About
04 Feb 2025
The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) sought a modern catering solution for their headquarters to support staff working around the clock. With the closure of their canteen and the limitations of traditional vending machines, they needed a flexible and diverse food and beverage solution.
Connect Vending introduced a Micro Market, an innovative, self-service retail solution offering fresh food, snacks, and drinks accessible 24/7. The open-access design allowed employees to browse and select items freely, increasing convenience and satisfaction while catering to diverse dietary needs. The Micro Market successfully enhanced employee welfare and aligned with BFBS’s values, providing a tailored solution for their dynamic workforce.
Championing Employee Wellbeing
BFBS is a military charity and media organisation that entertains, informs, connects, and champions the UK armed forces. They bring trusted and secure entertainment, news, sport, and information services to the military, their families, and veterans worldwide.
At their headquarters in Buckinghamshire, BFBS recognised the need for accessible, high-quality food and beverage options, and sought a solution that could meet the varied needs of their employees. Their goal was to provide a catering solution that aligned with their commitment to employee welfare, offering convenience, variety, and fresh, healthy choices for their team.

Challenges
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, BFBS employees relied on an on-site canteen and vending machines for food and beverages. However, the canteen proved fiscally inefficient and closed before the pandemic, leaving the vending machines as the primary option. These machines often fell short, with limited offerings and poor responsiveness from the supplier. Post-pandemic, with hybrid working reducing the need for large-scale catering, BFBS needed a more flexible, efficient solution.
Their ideal solution would:
- Be accessible 24/7 to accommodate all shift patterns.
- Provide fresh, healthy food options to enhance employee wellbeing.
- Include diverse menu items to cater to their multicultural workforce.

The Solution
Connect Vending proposed a Micro Market, a cutting-edge, unattended retail solution that transformed workplace catering at BFBS. This innovative concept includes:
- Fresh Food & Snacks: Sandwiches, salads, sushi, yoghurts, crisps, cereal bars, and more.
- Open Access: Products are displayed openly, allowing employees to check labels and nutritional information, enhancing trust and confidence in their choices.
- Self-Service Kiosk: A simple, user-friendly checkout system enabling efficient payment and accessibility.
The Micro Market’s design fosters employee satisfaction by providing a wide variety of fresh and ambient food options, ensuring convenience and catering to all dietary needs.

The Results
Since launching the Deli Café Micro Market at BFBS, the solution has been a resounding success:
- Achieved 24/7 access
- 325 fresh food items sold in the first month of opening
- 50% of sales were fresh food items, over 20% more than our benchmark for success.
- Sales data analysis has allowed tailored food offerings, increased sales and reduced waste.
- Expanded frozen ready-meal options, catering to seasonal needs.
- Enhanced employee satisfaction and welfare through a modern, user-friendly catering experience.

"The Micro Market has transformed our approach to workplace catering. It’s not just about food; it’s about improving the overall experience for our team."BFBS Team Member
With ongoing support from their customer relationship manager, Talytha Coutts, BFBS continue to refine and optimise their Micro Market, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of their workforce and continues to foster staff health and wellbeing for years to come.