While vending machines have gained quite a bit of social media attention lately, with the more quirky options of cakes, choc tops, or even freshly butchered meat popping up on many Australian TikTok and Instagram feeds, a new trend has emerged within the corporate sector with Micro Markets firmly on the rise. The Australian-owned industry leader in customised vending and unattended retail solutions, Provender, has seen a growing appetite for its GrabNGo. These are essentially bespoke convenience stores that are fully automated, self-service, and offer a curated menu chosen by the business. This concept is not new internationally, often a corporate staple in the USA and UK; however, Australia is now seeing the real benefits of providing an easy-to-access food and beverage solution for their employees or students. There are various reasons why this is a welcome addition to different business sectors; from a lack of healthy food options within remote corporate parks to 24-hour food service for shift workers and affordable options for students.

Another trend emerging within the corporate sector, particularly linked to the return to office push, is providing employees with meal allowances, a perk that is warmly embraced when the cost of living is so high. “Our GrabNGo Micro Market concept is a true reflection of our corporate mantra of Eat Well, Work Well and Be Better,” said Antony Dutton, Managing Director of Provender. “Offering quality food that is quick and easy to access for your staff will most certainly help you achieve your employee productivity and wellness goals.” “In many business cases, we see employees have very limited access to good food and healthy choices, often having to travel for the majority of their meal breaks and therefore, spending precious break times on the hunt, rather than utilising their downtime for rest, or for socialising.” Provender Micro Markets offer total convenience, with a simple tap-and-go system, freshly prepared healthy meals, fruits, bakery items, snacks, and dairy products. “By eliminating cafeteria line-ups, they tend to become an office hub, a space where colleagues gather not just to eat but to connect, collaborate, and recharge. It’s a game-changer for workplace culture,” said Dutton.

Another key aspect of this workplace solution is that Provender provides the installation, the ongoing service, the maintenance and the regular fulfilment of the Micro Market at absolutely no cost to the business. This is not only an innovative approach to office fit-out and HR but at no cost at all to the business, it is the most financially attractive way to increase employee satisfaction available in modern workplaces.The evolution of company vending machines, office catering and in house cafeterias to Micro Markets has been driven by the corporate sector’s changing needs and its shift to a more conscious way of doing business, putting people first. This transition has opened up huge opportunities for Provender, which is continuously innovating in close collaboration with its clients, Amazon, ING, Harvey Norman, Sydney University and Linfox, just to name a few.