Sara Roberts
Vending machine company, Healthy Nibbles, has secured £100,000 worth of investment to create jobs and launch its own branded product.
The Loanhead-based snack firm will use the finance to introduce its own raw chocolate trail mix to its vending machines and corporate boxes and take on a modern apprentice and business development expert.
Founder Sara Roberts is now looking to break into the hospitality sector by providing healthy snacks for mini bars.
She said: “For the past few years we have concentrated on fact finding to ensure our business model is as robust as possible. That research plus our move to new premises and our growing client list has increased investor confidence. With the new finance in place we will be able to launch our first own brand trail mix, which uses unrefined vegan raw chocolate, and take on staff who will help increase awareness of the business as we push to scale up operations.”
The company, which started out with just three vending machines three years ago will have 90 placed in business premises throughout the UK by the end of the year. The 100% cashless machines use infrared to ensure guaranteed product delivery and provide full nutritional and allergen information at a touch of a button.
With over 250 different product lines to choose from, Healthy Nibbles works with each of its corporate clients to ensure the 50 featured in their machines are tailored to staff needs.
A minimum 50% of products in each vending machine are artisan, and Ms Roberts is now working to introduce provenance to the vending channels, with the ultimate aim of having at least 20% of the products sold in a certain location made within that region.
