them to be comfortable? When choosing furniture, be sure to do some research. Check out the reviews online or better yet test the furniture out yourself.

2. Choosing The Wrong Decorations

Research has shown that the right artwork in the workplace not only makes people happier but increases their productivity by 32%. That means avoiding cheesy posters of a mountain top with the word “courage” or “determination” written on them. Pick artwork that reflects your company’s culture and is inspirational without having to say it outright.

3. Not Having A Message Board

The break room is the one part of the workplace where everyone is welcome at any time. It’s where your work-community gathers on a daily basis, and this provides an opportunity for everyone to share important information and announcements. Every break room should have a message board for this reason.

4. Not Keeping It Food-Friendly

Large companies often have full kitchens that make up part of their break rooms. For smaller companies that don’t have that luxury, offering snacks through an office snack delivery service is more common. Either way, your break room should be a place where employees can easily enjoy lunch or a quick snack to help them power through the day.

5. Providing Bad Coffee

…or no coffee at all. As more Americans are drinking coffee now more than ever, it’s essential that you provide it in the office. It’s expected. Here at Supply Wizards, we offer a full variety of artisan and gourmet coffee options.

6. Ignoring Input From Employees

Since the break room is for all employees, you should involve them in the process. Listen to what they have to say and decide if the ideas are something to consider. You could take votes on specific things like paint color, lighting fixtures, or artwork. Involving them in this way makes them feel included and helps create a dynamic workplace culture.

hotel technology guests love to use

Hotel Tech Guests Love

For hotel guests these days, a great experience goes beyond excellent customer service and complimentary perks. The technology your hotel offers has become just as important as gracious staff members and a free breakfast. It might seem counterintuitive to the increased desire for a more personalized experience that consumers want, but personalization doesn’t necessarily mean hotel staff needs to be more present. In fact it’s quite the opposite: guests increasingly prefer to handle their own needs without the help of a hotel employee. Here are different examples of hotel technology that guests love.

Smartphone Functionality

What can’t you do with your phone? When it comes to enhancing the guest experience at your hotel, it’s time to think mobile. Services like ALICE are helping guests request and receive the services they want right from the palm of their hand. If a guest needs more towels or has a question, they can use their phone for a near-immediate response.

Online Streaming

If the goal of your hotel is to help provide a ‘home away from home’ for guests, then you need to make sure your rooms reflect how people live at home. According to the Pew Research Center, 61% of young adults use online streaming to watch TV. If they visit you’re hotel, it’s likely they’ll be frustrated if they can’t stream their favorite show or at least connect their devices to the TV in their room.

Keyless Entry

How many times have you had to hand out extra keycards to guests who lost them? Probably more than you can or would like to count. An increasing amount of hotels, including Marriott and Hilton, are moving towards providing mobile apps that guests can use to unlock their doors.

Robots

Not many hotels currently employ the use of robots to deliver products like towels or coffee to guests, but for those that do the guests seem to like it. According to Steve Cousins, CEO of Savioke, a company that manufactures robots, “Guests love that their deliveries come in under half the time (typically in five minutes), they don’t have to tip the robot and [they] avoid awkward human interactions when they’re getting ready for bed.”

greek yogurt with granola for protein snack

5 Energy-Boosting Snacks To Keep In Your Office

Falling asleep at your desk but already met your caffeine limit for the day? Try one of these energy-boosting snacks instead of going for another cup of coffee. They’re simple and can give you the energy you need to power through the rest of the workday.

1. String Cheese

If your perception of string cheese is that it’s just a snack for kids, think again. String cheese has great benefits that can keep you going. In addition to carbs from the milk, there’s a good dose of protein and calcium. There’s even a ‘light’ option that’s healthier as it has less saturated fat. You can even mix it up with some fruit or beef jerky if you’d like.

2. Trail Mix

Not just for hikers, trail mix is an excellent source of good fats, fiber, and protein and is always a good choice when it comes to snacks that give you energy. Even if you don’t like the varieties offered by snack brands, you can always make your own with the exact kinds of nuts and fruits you like.

3. Hummus and Vegetables

A Mediterranean dish that’s made from chickpeas, sesame seed paste, olive oil, and lemon juice, hummus is full of fats and protein. Combined with some vegetables, this snack is an easy and healthy way to help sustain enough energy to get you through the workday.

4. Yogurt

Yogurt–particularly Greek yogurt– is a great source of protein. You can easily add fruit, granola, or oats to keep yourself full and going longer.

5. Oatmeal

Carbs are your body’s primary source of energy. While the extra boost you get from them might not last as long as protein (since protein takes longer to break down), whole grains such as oats do last a little longer and contain B vitamins like niacin, thiamin, and folate, that work together to help metabolize energy.

3 Basic Needs For Hotel Pantry Setup

Considering a pantry for your hotel? It’s a wise choice. As guest preferences change and become more focused on convenience, a hotel pantry is an optimal way to provide snacks and beverages that are easily accessible.

But if you currently don’t have a pantry, where do you begin? While it can seem overwhelming to have one installed, it’s really not too difficult. With some planning and an understanding of three basic needs to get started, you can have a hotel pantry up and running sooner than you think.

1. Space

Making sure you have the room to install a pantry in your hotel is the first decision to make. It doesn’t need to be huge, but large enough to accommodate the amount of snacks and beverages you will need for guests. When deciding on where to put the pantry, keep in mind that the goal is to have it in a place that is easily accessible and highly visible to attract guests to it. A pantry does no good if it’s tucked away in a dark corner where guests don’t frequently go. Right in the lobby is typically the best choice. It’s convenient for guests and easy for staff to manage.

2. Establish a Budget

There are two primary costs for managing a hotel pantry: the hardware, such as shelving and cabinets, and the products to sell. The cost for installing the shelving units cabinets will depend on the size of your pantry. Generally speaking, the millwork runs about $2,000-$2,500, while the coolers for drinks cost around $3,000 each. Most pantries will use two coolers, so the total cost will be about $9,000. (That might seem expensive, but it’s a fixed price, and with a well-managed pantry, you should make it back within the first several months.)

As for supplies, you’ll need to establish a monthly budget to purchase them. But how do you know how much product to order? There are two options here: First, you can purchase plenty of items and stock them as you run out while keeping track of your sales. Second, you can use a supply delivery service that helps you gauge how much you’ll need. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t want to limit how much you can sell based on a fixed budget. If you find the pantry consistently selling out of product, go ahead and purchase more if it means more sales…therefore more profits.

3. Designate a Manager

A pantry won’t manage itself. For it to be successful and yield profits that add value to your hotel, you need to take it seriously. Designating someone to oversee its operations is important to ensuring the pantry adds value. Develop a system to help keep track of sales and replenish empty shelves when necessary. The worst thing for a hotel pantry is empty shelves. It doesn’t look good and can become an inconvenience for guests.

With these strategies in mind, you’ll be off to a successful start when installing your hotel pantry.

comparing cost of snack delivery services

How Much Does A Snack Delivery Service Cost?

One of the main concerns of using a snack delivery service is how much it will cost. The answer, however, isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Different factors can influence how much you’ll pay for snacks and beverages, so we’ll do our best to address them all to help you best judge what the approximate cost will be for your company.

Many office managers have come to realize the benefits of providing free snacks for employees. This office perk can help increase:

  • productivity
  • happiness
  • efficiency

But the problem most offices run into is finding a way to purchase the products. Often, an employee is tasked with going to the grocery store and/or a wholesale supplier like Costco or BJ’s to get the items desired. This approach is time-consuming and can add stress to the employee.

A snack delivery service helps eliminate those problems. But, like many other products or services, there are different options for having snack and beverage items delivered to your office, each with its own unique approach that can affect the price of the service.

What Factors Affect The Cost Of Snack Delivery Service

The two biggest factors that affect the price of a snack delivery service are:

  • Number of employees
  • Snack preferences

It’s really no surprise that the number of people that work in your office will influence how much you pay for snacks. The more employees, the higher the cost.

Additionally, the kinds of snacks your employees want will also affect the price. Some products are more expensive than others. For example, healthy snacks are in high demand, but that could mean they’re going to cost more.

The type of service you choose will also factor into the cost. Let’s discuss the types of snack delivery services available for your office.

The Different Types Of Snack Delivery Services

Subscription Box

This type of snack delivery service provides customers with a monthly order of snacks via a subscription payment. There are many different options when it comes to subscription boxes, and a lot of them tend to focus more on healthy items. For example, Healthy Surprise offers snack bars, nuts, exotic fruits, and vegetables. Others provide brands like Clif Energy Bars and Pipcorn. The cost for a subscription box varies, but generally will be between $50 for smaller offices and can run up to $250 or more for larger locations.

Grocery Delivery

Another way to get the snacks you want to be delivered to your office is through grocery delivery services. Companies like Shipt, Instacart, and Amazon Fresh are some of the more popular companies in this space. These services have become popular of late, as you’re able to select the exact items you want. With grocery delivery, an employee of the service you choose will get your list of requested items, go to the store themselves to get them, then deliver everything. Pricing varies for grocery delivery services as well, and is typically a yearly subscription. The only downside to this is that it can be difficult for shoppers to find enough individual sized bags of products.

Wholesale Product Delivery

A wholesale snack delivery service is sort of a combination of both grocery delivery and subscription boxes. It enables you to order the products you want and have them shipped to your office right from the supplier’s warehouse. Here at Supply Wizards, we connect you with a local vending operator via our online platform so you can choose all the items you want and have it delivered from a local company. The cost is only as much as the amount of items you choose to have delivered.

The Bottom Line

The cost of a snack delivery service varies. When looking for a service, it’s important to know what will influence the price and understand all your options so you can choose the best service for your office.

iced coffee vs cold brew

What’s The Difference Between Cold Brew & Iced Coffee?

Now that summer has (unofficially) begun, it’s time to ask your office coffee service about adding some cold options to the regular mix of coffee products. But before you put in the request, do your employees prefer cold brew or iced coffee?

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: What’s the Difference?

The short answer is that cold brew is made without any heat at all, while iced coffee is made the same way as regular hot coffee, except that it’s cooled and then poured over ice.

But that’s just the difference in how they’re made. What makes them different from each other is the taste, which is determined by the temperature of the water while brewing the coffee.

How Temperature Affects Coffee Flavor

A regular cup of hot coffee is typically brewed between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, more acid and solubles are extracted, which gives coffee its light and floral notes. So when making iced coffee (that is, pouring regular coffee over ice), it tastes similar to hot coffee, but it’s cold.

With cold brew coffee, the acidity levels are much lower because the water isn’t hot enough to extract the same amount as a hot cup. This decrease, however, means that more grounds are needed to make the coffee taste just as good.

Two Ways Cold Brew Coffee Is Made

There are two ways cold brew coffee is made: immersion and slow drip.

  • Immersion: This process involves steeping ground beans for 12-24 hours, and is better for home brewing as it is a simpler process.
  • Slow drip: Although faster, 3-5 hours, this process is more expensive due to the equipment needed. Ice water is dripped onto ground beans then collected in a carafe underneath.

Compared to cold brew, iced coffee is a lot easier to make. The good news is that both cold brew and iced coffee should be available through your local office coffee service, so you can have it delivered right to your office. You just need to do a quick survey to determine which kind is more popular among your employees.

improve guest experience

5 Ways Hotels Can Improve Guest Experience

The hotel industry is entirely based on customer service. That’s why it’s called hospitality. Hotel managers and staff need to provide exceptional service 100% of the time, which can seem like a daunting task some days. But it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

As competitive as the marketplace is today, hotels that offer great customer service will thrive. Those who don’t… well, they’ll likely be playing catch up. But here’s the thing: your path to improving guest experience can be done in a myriad of ways that are more subtle than you might think. If you’re in need of ideas to improve the guest experience, here are five ways to get you there.

5 Ways Hotels Can Improve Guest Experience

1. Communicate with guests BEFORE arrival

The guest experience doesn’t start once they arrive at your hotel. It begins far before they even book a reservation through your online marketing efforts. But once they do book, don’t think the work is done. Be sure to communicate with them prior to their arrival. Provide information that will be helpful for them. For example, maybe they’ll be staying during a particular event happening, or you could provide a list of restaurants they might like in the area. This effort is a great opportunity to set a friendly tone, helping your hotel be viewed as resourceful and making the guest feel valued.

2. Upgrade technology

The use of technology is pervasive in our lives. We use it for both personal and professional reasons. For this reason, access to good wifi service is a must-have for guests, especially if your hotel regularly hosts business travelers. (There’s nothing more frustrating than a slow connection!) Mobile check-in is another option that guests like, particularly if they’re returning guests. It provides a fast and convenient way to book a reservation. Staying abreast of trends is essential to success.

3. Install a hotel pantry

A hotel pantry is ideal for providing guests with easy access to food and beverages. The inherent convenience of a pantry helps make your guest’s stay a little better. Add in a pantry management service for quick easy easy delivery, and staff can spend more time focusing on guests.

4. Respond to feedback…quickly

One of the best ways to improve the guest experience is to discover what they want. Ask guests for feedback and act on it. If someone has a complaint about something that can easily be changed or fixed, make it happen. You could even take it a step further and let that person know you’ve made a change based on their suggestion, which is a great way to build trust with your guests and build brand loyalty.

5. Personalize their experience

If you’re using hotel management software, then you have the ability to collect enough data from guests to make their experience at your hotel more personal. Keep track of preferences they have, so when they return (or even during their stay) you can really show you’re listening to them. The more you know about your guests, the better you can tailor their experience.

 

Is An Office Coffee Service Right For Your Business?

An office coffee service could be the solution you need if you’re looking to increase productivity, improve company culture, or give employee satisfaction a boost. But with all the choices out there, it can be a challenge to decide which service would be a good fit for your office. This guide will help you answer questions like:

  • Who will supply the coffee?
  • What type of coffee equipment should your office use?
  • Which flavors should you order?

As more and more people consider themselves coffee drinkers, it’s time you consider providing quality coffee in your office. Your employees will be thankful, and you’re likely to see an overall improvement in your day-to-day functions of the office.

The Benefits of An Office Coffee Service

When it comes to improving the workplace, coffee might not be the first idea that comes to mind. But study after study shows that coffee has many benefits, health-related ones aside. Here are some areas where coffee can improve your office.

Productivity

Coffee keeps you alert and helps improve mental performance. The caffeine it contains blocks a compound that causes drowsiness call adenosine. This is how coffee drinkers get an extra boost of energy in the morning, and how–during the lulls of the workday–employees can pick up the pace of their work.

Efficiency

How far is the closest coffee shop from your office? Unless you work in one, the answer is too far. Providing coffee in the office helps prevent employees from spending too much time trekking to the nearest Starbucks to get their cup o’ joe.

Office Culture

While you don’t want employees leaving the office for long stretches of time, coffee gives them a reason (and place) to gather for breaks. This might sound counterproductive, but taking short breaks are actually beneficial as they help clear your mind when working on a difficult task or give you an energy boost.

Morale

Low morale in any work environment will stifle productivity. There are a lot of ways to make employees feel valued and appreciated, and providing access to good coffee is one of them.

Different Types of Office Coffee Services

Now that you understand the value of having coffee in the office, which kind of service should you choose? The answer depends on a few factors, such as how many employees are in your office and what preferences they have. Here are some things to consider when searching for an office coffee service.

Coffee Equipment

There are endless options for coffee equipment to choose from, but they fall into one of these four categories:

  • Commercial grade
  • Consumer grade
  • Keurig machine
  • Coffee vending machine

Your particular office (the number of employees, space available, and personal preferences) will largely determine which route you should go.

Flavors

A major benefit of choosing an office coffee service is the variety. From light roast to dark roast, regular to gourmet, you can get virtually any type of coffee delivered right to your office.

So, should you hire an office coffee service? The answer is certainly yes, but it’s important to choose a service that suits your needs. Variety and timely delivery should be paramount in your search.

Avoid these mistakes with your hotel pantry

3 Hotel Pantry Mistakes That Are Costing You Sales

When managed correctly, a hotel pantry can add significant revenue to your bottom line. Its inherent convenience attracts more guests and leads to more purchases of their favorite snack or beverage, often on a whim.

But if you don’t see your pantry for what it is–a potential powerhouse of additional income for your hotel–you’re likely to miss out on maximizing profits. You could also risk wasting money and disrupting your guests’ experience, which does not bode well for loyalty, referrals, and ultimately revenue.

Here are three common mistakes we see hotels make with their pantry…

1. Not Providing Enough Variety

Today’s consumer likes options. They don’t want to be limited in what they can do, see, purchase, or experience. And when it comes to your hotel pantry, guests don’t want to be limited in what they can eat or drink; they want the ability to choose from a near-endless array of items. If your pantry’s list of products is too shallow, you can increase the chances of guests simply ignoring the pantry altogether.

To provide variety, consider the three main groups of products:

  • Sweet
  • Salty
  • Healthy

When you purchase products for your pantry, be sure to get several options from each category. That way you can offer a full range of items that appeal to all your guests. It’s also important to consider other factors, such as the season. During the fall, for example, pumpkin spice is a popular flavor and peppermint for the holidays.

2. Not Merchandising Correctly

Let’s say you do have a nice variety of products in your hotel pantry. Are the items placed on the shelves in a logical way? Are they organized by groups to help guests easily find their particular craving?

We understand that you’re a hospitality professional, not a retail wizard. But much of the magic of increasing retail revenue lies in how the merchandise is put on the shelves. Companies like Target and Wal-Mart are successful (at least in part) because of their strategic approach to merchandising.

For your pantry, it’s important to group items appropriately. You don’t want the shelves to look like they were stocked randomly. Keep each category of products grouped together. This makes it more appealing and easier for guests to find what they want. Creating a planogram can help you with this. Additionally, proper merchandising can lead to more impulse buys.

3. Too Many Bare Shelves

How do you feel walking into a store, eager to purchase an item, only to find half the shelves empty? Does it make you feel welcomed? Comfortable? Most likely not. You probably question the management, wondering why or how they could allow their store to look so bare, and the quality of the items themselves.

The same principle applies to your hotel pantry. It’s not a welcoming sight for guests, observing what equates to a mini convenience store with bare shelves. This is why it’s important to take managing your pantry seriously.

The biggest reason, we find, for routinely empty shelves is because hotel staff is strapped for time or had a busy weekend and still has another week before their next bulk order arrives. At Supply Wizards, our platform is designed to connect you to a local supplier in your area that allows for quick deliveries. So when you run out of items, you can replenish your shelves within days (sometimes hours) versus weeks.