Combining three unremitting consumer trends—convenience, organics and health—YoZone by YoNaturals is a vending machine dedicated to organic products. Based in San Diego, YoNaturals offers an alternative to vending machines that are typically stocked with junk food.
YoNaturals offers a wide range of items, from fresh fruit to products by well-known brands like Tazo (tea), Clif Bar (energy bars), Vitamin (beverages) and Horizon Organic (dairy). Operators and location managers can choose from more than 150 natural and organic foods and beverages, order through an online ordering system, and have the products delivered in less than three days. YoNaturals is actively seeking locations such as schools, shopping centres, offices, hospitals and fitness centres for placement of YoZone machines, seeking to cater to consumers on the go who are interested in healthier food options.
According to the USDA, sales of organic foods in the U.S. have been increasing 20 to 25 percent annually since 1990. Mark Trotter of YoNaturals explains: "We've studied the business models of Whole Foods, Wild Oats and many other healthy retailers, which have demonstrated that consumers are willing to pay two or three times for brands that they want, and believes that a similar healthy foods program can be developed for the automated vending space.” Sounds like a promising business opportunity for anyone with a verve for vending! Next up: a vending machine brand focusing on vegetarian or halal foods?
Website: www.yonaturals.com
Contact: sales@yonaturals.com
Spotted by: Anne Rogan
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Absolutely an idea whose time has come. I wonder where they could gain a good foothold... starting with gyms in Southern California, I guess. :)
would seem more organic if they had recycling bins/containers attached for when you're finished.
well - the best idea of today. As I stood in front of my firm's junk food vending machine, I just thought of possibilities to replace all that crap in there...
Yes - recycling containers should be attached, but single-material wrappings are ok in my opinion when necessary and in the smallest possible size.
This is a great idea, people for starters don't eat products purchased from vending machines at the actual machines. Its a buy and go scenario. Recyclable bins, bad call...?
Having health food in vending machines in a great step in the right direction. It is certainly a concept worthy of praise not one to be shot down thats for sure.
Simon.
I am VERY familiar with the yonaturals company. Good biz model, but the food in a lot of the machines really tastes like sh*t. And that is coming from someone who eats a lot of organic products. The products that they will mention to you are the better known products, but if you get into the product offerings a little deeper, they really don't taste very good. Machines from the company are also way over priced. There is another company (I forget their name) that produces a very similar machine for several thousand dollars less. Their machine looks very similar to the yonaturals machine but the other company has a better selection of healthy products. Like I said above....yonaturals does have a good biz model though. Kind of comes off as a shady company too(not sure if they are or not though, but they are very good salesmen).
I am a YoNaturals distibutor - I just noted a comment read by Fred and would like to comment. YoNaturals is not shady company, I have purchased 5 machines all of which were placed in high schools as promised by my representative. My machines average over 40 sales per day across the board which results in approx 75% ROI year 1. The product range offered by YoNaturals is fantastic and the best part of it is I am allowed to buy products from other suppliers. I am not limited to them.
Overall the investment has been fantastic and I would highly recommend it to anyone. YoNaturals also promotes discussion with thier distibutors to anyone interested. I personally would be more then happy discussing my business with anyone who is interested.
Katherine.
The comments above are most likely made by Katherine C. The person who handles the press for the yo naturals company. If the person above really is Katherine G.(one of the distributors), you paid way to much money for your machines!!!!
In regards to the comment above from Katherine.....Katherine above is most likely Katherine C. which handles the pr for yonaturals. And that would make your comment above irrelevant, and also go along with the comment I made last time about me feeling the company might be on the shady side. If for some odd reason it is actually Katherine G.(one of the actual distributors for the company), you paid way way to much for the machines!!!
Come on now Fred. It doesn't matter who she is. Just because Katherine is doing well with her business is no reason to go at her like you are. Whether the machines are overpriced or not, it is all relevant depending on whether they are making money or not.
Katherine, did you sign distributor agreements with each of the suppliers? If so, what pricing/% discounts did you get on average? Also, I would like to know if you are an employee of YoNaturals?
75% ROI year 1?... what planet are you living on Katherine? The margins in the healthy and organic products that are featured in YoNaturals vending machines cannot possibly command that type of profit. And, if you calculate the premium price you must pay for the vending machines (almost double what you can buy the machines for on the open market) there is no way to achieve anywhere near the type of ROI you stated. Please enlighten me about your magical math. The cause of fighting the fight against junk food in vending machines is a worthy one ... just not as profitable as you make it out to be.
So what is the real scoop. I am looking to get into the Natural products vending machine business. Is YoNaturals that over priced who is selling the best value?
Diego Katherine is an employee of the company. I think she proved that when she gave that answer to phil miller's question. The company is a small company in southern cal. It only has a few employees. They try and make it seem much larger than what it really is. They are just a bunch of salesmen. Here is essentially how their organization works....they buy a basic vending machine(if it has drinks it will have some sort of refrigeration). They then slap their sticker on the side. Next, they establish a few relationships with companies that offer the food or drinks (which anyone can do). Then finally they make calls around your area to place the machines. For all this you pay them thousands of dollars. Seems ridiculous doesn't it? I recommend taking the time to do the leg work yourself. If you rather have someone else do it for you I recommend using someone else. I have seen a couple of other companies out there that have a very similar machine and service for a fraction of the cost.
Fair enough, but to tell you the truth, I find vending machines and organis contradictory. Conequently organic should evenutally also mean ecological. But with wrapping which is more expensive than the product itself, I cannot really take that approach seriously.
Philipp | September 19, 2007 12:13 PM