By David Chew, SBA Credit Analyst, Core Bank.
What’s better than having a snack during the day? It can hold you over until lunch or hold you over until dinner, but traditionally your options are chips and candy bars.
How about having the ability to snack healthy? With people living more health conscious than ever, this small business allows for you to start “Snacking Well” (pun intended).
Snacking Well is one of Kansas City’s fastest growing, healthy vending machine companies. If you haven’t already, you may start noticing vending machines with healthy options. They provide these machines to Kansas City municipalities like schools, police stations and fire departments.
Snacking Well was started by Kortney Odell with the intention to provide healthier snack and drink choices in vending machines. He saw the trend that schools and companies are shifting to healthier snack options for their students and employees.
Kortney came to Core Bank to get an SBA loan to finance the purchase of the vending machines and Micro Markets (self-serve vending machines, which you purchase using an automated kiosk). Within minutes of speaking with Kortney, it was clear he was passionate about the business, and knows that what he’s doing is different than any other vending machine companies.
HEALTHIER DOESN’T MEAN LESS VARIETY
Snacking Well provides over 1,100 healthy drink, snack, and meal products to choose from. All the items provided by Snacking well are less than 200 calories, less than 250mg of sodium and support the USDA in promoting nutrition guidelines. The items in the machines can been tailored to the wants of the business or school municipality. For instance the items can be: Organic, Low-Calorie, Low-fat, Kosher, Gluten Free, Low Carb, or all Natural.
As a banker, this is the type of client we love to work with. He is passionate, knowledgeable, and reasonable. We were able to navigate the hurdles together, and Kortney has grown his business from a handful of machines to dozens across the Kansas City metro. #SnackingWell