Starting Over at 50 Years Old
Everyone’s talking these days about how eagerly Gen Y is embracing entrepreneurship. But you don’t hear nearly as much about the other demographic that’s also pursuing business ownership, driven more by purpose than passion.
Top Trends in Franchising for 2011
Jolly Backer, CEO of Fresh Healthy Vending “weighs in” on new franchise trends that he foresees for this year and beyond.
“As part of our research prior to the launch of Fresh Healthy Vending in 2010 we did substantial research into the trends most likely to impact the franchise industry in the years ahead and the following is a ‘snapshot’ of what we found” notes Backer. Key franchising trends that we indentified fell into several categories but we see these three particular ones enjoying 7-10 years of robust growth before we start seeing any market saturation.
Innovative healthy food offerings
“Green” products and services
Health and wellness businesses
American Diet: A Boost to the Whole Grain and Healthy Food Industry
With the rise in obesity rate across the US, the Obama administration is keen on combating the most serious epidemic in America by enjoining every Americans to live a healthy lifestyle. Concerted effort made by the government, educational institutions, health advocates, private organizations, and corporates with new healthy food companies proliferating across the country.
Obesity if not prevented can cause detrimental effects leading to serious illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. It can also give psychosocial consequences such as low self esteem and depression. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions shows that 12.5 million American kids whose ages range from 2 to 9 years are obese making up 17% percent of the population which triples the percentage three decades earlier.
New School Programs That Aim To Combat Childhood Obesity
It was on the first quarter of 2010 when First Lady Michelle Obama announces the ambitious national goal of resolving the epidemic of child obesity in America. The campaign is called “Let’s Move” and it aims to provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy. Since then, several other healthy campaigns from various sectors followed across all states. And before the year ended, President Obama enacted into law a new nutrition bill – Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010 – that would help improve the quality of foods served in schools.
Another noteworthy event that happened in line with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign was the launching of Fresh Healthy Vending a healthy snacks vending franchise offering where most of the healthy vending machines are placed in schools and in locations where children spend time after school like YMCAs.
Healthy Snacks are now Part of a Fast Food Revolution
The vigorous campaign to end childhood obesity has sent even fast food chains to revolutionize their menus and business. And NakedPizza is no exemption to the rule. After launching its franchise company in 2009, NakedPizza has signed area development contracts in Miami, Boulder, Orlando, Tampa, New York, and Kentucky.
Healthy snacks are increasingly expanding and fast foods are taking their small steps to win in the anti-obesity battle that’s currently victimizing both children and adults alike. If McDonald, Wendys, Burger King, and KFC have introduced their healthy meals particularly for children, NakedPizza is living to its mission of delivering a delicious, convenient and affordable pizza that’s part of a healthy lifestyle.
Vending Business That Focuses on Healthy Snacks
Often time life gets too busy for us to spend time on preparing home cooked meals and snacks. We rush to school or at the office and see the ever convenient vending machine. With just a touch of the button and some cash, you get your snack instaxtly. But this practice doesn’t really do much for our health. With the soaring costs of medicines and health care, it is really difficult to be in an unhealthy state. With this growing concern, vending machine business owners have thought of new choices of healthier food to sell in their machines. Some of the food and drinks being sold are the following:
- Refrigerated foods: apple slices, bananas, celery sticks, babycarrots, grapes and pineapple chunks are just some of the new options that can be found
- Flavored waters: water is still the best choice to keep you hydrated. Sodas and artificial fruit juices contain too much sugar and higher calories while coffee has caffeine and too much of it isn’t good either. Today bottled waters come in different tasty flavors like apple, raspberry, lemon and grape.
- Natural fruit or vegetable juices- these contain vitamins that can help boost our immune system.
- Chips: Yes you heard it right; potato chips can also be healthy as long as they are baked and low in sodium.
- Other snacks: nuts, trail mix and granola bars are other healthy options that can also be found in vending machines
Coke Hired PR Firm to Head Off Negative Publicity from PTA Moms
Following proposals from various sectors to ban sodas and other sugary drinks in schools vending machines and cafeterias, Coca-Cola has hired a PR firm to ward off negative publicity pertaining to its beverage products.
In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the removal of Coke and other sugary drinks in vending machines on city property as part of the state’s campaign to end childhood obesity. In Philadelphia, its School Reform Commission approved a ban for the sale of all sodas in 2004 in schools for K-12 students. Likewise, New York Mayor Bloomberg says food stamps will no longer be used to buy coke, candy and other sugary beverages.
Soft drinks are considered to majorly impact the soaring rate of childhood obesity in the US; hence, its removal in school vending machines and from within easy access to children is being strictly implemented across states to reduce further increase in obesity cases. Apart from weight gain and obesity, too much consumption of soft drinks is also being linked to other health hazards which included osteoporosis, bone fractures, tooth loss, and diabetes
Obese Teens Are More Prone To Become Obese Adults
If there is one thing that some overweight adults would have wished if they can turn back the hands of time, it’s that they should have eaten healthier and consumed lesser fats. Unfortunately, as we age there’s no such thing that can make us go back in our teens. But sure enough, there’s still enough time for parents to prevent their kids from suffering the same fate of becoming obese as adults – if only they’ll start serving healthier meals and lunch on a regular basis.
In a recent national study of American youth, researchers found that one in twelve teenagers became severely obese as they entered adulthood. It can be recalled that the US federal government, along with the Department of Agriculture and other concerned sectors are vigorously leading the pack to fight childhood obesity in America. This problem is noted not only to adversely affect country-wide households but even the health care cost of the US – where over US$140 billion went to the national medical expenditures for 2009 alone.
Fast Food Meals For Kids Worsen Obesity In America
Advertisements are made to attract people to buy certain products. They definitely make an effective campaign not only to increase a company’s revenue but also to provide people several options of which products to buy and which to avoid. In the case of fast foods, advertisements make a huge impact for kids’ choices of what’s healthy and what’s not. As obesity cases in America grow, are fast food chains seriously changing the way they advertise their meals for children?
Researchers do not seem convinced that fast foods are making a good impact in children’s health these days despite promises to change the way they market their meals. Unhealthy food options like French fries, ice cream, greasy burgers and chicken nuggets are still the dominant items on the menu as opposed to serving more fruits and vegetables as side dishes for every meal.
Healthy Vending Machines in Schools for 2010
As the intense drive to curb childhood obesity continues across the nation, campaign and the study against the epidemic strengthens anew. Different programs, posters, advertisements, national and local awareness plan and other healthy meal and vending options abound in order to get the message to children in schools and to their parents.
Parents will have their peace of mind when it comes to food being served to their children in school. More and more educational institutions are offering healthy vending machines effective this school year 2010. Considering the busy schedules of parents, mostly do not prepare lunches and snacks for their kids and rely on the most convenient and accessible accessory in school, the vending machines. Previously vending machines are said to be the main contributor of obesity factor to children. As the rate of childhood obesity increases globally, programs and policies on local communities, state, and nation have been implemented to make sure that kids are eating nutritious and healthy foods in school.