Aramark Fights Workplace Hunger with a New Vibe

PHILADELPHIA, PA (September 14, 2015) – Have you ever felt a hunger pang in the middle of the workday, didn’t have time to go out, but wanted something more than a snack? Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the $15 billion global provider of award-winning services in food, facilities management and uniforms, is meeting workplace hunger head on with an innovative new Micromarket concept called Vibe, which is designed to bring fresh and healthy foods to consumers who want to grab something quick and satisfying at any time of the day.

“Our Vibe concept is an example of how we innovate the everyday for our clients and customers,” said Brad Drummond, Aramark Chief Operating Officer. “Many of our more than 450 Vibe locations cater to clients that do not have traditional cafeterias, are spread out over large campuses or have shift-based work schedules outside of the traditional 9-5 day.”

Different than a common vending environment, Aramark’s Vibe concept, takes a small space that is typically underused and transforms it into a Micromarket where consumers can get fresh salads, sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, fruits, vegetables and prepackaged meals. The markets also include a variety of beverages including top brands like Starbucks, as well as typical breakroom snack foods.

Vibe Micromarkets are self-sustaining and require no onsite employees to manage. Aramark customers use kiosks to scan and pay for their foods with either cash or credit-loaded cards, debit cards or credit cards. The markets are maintained by Aramark’s route-based service model, where drivers monitor consumer preferences and replenish them several times per week.

Fresh food items range from $3.99 to $7.99 for a full meal and snack foods typically range from 99 cents to $2.99 for higher end choices like Chocolate Covered Cranberries. Vibe markets are designed using Aramark consumer research to position healthy or “Better for You” food choices in areas where consumers are more likely to select them. Once a contract is finalized, Aramark is typically able to construct and open a Vibe location in about 6 weeks.

“We have Vibe Micromarkets in many corporations and businesses as well as some hospitals and colleges,” Drummond said. “The freshness and taste of the food, number of healthy options and the markets’ ease of use rank consistently high among consumers in our customer satisfaction surveys.”

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is included in our forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors.

About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Aramark has been named to DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list, the Forbes list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.