Five Star Food Service Signs Deal For 365s Verii NanoMarkets

CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Five Star Food Service has announced a partnership to place 365 Retail Markets' Verii NanoMarkets to serve prospective location clients with as few as 25 employees. Five Star said the Verii NanoMarket fills a gap it has had in its micromarket portfolio -- a solution for small companies with 25 to 100 employees -- with limited risk and investment.

Instead of customers paying at a micromarket kiosk, Verii uses smartphone app as the payment platform. Each account has a Verii Important Person "VIP" who can choose from any products that the vending operator makes available on the online catalog built on the Verii platform. The "VIP" also has the ability to set pricing for their employees. The vending operator receives the orders from Verii, delivers the product and merchandises the market.

Verii NanoMarkets are configured in two sizes: a small version best suited for countertops that is roughly 4' W. by 4' H. and a larger, floorstanding model that measures 5.5' W. and 6' H. The markets can fit up to 24 SKUs of snacks (230-plus items), and four shelves of drinks (144 20-fl.oz bottles).

Five Star is making the Verii concept available immediately in the Nashville metropolitan area and surrounding counties. Over time, it plans to expand availability of the NanoMarkets to the Chattanooga and Knoxville metro areas.

"We believe this concept, like the micromarket, could be a huge win and growth opportunity for us," said Five Star senior vice-president of marketing Greg McCall. "Not only will we see added growth from this new line of business, but we believe it will grow our OCS line of business as well".

Five Star Food Service, a Canteen Vending franchise based in Chattanooga, TN, provides vending, micromarkets, coffee service, full-service dining, and catering services across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Founded in 1993, it has grown to one of the largest privately held operators in the Southeast.