Sodexo has launched a new vending concept at Southampton Solent University to encourage healthy eating.

The Honest Café vending area sees Southampton Solent University become the first university to offer a healthy eating vending area which strikes soft drinks high in sugar and snacks high in fat from the menu.

The vending area offers health-conscious snacks with locally-sourced low calorie organic options, a selection of juices, fruit teas, flavoured popcorn, baked vegetable snacks and Fairtrade hot drink choices.

Honest Café replaces a former Aspretto coffee bar in the Sir Christopher Cockerell building at its East Park Terrace campus.

Managing director, Tim Varney co-designed, constructed and painted the vending machines and installing signage using reclaimed palettes and recycled hessian.

Nick Hayter, Sodexo’s group account manager for Southampton Solent University, said: “We have a commitment to the university, to continue our growth in promoting a healthy lifestyle, and with this in mind, it’s fantastic to be able to offer a vending solution that matches our business direction.”

Bryan Carroll, assistant director at Southampton Solent University, said: “It’s great to see the ‘Honest Café’ installed at Southampton Solent University. This is the first ever example of this type of offer in the country and vending will never be quite the same again.”

The installation of this new feature comes just weeks after Sodexo’s on-campus catering facilities were awarded a prestigious ‘Silver Status’ catering mark as part of the Soil Association’s commitment to venues who recognise ethically-sourced produce free from controversial additives.

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