Yet another Express Refreshments Micro Market goes live in the West Midlands!

In a working world where staff satisfaction is a crucial part of overall company culture, it is perhaps no surprise that Express Refreshments continues to welcome new Micro Market customers on board.

Installation for our latest client is now complete and we cut the ribbon yesterday, Monday 17^th October 2022. In this article, we will detail the brief for our latest project and explain how this Micro Market came to be.

Our latest Micro Market project.

The customer approached us in 2021 with the sort of pain points that we hear about a lot in the modern world.

At the time, they were utilising on-site catering for their staff but this was proving extremely costly owing to the fact so many employees were, and still are, hybrid working. Today, staff come into the office three times a week.

The brief we were given was to find a solution that was more cost-effective than on-site catering, but something that would still deliver an enticing break time through a quality breakout area.

At first, the enquiry was for our main Coinadrink Limited vending division, to take over their vending contract with better equipment on a larger scale. After taking the time to understand their current circumstances and pain points, however, we soon presented the Micro Market as a viable alternative.

They were absolutely thrilled by our proposal and work was soon underway.

From start to finish, the project has taken just over 12 months to complete. There were challenges along the way, but once again we have emphasised how we can navigate any bespoke request to design and deliver a completely tailored Micro Market facility.

This particular one is perhaps quite small in comparison to some of our other projects, but no less impressive. It just goes to show how the market can work for any business with any amount of available space.

It features two individual fridges for fresh food and cold drinks, with narrow shelving that invites the user into a selection of delicious treats and healthier products. Meanwhile, the impulse items are presented around the fresh milk coffee machine and self-service payment terminal.

Anything this impressive is worth putting a name to, and the customer has their own branding displayed across the side wall.

For those who follow us on social media, you will have seen the project we completed prior to this. Whereas the end result there was unmistakably retro, this one is a little more understated yet equally as stylish!

It’s fascinating to see how different each market can be.

On a side note, another nice opportunity that presented itself from this project was their existing vending machine facilities. We’re delighted to say that we have been trusted to take over these services through Coinadrink!

Why is the Micro Market growing in demand?

Refreshments have always been a key part of the working day, but the way we enjoy them continues to change.

This is largely down to changing circumstances. Leaders have more responsibility for employee wellbeing in what is very much a candidate driven market. Employees themselves and therefore driving the modern workplace, with more emphasis on flexible working and facilities better suited to being away from their desks and “on-the-go”.

And of course, this has all been shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, the ramifications of which are still influencing the workplace in line with changing attitudes towards health, safety, and hygiene.

The Micro Market is a modern approach that caters to every demand. It’s entirely self-service so can be accessed 24/7, with peace of mind coming in the form of CCTV and the strict requirement to be placed in private locations.

It offers a huge amount of choice from fresh food to healthier items. You can also add your own office coffee machine, too. This encourages staff to stay on site, finding value in their own workplace and helping to build relationships with colleagues.

Many workplaces add the facility to their available space, but in recent years a lot of businesses have instead opted to “make” space available. This makes the market a lot more than just a place for a hot drink or bite to eat.

Studies show that 59% of staff want a tailored breakout area to be part of a fresh workplace design. It is hardly surprising, then, that Express Refreshments’ latest projects have placed the Micro Market at the heart of a grand recreational space equipped with comfy seating, flat screen TVs, and even gaming stations!

This is what the working environment looks like in 2022. And the Micro Market is driving the innovation.

How could the Express Refreshments Micro Market work for me?

As we outlined earlier in the article, the most fascinating aspect of the Micro Market is how not one ever looks the same as the other out in the field.

It works for every business the same in terms of keeping staff morale and wellbeing high through the simple beauty of quality workplace refreshments, but the way it does so can be very different.

That’s what makes this facility totally unique to you and your available space. We design your ideal vision, before utilising the services of either our own approved fitters or those who you prefer to use.

From there, we manage it all with consistent maintenance and replenishment that is tailored to your teams’ buying habits. It’s breathtakingly advanced, yet wonderfully simple at the same time.

If you want to learn more about the Express Refreshments Micro Market, you can visit our website. Alternatively, to get the ball rolling today, contact our team here.