Vending goes a long way toward fulfilling the 2004 Child Nutrition Act's recommendation that schools offer milk "anywhere, anytime," giving students access to a nutritious beverage choice all day long.

Easy tips to get students to drink more milk

School Milk Vending 101

• Milk vending is on the rise — 39% of cold beverage operators vend milk, a number that will likely rise in schools due to Child Nutrition Act requirements and local legislation mandating healthier choices be made available to kids.
• 65% of schools allow students to buy drinks from vending machines during lunch. Milk faces significant competition from other vended beverages.
• 12-16 oz package sizes and plastic containers are gaining popularity in milk vending machines.
• Lunch is the main daypart for vended beverages, but students purchase significant amounts of beverages before and after school.
• Vending Operators all across the country are offering a greater variety of flavored milks and fat varieties in response to consumer demand. Flavors range from chocolate and strawberry to orange crème and cookies 'n' cream and everything in between. More flavors are being added every day , so be sure to ask your vending operator which flavors they can offer to jump-start your vending program

Vending is the solution for common school milk challenges, including:

• Limited availability — Vending makes milk available all day
• Limited flavors/fat levels — Vending offers a wider product variety
• Uncool image — Vending features higher-end, "cooler" products kids are more likely to choose because they pay for and select it themselves
• Warm temperature — Vending keeps milk cold until it's dispensed
• Waiting in line — Vending provides milk instantly with no waiting
• Low profit opportunity — Vending offers more profitable, value-added choices
• Inflexible pricing — Vending prices are determined by the competitive environment
• Few promotion opportunities — Vending machines act as a billboard to promote milk

Types of milk vending

• There are three types of vending machines — open front, closed front, and live display.
  

Overcoming Common Vending Hurdles

• Significant investment is required to purchase machines, so consider leasing to spread costs over time. Or, contact your Local Dairy Council to see if there are any local programs to help you purchase a milk vending machine.
• Build your program slowly to cut down on inventory and equipment risk.
• Good machine placement can ensure you meet or exceed your ROI goals.

School vending success depends on these key factors:

• Location — Make milk accessible to students all day in well-traveled areas.
• Temperature — Keep and serve milk cold!
• Convenience — Coordinate deliveries to ensure convenience and safe storage.
• Promotion — Remind students of milk's availability through vending machines.
• Nutrition — Milk vending fulfills school program requirements and gives kids an opportunity to get their daily fill of nutrients.
• Price — Make sure milk is priced competitively with other vended beverages and milk sold through the main lunch line and a la carte.
• Appearance — Ensure the machine is clean, well-stocked and properly maintained.
• Flavor — A rotation of flavors creates excitement and boosts sales.