Abstract
Background
The current food environment has a high prevalence of nutrient-sparse foods and beverages,
most starkly seen in vending machine offerings. There are currently few studies that
explore different interventions that might lead to healthier vending machine purchases.
Objective
To examine how healthier product availability, price reductions, and/or promotional
signs affect sales and revenue of snack and beverage vending machines.
Design
A 2×2×2 factorial randomized controlled trial was conducted.
Participants/setting
Students, staff, and employees on a university campus.
Intervention
All co-located snack and beverage vending machines (n=56, 28 snack and 28 beverage)
were randomized into one of eight conditions: availability of healthier products and/or
25% price reduction for healthier items and/or promotional signs on machines. Aggregate
sales and revenue data for the 5-month study period (February to June 2015) were compared
with data from the same months 1 year prior. Analyses were conducted July 2015.
Main outcome measures
The change in units sold and revenue between February through June 2014 and 2015.
Statistical analyses performed
Linear regression models (main effects and interaction effects) and t test analyses were performed.
Results
The interaction between healthier product guidelines and promotional signs in snack
vending machines documented increased revenue (P<0.05). Beverage machines randomized to meet healthier product guidelines documented
increased units sold (P<0.05) with no revenue change. Price reductions alone had no effect, nor were there
any effects for the three-way interaction of the factors. Examining top-selling products
for all vending machines combined, pre- to postintervention, we found an overall shift
to healthier purchasing.
Conclusions
When healthier vending snacks are available, promotional signs are also important
to ensure consumers purchase those items in greater amounts. Mitigating potential
loss in profits is essential for sustainability of a healthier food environment.
Keywords
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Biography
S. V. Hua is lab manager, The Psychology of Eating and Consumer Health Lab, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; at the time of the study, she was a master’s degree candidate, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT.
Biography
L. Kimmel is a senior wellness manager, Being Well at Yale, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
M. Van Emmenes is director of business optimization, Yale Hospitality, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
R. Taherian is associate vice president, Yale Hospitality, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
G. Remer is director of supply chain and sustainability, Yale Hospitality, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
J. R. Ickovics is the Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, director of CARE: Community Alliance for Research & Engagement, and deputy director of Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Biography
A. Millman is senior director, Yale Dining, Yale University, New Haven, CT; at the time of the study, he was director of auxiliary operations, Yale Hospitality, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 03, 2017
Accepted:
December 6,
2016
Received:
June 26,
2016
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
