Byte is witnessing first-hand several macro trends driving retailers, food service companies, vending operators and others to test new channels and adopt new technology\u200a\u2014\u200alike Byte<\/a>\u200a\u2014\u200ato meet shifting consumer demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trends above will play a major role in the expansion of unattended retail in the food space, and Byte<\/a> is well positioned to be the platform of choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To learn more about how the Byte platform can help transform your business, schedule a call with our sales team today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent SPINS data<\/a> shows that \u201cfresh\u201d is the number one purchase driver for Millennials and Gen Z. In addition, 55% of Millennials say convenience is a top driver when buying food<\/a>. These two drivers require retailers to adopt an omni-channel approach, driving awareness and sales online, in-store and at-hand. At-hand represents an entirely new distribution channel that leverages Byte\u2019s unattended retail platform to sell fresh food in non-traditional retail locations, including the workplace, hospitals and universities.
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Offering fresh meals at work is no longer a Bay Area phenomenon<\/a>; it\u2019s rapidly becoming table stakes to recruit and retain top talent. Fresh, healthy food impacts employee wellness and culture, but for most companies it\u2019s not part of the company culture or budget. Catering is expensive and can cost businesses as much as $15 per employee, per meal, per day. That\u2019s where Byte<\/a> thrives\u200a\u2014\u200aour platform allows a company to offer food onsite without having to purchase all of that food. We\u2019re seeing partners in LA, Dallas, Nashville, Philadelphia, St. Louis and other major cities leverage Byte\u2019s platform to create a new revenue channel, extend the reach of their products into the workplace, and support employers looking for an alternative to packaged snacks or expensive catering.
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<\/strong>Byte services several hundred fridges in the Bay Area and experiences first hand the pain of labor shortage for blue collar workers. Forbes<\/a> recently highlighted the challenges businesses are facing and discusses how this will cause wage increases and the need for companies to hire more and look elsewhere. This is one of the drivers of increased interest in unattended retail.
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Last year Amazon Go made a splash with the opening of their first, cashierless convenience stores. Shortly after launch day in Seattle, they announced plans to open 3000 storefronts by 2021. Under less fanfare, they rather quietly announced<\/a> that they had started testing smaller footprint versions designed for commercial building lobbies. While grocers and retailers are already battling to compete with Amazon online and in-store, Amazon Go entering the workplace now has the attention of those in the food service and vending space.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n![\"SCHEDULE](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/2016258\/7334919c-9731-44d2-954f-a16e19dd05e6.png\")
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