--- title: "Vending Machine Group’s New Plan: More Healthy Offerings" id: "48425" type: "post" slug: "vending-machine-groups-new-plan-more-healthy-offerings" published_at: "2019-10-25T21:41:15+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T02:24:04+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/10/25/vending-machine-groups-new-plan-more-healthy-offerings/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/10/25/vending-machine-groups-new-plan-more-healthy-offerings.md" excerpt: "The National Automatic Merchandising Association is bringing together its members in an industry-wide effort to increase the share of healthy snacks in vending machines by 40 percent." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "healthy food" - "public health" - "vending machines" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Vending Machine Group’s New Plan: More Healthy Offerings The knock on vending machines, long story short, has always been that it’s hard to find anything healthy in them. But this week, the National Automatic Merchandising Association, which represents the vending industry, announced a new initiative to give consumers more healthy choices. Its “[Public Health Commitment (opens in a new tab)](https://www.namanow.org/convenience-services/public-health-commitment/) ” is a plan to increase the share of healthy options in vending machines nationwide from 24 percent to 33 percent over three years—a 40 percent increase in the amount of “better for you” options overall. NAMA teamed with two nutrition advocacy groups, the Partnership for a Healthier America and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, on the new initiative. “There are nearly 4 million vending machines serving snacks and beverages every day, 24/7, across this country,” NAMA CEO Carla Balakgie [said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](https://www.namanow.org/wp-content/uploads/NAMA-PHC-PR.pdf) [PDF]. “Vending is everywhere consumers work, play, and live, and NAMA regards this initiative as a bold, ambitious, and meaningful step to meet the growing consumer demand for healthier choices.” [In comments to The Washington Post (opens in a new tab)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/24/hold-onto-your-honey-buns-american-vending-machines-are-getting-healthier/) , Nancy E. Roman, CEO of the Partnership for a Healthier America, said the initiative responds to a broad cultural change in what people want to eat. “The entire population would like to eat better food products—truck drivers want a chance to eat better food, millennials and Gen Z are leading the way,” Roman said. “It’s the vending industry positioning itself for tomorrow’s consumers. It will make a meaningful change in the food culture and drive shifts in food production.” Roman’s group will conduct audits of vending machines to confirm that the industry is meeting its commitment. The initiative builds on FitPick, [NAMA’s “better for you” food-labeling program (opens in a new tab)](https://www.namanow.org/fitpick/) , which identifies foods that meet at least two recognized public health standards. (kasto80/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#healthy food](https://associationsnow.com/tag/healthy-food/) [#public health](https://associationsnow.com/tag/public-health/) [#vending machines](https://associationsnow.com/tag/vending-machines/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [VideoASAE Legislative Summit 2026March 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/26/asae-legislative-summit-2026/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F10%2F25%2Fvending-machine-groups-new-plan-more-healthy-offerings%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !