Smart Stores VS Traditional Catering: Which Model Wins in Today’s Workplace?

The modern workplace has evolved a lot in recent years. We’re talking about hybrid working, tighter budgets, and rising expectations surrounding employee wellbeing and sustainability. So, naturally it’s more important than ever for organisations to rethink their office lunch catering solutions.

For decades traditional canteen solutions such as cafeterias have held a monopoly over office lunch catering, but with the evolution of the workplace vending solutions like smart stores and micro markets are taking over.

This blog will compare smart stores and traditional catering models to help you decide which solution is right for you.

Think of a smart store as a high-tech vending machine that functions like a self-service convenience store that are open 24/7, perfect for those antisocial working hours. With advanced technology like weighted shelves (that are 99.9% accurate) and cameras to enhance the grab-and-go experience. Smart stores aren’t just another buzzword… they’re here to stay.

These point-of-sale machines allow you to tap your contactless card or phone to unlock the smart fridge vending machine, browse the products and grab what you want, and charge your card automatically when the smart fridge doors close again. No set hours, no queues, no fuss – just easy access to delicious, nutritious meals.

Workplace canteens have always been about more than just food, they’re a hub for your staff to decompress from work, socialise and relax before returning to work. For some employees, the sense of community that they get from the break room is invaluable.

But traditional canteens are limited to set lunch time opening hours, which rarely coincide with late night shifts or fit in with flexible or hybrid shifts. Smart fridge vending machines give your employees the sense of freedom to decide when they take their breaks or have a snack at 3pm when the afternoon slump hits, or the ability to enjoy a nice warm meal at 10 pm to break up their night shifts.

Here’s the tricky bit. Traditional catering often means cooking for a crowd (regardless of if one turns up) or not which can lead to a build-up of wasted food and higher energy use. A recent study revealed that workplace canteens generated 104 grams of food waste per person, which can quickly add up.

Smart vending fridges tend to reduce waste due to the high-tech inventory management, temperature control systems that keep the food fresh, and individually packaged meals that are made up to the recommended portions. The downside? With individually pre-packaged meals, sandwiches, salad, and even yogurts there can be a build-up of packaging waste which may be harder to manage.

It’s time to debunk the myths of smart fridges…they’re not “just vending machines”. This couldn’t be further from the truth, smart fridges offer everything from sushi to protein-packed snacks, dairy free snacks, gluten free wraps and ready-to-heat meals. For your employees that means a wide variety of healthy snacks and meals that they can enjoy guilt free.

Canteens often run on set, pre-planned menus that rarely get updated, which creates a predictable dining experience for employees. While this lack of variety might seem limiting, there’s genuine value in this consistency – many workers find comfort in the routine of familiar meals and knowing exactly what to expect when they visit the cafeteria. These comfort foods can provide a sense of stability and nostalgia that contributes to workplace satisfaction, particularly for employees who appreciate having reliable go-to options rather than constantly navigating new choices.

When it comes to the bottom line, the financial picture isn’t as straightforward as you may think. Traditional canteens require significant ongoing investments, whether that’s the cost of paying the kitchen staff wages, the cost of running the cooking equipment, or the inevitable expense of food waste when meals go unsold or when your employees’ eyes are bigger than their stomachs and they pile the food too high on their trays and end up wasting it.

Smart stores stand on the other side of this equation. While they require an initial upfront investment in the technology, the operational costs are significantly lower than that of a traditional canteen. Think about it, no need to pay staff wages, no cooking utilities, and the operators take care of any of the waste disposal for you.

For many organisations, the real cost advantages become clear when you factor in the hidden expenses of traditional catering and the space required for food preparation. Smart stores require minimal square footage and virtually no ongoing maintenance beyond restocking, and even that is taken care of by the operators. Plus, the space you save with a smart fridge can be used to add to the community atmosphere that your employees value so much.

So, which model wins? The truth is, there’s no one size fits all when it comes to workplace catering. The best choice for you depends on the unique needs, culture, and work patterns of your workplace.

If your company values social connections and has employees who work traditional hours, then a traditional canteen might be the best fit for you. The community aspects and the familiarity of a set menu full of comfort food can be genuinely important for team bonding and employee satisfaction.

But if you’re dealing with shift workers, hybrid teams, or simply want to reduce operational costs while offering more flexibility, then a smart store presents a compelling case. The 24/7 availability, reduced waste, and lower ongoing costs make smart stores particularly attractive for modern and hybrid workplaces.