The energy-efficient 2bU vending machines are the first ones installed in the region through Continental Canteen, a Sterling Heights-based vending firm with 2bU exclusive rights in Metro Detroit.
Vending machines stocked with healthy choices in businesses and schools appear to be an emerging trend locally and nationwide. Several healthy vending machine companies have set up shop across the United States, such as Healthy U Snacks based in Illinois, which launched in 2009, and San Diego-based Fresh Healthy Vending, which launched in 2010.
Fresh Healthy Vending has a Kent County franchisee who has installed the machines in the Grand Rapids area. In June, the company had 630 vending machines selling organic products nationwide.
2bU vending machines — which provide a product's calorie and fat gram count when a picture is touched on an interactive liquid crystal display screen — were installed earlier this week at the DMC's administration building at Orchestra Place and Children's Hospital of Michigan, both in Detroit."
