Vending for your life

When second-year history student Daniel Hagos gets hungry, and his favorite dining spots on the Hill are closed, he usually turns to one of the several vending machines near his residence hall.

Hagos said he practically lived off the vending machines during finals week.

“They’re super close to the study lounge and are helpful when you’re up all night studying,” he said.

Hagos is just one of the many customers who patronize the 350 machines operated by UCLA Vending Services, an operational division of UCLA Dining Services that employees 14 staff members.

The vending machines, which can be found at 60 campus locations, serve everything from microwave products to frozen fruit, and are designed to cater to a large audience, said Bob Kitay, manager of vending services.

Connie Foster, the director of dining services, said the vending machines are especially important when students need to satisfy “late-night munchies” or are in a hurry to get to class.

“I use the vending machines after hours and on the weekends when I’m here. They are really convenient,” Foster said.

UCLA Vending Services, unlike vending on many other college campuses, is an in-house operation.

Kitay said the advantage to a self-managed operation is quality control, because third parties often struggle to provide acceptable levels of service.

“With outside entities there would be delays in repairing equipment and machines would often remain empty. As an on-site operation, we are available to handle problems in a timely manner and interact with the campus community,” he said.

As the needs of the campus community change, vending services has updated its inventory.

Kitay said that in the 1970s and ’80s, vending services served more meal items such as apples, burritos and sandwiches, since there were fewer restaurants on campus than there are today. Vending machines now primarily serve frozen entrees or snacks.

Drinks, such as soda and coffee, have also changed their presentation over the years. Until the early 1990s, soda was only sold through cups from the machine, which has been phased out in favor of bottles and cans.

The last remaining cup soda machine was removed from campus six months ago, Kitay said.

Another operation run by vending services is the Nescafe machines across campus. Nestle has had a contract to sell hot coffee beverages since the 1990s, but Kitay said the agreement expired last year and vending services is free to change directions.

The trend has also gone toward healthier items, so vending services has started installing machines with organic frozen entrees.

A new vending machine at the Center for Health Sciences features Amy’s organic frozen entrees, and a similar machine will be installed at Math Science before the fall quarter.

Kitay declined to discuss any revenue or sales figures related to vending services, citing security concerns, among other reasons, but he said the gross revenue goes back to the students, as vending services pays commissions to entities across campus.

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