Chips and chocolate bars used to dominate the world of vending machines, but Allie”™s Natural Vending in Darien has taken the market to the machine for those looking for a quick and convenient healthy snack.
“People just love it,” said Steve De Nicolas, co-owner of Allie”™s Natural Vending.
Steve, a former pharmaceutical professional, fell victim to downsizing and decided with his wife Alison it would be a great time to own something of their own.
“We thought, ”˜What are the themes that we like in our lives?”™” said Steve. “We like to be healthy, exercise regularly, try and eat right and support ecology in society. It”™s the whole idea of living a healthier lifestyle. And of course we love food, we”™re the type of people who sit at breakfast and talk about what to make for lunch.”
The De Nicolas came upon YoNaturals, a company based in California and launched in 2006 that supplies investors with vending machines specific to natural brands. The De Nicolas are responsible for securing all locations and operations of the machines under their company, Allie”™s Natural Vending.
“We currently have 12 machines in place,” said Steve. “It took about six weeks to place the first set and we have five more waiting to be placed.”
The De Nicolas have educated themselves on the brands of health food snacks out there and decided on each machine”™s mix. Choices can include pita chips, packaged apple slices and natural fruit drinks.
“It is part of our lifestyle, and we feel very strongly about healthier eating and providing those options locally,” said Alison. “We definitely believe the healthy vending concept is the direction of the future and we intend to be a positive force in the local area.”
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There are machines for both food and drink. Recently the couple has incorporated into the offering two other young companies: Simply Originals, a brand of traditional-based Peruvian natural drinks located in Rowayton, and Switch Beverage Company, a natural juice beverage company located in Darien.
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“We also work with a large wholesaler that has a distribution center here in Connecticut, United Food, the largest distributer of natural and organic food in the country,” said Steve. “We”™re always on the hunt for new products.”
Steve said he has quickly become a proponent for the YoNaturals business model.
“It”™s amazing when we come in to pitch the idea to a location they love it,” said Alison. “The kids love it, too. The nicest thing is that traditionally vending machines are not an appealing option health-wise. This changes that.”
The first placement of an Allie”™s Natural Vending machine was in the Darien YMCA.
“People can come grab a snack and not feel like they wasted their workout just because they”™re hungry,” said Alison. “We”™ve all been in those situations. It”™s great to have those options, especially when it”™s for your kids.”
Steve said the machines are typically being placed in sports centric locations though they are pursuing more school placements, though many have to wait out contracts before they can change over to this healthier option. The machines can be found in the New Canaan YMCA, Italian Center of Stamford, Twin Rinks, Norwalk Community College, and Terry Connors Ice Rink.
“We want to be in the community centers,” said Alison. “We spend a lot of time looking at the mix we have and keeping up with the seasonality of some products.”
According to Steve there are three separate YoNaturals vendors in Westchester County.
“We”™re sticking to Fairfield,” said Steve. “You want to try to keep to a relatively tight geography, so you can manage each location. It”™s still very much a hands-on business.”
The former pharmaceutical man said he and Alison have had an education in starting the business.
“We”™ve had some fun moments and moments of panic,” said Alison. “It”™s a new business you have to adapt your way of thinking.”
Alison said the machines take credit and debit cards and also electronically monitor the sales of the previous day, which are emailed to the De Nicolas.
“We know exactly what the machine needs,” said Alison. “We really feel like we have our customer service down and can refill a machine on a moment”™s notice, say if a location is having an event.”
