HUMAN Healthy Vending is an American healthy vending machine franchisor and food distribution company based in Culver City, California. The "HUMAN" in the company's name is an acronym that stands for "Helping Unite Mankind And Nutrition". HUMAN distributes healthy foods via healthy vending machines, healthy "micro"markets', and direct-to-business/consumer snack delivery services.
HUMAN Healthy Vending also operates HUMAN Everywhere, a non-profit to which it donates 10% of its corporate profits.
History
HUMAN Healthy Vending was founded in 2008 by CEO Sean Kelly and Andrew Mackensen. Kelly had previously founded FitFuel, a healthy vending machine supply and later fitness e-commerce company.
In early 2011, around 500 healthy vending machines were installed in various cities across the United States for a total of over 70 markets. By 2012, HUMAN Healthy Vending had over 1,500 vending machines distributed across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
In late 2013, Healthy Vending was ranked number 7 in the Los Angeles Business Journal's list of fastest-growing companies in Los Angeles. In early 2014, HUMAN was ranked as the world’s fastest-growing vending franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine.
Vending machines
HUMAN Healthy Vending machines dispense health foods such as granola bars, protein bars and shakes, trail mix, juices, milk, and premium waters. Many products are organic.
HUMAN's healthy vending machines incorporate high-tech vending technology. Machines are refrigerated to allow for a broad range of products, and have credit and debit card readers. They are also 30-50 percent more energy efficient than traditional vending machines. Most of the vending machines are also equipped with built-in 23-inch LCD television screens to display nutritional information and in some cases advertising. All of the lights on the machines are LEDs, and conveyor belts are used instead of coils.
In early 2012, HUMAN was the first the vending industry to launch vending machines that dispense hot foods, cold drinks, and snacks simultaneously. These vending machines are coined "Hot HUMAN".
In 2013, HUMAN launched a new type of automated retail concept called "Healthy Markets" which is based on the vending industry's micromarket concept. Micromarkets are unmanned mini-convenience stores with self-checkout kiosks.
It should be noted that there is some doubt over the true nutritional value of the products. Chips, snack bars and chocolate-flavoured protein shakes are not considered good nutrition by most experts. If this addition is removed, it will prove that the company is not prepared to discuss their claims to be providing healthy options.
Business segments
HUMAN Healthy Vending and its franchisees operate in various business segments, both private and public. Machines operate in various sectors: business and industry, government, education, healthcare, and leisure. Healthy Vending machines can also be found in railway stations and trains, underground stations, gas stations, airports, recreation centers, and shopping centers.
For example, Healthy Vending has contracts with organizations including the National Joint Powers Alliance and YMCA of the USA.
In schools
A significant portion of HUMAN Healthy Vending machines are found in middle and high schools in the United States.
Schools that replace traditional vending machines with Healthy Vending machines see higher sales 90% of the time. For locations with both a traditional and healthy vending machine, this is reduced to a 50% chance that the healthy machine will generate more revenue.
In 2013, HUMAN launched an initiative to work with the USDA and schools to meet the requirements set forth in the "Smart Snacks in School" initiative.
Awards
HUMAN Healthy Vending was certified as a B Corporation in December 2012.
HUMAN Healthy Vending was ranked #37 on Forbes' first annual "America's Most Promising Companies" list in 2011 and ranked #44 on its 2013 list. It was also ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as a "Top 100 Brilliant Company" in 2011. It was also ranked #168 on the 2013 Inc. 5000 as the number one vending company.
CEO Sean Kelly was listed in Forbes' 2012 list of "30 Under 30" as well as in Mother Nature Network's "Innovation Generation" in the same year.
References
External links
- Official website