Marché

Break Room Benefits in New York City

May 28, 2020 by Katie Waxman

A New York City break room can either positively or negatively impact employees’ workplace experiences. Bland, dark spaces with snacks and beverages no one likes will turn employees away. Well-designed break rooms with plenty of comfortable seating arrangements and delicious snacks, beverages, and fresh food encourage relaxation, spontaneous interaction between colleagues, and creativity. Even though COVID-19 has caused many changes during the past several months and decreased break room visits, micro-markets and vending machines still have an important role to play as employees return to work.

Each New York City employer will reopen their place of business differently and on a timetable that fits their unique organization. Promoting CDC recommended guidelines for “healthy hygiene practices such as hand washing and employees wearing a cloth face covering, as feasible” as well as encouraging social distancing or staying at least 6 feet away from other individuals and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily are just a few new behaviors employers will likely recommend.

A micro-market or set of vending machines is also a tool that New York City employers can use to encourage social distancing, fewer in person interactions, and less time in unknown environments. For example,

Micro-markets and vending machines offer cashless or touchless payment options including mobile payments and are great for grab-and-go situations.
To use a micro-market, employees will scan their snack or beverage; scan their smartphone or swipe a debit/card; and walk away.
To use a vending machine, employees will touch the machine once; scan their smartphone or swipe a debit/card; and walk away.
Both micro-markets and vending machines are open 24/7, encouraging employees to stay onsite during their workday.
Staying on-site instead of going off-site for a bite to eat or beverage helps employees avoid external and less controllable environments.

New York City employers should also consider the types of snacks, beverages, and fresh food that will be offered. Making better-for-you choices is more important than ever. Healthier ingredients like fruits and vegetables provide the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that everyone needs to support their immune system. Bottled water and other healthy beverages help by keeping everything in the body hydrated and moving more efficiently.

While healthy options are necessary for a healthy immune system, it is also wise to offer traditional options that are “fun” or provide a mental boost such as chocolate and other snacks. Most New York City employees have been under prolonged stress and enjoying a favorite snack or beverage can provide a bit of an emotional or mental pick-me-up. Offering a balance of traditional and better-for-you options will help employees find the products they need when they want them.

Marché is here to help you safely bring your employees back to work. For more information about our sanitation and safety policies or upgrading your break room to include a micro-market or vending machines, please contact us at 833-627-2431. We are here to help restart the New York City economy one break room at a time.

New Opportunity in New York City Break Rooms

Break Rooms in New York City Offer a New Opportunity

May 12, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Workplace break rooms are more important than ever. As New York City businesses reopen with new procedures designed to ensure employee safety amidst ongoing concerns about COVID-19, the break room experience must also shift. While break rooms continue to be a convenient benefit for employees, they are also an opportunity to limit outside influences on controlled office environments.

Micro-markets and vending machines are two refreshment services that provide a safer way for employees to access fresh foods, snacks, and beverages. Items offered in micro-markets and vending machines are individually wrapped in secure packaging for a quick and easy grab-and-go experience. Break rooms with vending machines or micro-markets also provide cashless payment options, limiting contact even further.

By providing New York City employees with plenty of delicious and nutritious options in the break room, employers are able to satisfy their employees during the workday, limiting their potential exposure to viruses by reducing trips off-site. Rather than feeling like this is a difficult obstacle to overcome, our industry is here to support your business.

Last week, members of the refreshment services industry came together to send a heartfelt and reassuring message to customers throughout the nation. The message (shot in isolation from each person’s home or business) is an inspiring 2-minute video. The takeaway from this video is clear: break room service providers are here to support companies as they transition toward a safer working environment.

Marché is here to support you. We are also responding appropriately to our state’s COVID-19 re-opening schedules and guidelines and have adopted even stricter health and safety measures. Delivery drivers are following social distancing guidelines and are washing their hands or putting on a fresh pair of gloves before each visit. They are also sanitizing all contact surfaces and high touch areas at the end of every service call.

Our goal is to leave break rooms cleaner than we found them. Additionally, we have implemented social distancing policies in our offices and distribution centers and are closely monitoring our employees’ health.

Whether your organization wants to upgrade your refreshment menu or add new services, we will create a customized solution that meets your unique needs. For more information about our services or safety policies and procedures, please contact us at 833-627-2431.

Coffee Offers Many Benefits for New York City Employees

April 28, 2020 by Katie Waxman

It looks like it’s true—coffee may indeed help promote weight loss for New York City individuals. In addition to decreasing the risk of developing a number of diseases including type-2 diabetes and heart disease, the caffeine found in coffee has been shown to help promote weight loss in several different ways.

In one study, caffeine was shown to increase the body’s metabolic rate to a certain point which triggered a specific type of tissue in the collarbone area to burn calories.
Caffeine has also been found to block adenosine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and causes tiredness. By blocking adenosine, the caffeine creates a different reaction that causes an increase in dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The result is that individuals feel more energized, awake, alert and focused.
The third and most recent study found that participants who consumed four cups of coffee per day had a four percent decrease in body fat. Unlike the previous two studies that show how caffeine impacts the body, this study gave specific amounts of coffee consumed and body fat lost. (One note of caution—it may not be healthy for everyone to drink four cups of coffee every day.)

While understanding that the caffeine in coffee can help with weight loss is interesting, coffee has a much more important role to play right now. Providing office coffee service (OCS) in New York City break rooms is a valuable benefit that can help keep essential employees on-site during their workday. Convenient access to hot caffeinated beverages also creates small opportunities for moments of relaxation and supportive interactions among colleagues.

In 2020, OCS is about more than the traditional brewer, although that is still a popular option in many New York City break rooms. Single-cup brewers and other types of commercial brewers including those that prepare single espresso-based beverages enable all employees to safely choose from a variety of popular and sustainably grown brands without leaving the building. For those individuals who don’t like coffee, offering a variety of black, green and herbal teas is a must.

And don’t forget to include fresh food, cold beverages and healthy snacks on the break room refreshment menu. With longer workdays and the extra stress essential employees are facing, employers can help by removing one necessary task from their employees’ to-do list; remembering to prepare and bring food and beverages to work every day. A break room full of delicious options is a benefit that all employees can appreciate.

Marché would like to make sure that your New York City employees have the fresh food, snacks and caffeinated beverages that they need. For more information about our current offerings, please call us at 833-627-2431.

Appreciating Earth Day 2020 in New York City

April 17, 2020April 16, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Traditionally, April would be a time to celebrate Earth Day and share with New York City individuals the many ways we focus on making environmentally friendly decisions. However, given the current situation, we’d like to approach Earth Day 2020 a bit differently.

While we will continue to support New York City local businesses the way we always have by providing coffee and healthy fresh food, snacks and cold beverages in break rooms, we’d also like to suggest a few fun activities and small steps that everyone at home can try to celebrate Earth Day.

The non-profit organization, Earth Day Network, that organizes the event highlights more about the purpose of the day. “Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and provoke policy changes.”

The following six suggestions are small things that can be incorporated into everyday routines and support the overall goals of Earth Day.

Take a Walk
Moving is important for everyone especially now. Not only does it offer health benefits, but it can also relieve stress and boost one’s mood. If it’s safe in your New York City neighborhood, take a walk and safely pick up trash as you go.

Plant a Garden
Whether it’s a few tomatoes or different herbs, planting a vegetable or herb garden is a great way to provide for yourself or your family. If planting a garden in a yard isn’t an option, create a small garden in several pots that can sit on a windowsill or balcony.

Declutter a Closet
Instead of “What’s in your wallet,” we should ask, “What’s in my closet.” Now is a great time to declutter a closet and remove the things that are no longer used. There might be clothes that could be donated to a local charity, too many cleaning supplies that could be shared with a family member or items that could be fixed instead of purchasing new ones.

Conserve Water
There are two simple things that everyone in New York City can do to decrease the amount of water used. The first is to turn the water off when brushing your teeth. This one small step can save up to eight gallons of water a day. The second thing is to make sure there are no leaky faucets in your home. Small leaks not only waste water, but they also increase water bills.

Turn off the Lights
This may be an old tip, but it can still have a big impact on the amount of energy being used.

Go Paperless
With the unexpected extra time many New York City individuals now have, it’s a great time to move as many bank statements and bills as possible online. Making the switch saves paper and eliminates one more expense—stamps.

Eventually, New York City employees will be able to return to work. We’d like to be there to help your organization support your employees by safely providing on-site access to everyone’s favorite fresh food, snacks, cold beverages and coffee service. For more information, please contact Marché at 833-627-2431. We look forward to rebuilding our community together.

A Micro-Market and Meal Times in New York City

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 by Katie Waxman

A carefully planned and well-stocked micro-market is an employee benefit that isn’t fully appreciated until it is experienced. Employees have access to an inviting and relaxing space with a customizable menu full of products, from fresh food, coffee, healthy alternatives and cold beverages to everyone’s favorite snacks.

Considering what types of food and beverages are available when and where is an important component for New York City employers to consider when determining a break room’s design and menu. The reason why is related to recent research performed by Packaged Facts, an expert in research and expert analysis.

According to David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, “There’s a surging fluidity to modern mealtimes. The reality is U.S. adults are increasingly eating differently.” The adults that Sprinkle is referring to are Gen Z (18- to 24-years-old) and Millennials (25- to 34-years-old).

Not only did the research show that fewer adults are eating “breakfast before 9 a.m., lunch before 1 p.m., and dinner before 8 p.m.” but more participants are eating several smaller meals throughout the day instead of the traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Going back to New York City break rooms and the micro-market; offering a variety of options in your micro-market can meet the needs of employees who consume various meals at both traditional and nontraditional times of the day.

The first of several reasons why a micro-market is a great option is the overall look and feel of the break room. Each micro-market layout is custom designed to fit your unique space and offers an updated look and shopping experience. With open racks, shelves and glass door coolers, employees can browse and pick up items and read labels before deciding.

Access to the micro-market 24/7 is the second benefit. With modern technology, employees can access snacks, beverages and fresh food at any time of the day whether it’s 10:00 am or 10:00 pm. Self-checkout kiosks, mobile apps and security systems remove the need for additional employees to monitor the break room and keep track of product inventory levels.

The third benefit is that we take care of it all. With fully automated technology, we receive data about real-time product purchases. Using that information, we can rotate in more of the products your New York City employees enjoy and add new products to keep things interesting.

A micro-market is truly a sought-after break room benefit. Access at any time of the day plus a variety of delicious refreshments equals happier employees and a boost in workplace morale. Are you ready to take the next step?
For more information about micro-markets or other break room refreshment options including office coffee service, please contact Marché at 833-627-2431.

Three Break Room Topics to Consider in New York City

March 31, 2020March 13, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Although the idea of offering an employee break room with a selection of refreshments has been around for years, providing a space for relaxation, conversation and snacks or meals is even more important now. Break rooms are more than a room; they can help employees relieve stress, brainstorm, boost productivity and build community.

When considering if your New York City break room fits the needs of your employees, it can be helpful to consider the following topics: what your employees need or want, the physical space and the menu.

Needs and Wants

When considering the answer to this question, the first place to go is to your employees. Not only will it help clarify what your employees like to do when they aren’t at their desks, but it will help create a list of food and beverages preferences, allergies and dietary requirements. Asking for employee input lets them know that their opinion matters and that they are appreciated.

The Physical Space

Whether your New York City break room is large or small, it needs to be welcoming. There should be a variety of comfortable seating arrangements that support different activities including eating meals, reading, collaborative work, having fun and even napping.

The vibe or energy of the room, created by colors, textures, lighting, seating arrangements, layout, plants and organization, also contributes to the experience employees will have when walking into the room. A great example comes from Google’s campus where “diner booths, it turns out, can work better than traditional conference rooms.”

In addition to tables and chairs for meals, access to microwaves, a sink, a refrigerator and coffee machines as well as supplies like utensils, plates and napkins will encourage employees to leave their workstations and have meals together and build relationships.

The Menu

One of the primary reasons New York City employees go off-site during the workday is to grab a bite to eat or a coffee, which can cause a decrease in productivity. With that in mind, the importance of offering the right combination of snacks, cold beverages, fresh food and coffee service stands out even more.

In addition to offering traditional snacks and beverages, better-for-you options are a must. Healthy choices such as fresh food, fruits and veggies, yogurt, granola bars, nuts, filtered water and flavored sparkling water minimizes food comas, avoids dehydration and keeps employees feeling their best.

The last section of the menu should reflect coffee and tea service. It might include a combination of espresso-based drinks, nationally known brands, local roasters and a variety of hot teas. Don’t forget to include creamers, non-dairy creamers, sugar and sugar-free options.

Once the three sections listed above have been considered, the final break room design and menu should reflect both your New York City organization’s needs and the refreshments your employees enjoy. Not sure where to begin? Marché can help.

For more information about updating your break room or creating a new, customized menu, please contact us at 833-627-2431.

It’s Great Coffee News Worth Celebrating in New York City

March 1, 2020February 29, 2020 by Katie Waxman

We’re excited to share the news with New York City coffee drinkers about another study that has shown health benefits from drinking a daily cup of brew. Researchers including Dr. Michiyo Yamakawa of Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan found that drinking one cup of coffee per day was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of death. Bump the numbers up to two to three cups per day, and those participants had a 19 percent lower chance of mortality.

Whether it’s the caffeine or the antioxidants and other compounds in the beans, coffee offers several additional benefits to New York City employees. The following are a few of the health benefits that research has found.

Reduced risk for type-2 diabetes and heart disease

Four cups of coffee. According to researchers in Duesseldorf, Germany that’s all the caffeine it takes to trigger a protective effect in the human heart. The domino effect caused by caffeine consumption ends with the protection and repair of the heart muscle.

Reduced risk for different types of cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that coffee can no longer be classified as a carcinogen. In fact, researchers determined that coffee intake was associated with a reduced risk of oral, pharynx, liver, colon, prostate, melanoma and endometrial cancers.

Reduced pain sensitivity for chronic pain sufferers

Scientists from Boston Children’s Hospital found that consuming caffeine may help decrease pain sensitivity in those with chronic pain. The consumed caffeine caused dopamine, a carrier of messages between nerve cells in the brain, to flood the brain’s pleasure center resulting in decreased pain sensitivity.

Fighting Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Proteins found in roasted coffee beans were found to help protect the nervous system, which in turn may help the brain fight Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The longer the beans were roasted, the more proteins were produced. It didn’t matter if the beans were regular or de-caffeinated; if the beans were dark roasted, the results were similar.

Improved memory, a short-term mental boost and better group performance

Caffeine has been found to provide a mental boost for 45 minutes after consuming it and to improve memory over the next 24 hours. Research by the Graduate School of Management at UC, Davis also found that caffeine has a positive impact on a group’s performance.

So, whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee or tea, every New York City employer can benefit from offering a customized office coffee service (OCS) in the break room. Marché offers a wide selection of OCS menu options and equipment from different types of brewers to Fair Trade or local varieties as well as healthy snacks, cold beverages and fresh food. For more information or to upgrade your current break room OCS or refreshment menu, please contact us at 833-627-2431.

Gratitude and Healthy Hearts in New York City

February 24, 2020February 14, 2020 by Katie Waxman

While healthy lifestyle choices will vary greatly among New York City employees, there is one thing that everyone should be concerned about—their heart. February is American Heart Month. It’s a good time to consider current and/or adopt new, healthy habits that will help prevent heart disease.

Diet

Following a heart healthy diet is one habit that can help fight cardiovascular diseases. Rather than trying to strictly follow a specific diet that feels very restricting, it’s important to consider the overall pattern of one’s eating habits. Enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, low-fat protein sources like chicken and fish, nuts and legumes, and non-tropical vegetable oils is a great way to provide the body with the minerals and nutrients it needs.

Exercise

Consistently moving or exercising is another habit that benefits heart health. The American Heart Association recommends that New York City adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. That’s 2.5 hours of exercise per week, or 30 minutes a day for five of the seven days each week. Resistance or strength training should also be added at least twice a week.

Gratitude

In addition to choosing healthy snacks, beverages and food and exercising, being aware of decisions that impact one’s mental health is also important. Practicing gratitude is beneficial for many different parts of New York City employees’ lives including their mental health, personal and professional relationships and physical health.

An individual’s mental health can be impacted by many things including stress, which increases adrenaline and cortisol levels. That increase triggers a rise in the rate of breathing, the heart rate and blood pressure. Not only can these reactions contribute to heart disease (i.e. high blood pressure), but there are also mental health related biological and chemical factors that may play a role too.

Barry Jacobs, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and director of Behavioral Sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program recently explained, “The head-heart connection should be on everyone’s radar. It’s not just being unhappy. It’s having biochemical changes that predispose people to have other health problems, including heart problems.”

Developing a practice of gratitude can be healthy for everyone. Whether at work or at home, practicing gratitude builds relationships. At New York City businesses, gratitude can be practiced on multiple levels such as between coworkers or between management and employees. When an organization regularly practices gratitude, motivation and productivity can sky-rocket. Below are five simple ways employees and employers can express gratitude while at work.

Make it specific: Be sure to clearly express the reason why. Saying thank you without a specific why just doesn’t have the same effect.
Show gratitude consistently: Make sure to express gratitude to those who consistently perform as well as those who go above and beyond. No one wants to feel unappreciated.
Send thank you notes: A handwritten and specific thank you note is always appropriate.
Lead by example: Create a company culture that values recognition. When employers actively express and show appreciation, gratitude can grow.
Understand what employees want: Which benefits do your New York City employees really value? Understanding the answer and acting on it is a great way to express gratitude for all that your employees do.

A welcoming break room that offers delicious and healthy snacks, beverages and fresh food as well as office coffee service is a benefit that employees want. Marché can help your organization customize the perfect refreshment menu and create an inviting break room space. For more information, please contact us at 833-627-2431.

Green Teas Every New York City Employee Should Taste

February 6, 2020January 31, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Americans love coffee. But when it comes to the rest of the world, tea ranks as the top choice. While black teas are often preferred over green teas throughout the world, there are still many delicious green tea options available.

Green tea as well as black and oolong all come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis. Growing times and methods, processing methods (steaming, roasting, drying, etc.) and place of origin all play a role in the creation of the final product. Of the different types of tea, green tea is picked the earliest and undergoes the least amount of processing resulting in a beverage that goes well with many other flavors.

Before brewing a cup of green tea, New York City employees should think about four things: water, temperature, leaf portion and steep time.

The quality of the water used to brew tea plays a big role in the taste of the final product. Filtered water is the best option as the impurities are removed before the water touches the leaves. When it comes to the temperature of the water, using water that has come to the boiling point is okay, but it’s also okay to use water at around 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, cooler water results in a sweeter, lighter tea.

Many New York City employees use tea bags instead of loose leaves at work, but it is important to know, if using loose leaves, that a bigger portion of leaves will result in a stronger beverage. The strength of the beverage is also affected by the amount of time the leaves or tea bag are left in the water, the longer the steeping time, the stronger the flavor.

RAVE Reviews, a resource for independent recommendations, recently published a Top 10 list highlighting the best green teas. The following factors, in descending order of importance, were used to rank the teas: overall quality, taste, packaging and price. Here are their top five choices including three special awards, Best Overall, Most Exotic and Best for Everyday Drinking.

Best Overall and #1: The Tao of Tea Jasmine Pearls Green Tea from Portland, Oregon is both affordable and presentable with the ideal balance of green flavor and floral jasmine aroma.

Quality: 100%
Taste: 100%
Packaging: 100%
Value: 100%

Most Exotic and #2: Marukyu Koyamaen Premium Ceremonial Grade Matcha is from Kyoto, Japan. A ceremonial tea, this nutritious and grassy-flavored beverage is made from the entire leaf, which has been ground into a fine powder. This Matcha is the priciest and most ancient option.

Quality: 100%
Taste: 100%
Packaging: 100%
Value: 85%

#3: Babingtons In Tè Veritas from Rome, Italy is an elegant beverage best served at small social gatherings where English afternoon tea traditions would be most appreciated.

Quality: 100%
Taste: 100%
Packaging: 100%
Value: 79%

#4: Rishi Sencha Green Tea from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a high-quality Sencha. This beverage is an opaque, dark green savory brew with a sticky aroma

Quality: 100%
Taste: 100%
Packaging: 85%
Value: 85%

Best for Everyday Drinking and #5: The Republic of Tea People’s Green Tea from Novato, California is affordable, a quality beverage and, best of all, can be found everywhere.

Quality: 80%
Taste: 90%
Packaging: 95%
Value: 100%

Which teas do your New York City employees ask for in the office break room?

Marché is here to help your organization create a customized refreshment menu that includes a wide variety of coffees and teas as well as fresh food, snacks and beverages. Access to delicious and refreshing options at work encourages New York City employees to stay on-site for a quick break or a meal with colleagues. For more information about updating your current menu or redesigning your entire break room, please give us a call at 833-627-2431.

How to Find the Sugar in Your New York City Snack

February 1, 2020January 15, 2020 by Katie Waxman

Did you know that there are at least 61 different names for sugar listed on snack, beverage and food labels? No? The following list includes just a few of the various names: high-fructose corn syrup, dehydrated cane juice, cane sugar, raw sugar, corn syrup, agave, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, brown sugar, fruit juice concentrates, invert sugar, malt sugar, molasses and sugar molecules ending in “ose” (dextrose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose).

With so many different names to keep track of, it’s no wonder that the average American consumes 17 teaspoons every day. For New York City men that’s 8 teaspoons more, and 11 teaspoons more for women, than the American Heart Association recommends.

Before looking at where to find information about how much sugar is in a favorite snack or beverage, let’s consider the differences between two different categories of sugar: added sugar vs naturally occurring sugar. Naturally occurring sugar is found in milk (lactose), fruit (fructose) and some vegetables. Added sugar is any sugar or sweetener that is added during the preparation or processing stages. Some foods like yogurt contain both naturally occurring sugar and added sugar.

The challenge for New York City employees is understanding how much overall sugar is in a snack or beverage and whether any of that sugar occurs naturally. Added sugar is absorbed quickly into the body while natural sugar, usually accompanied by fiber, is absorbed more slowly. When reading nutrition labels, the following terms may be helpful:

Total Sugar per Serving: the amount of added sugar plus naturally occurring sugar in a serving
Sugar-Free: less than 0.5 g of sugar per serving
Reduced Sugar or Less Sugar: at least 25 percent less sugars per serving compared to a standard serving size of the traditional variety
No Added Sugars or Without Added Sugars: no sugars or sugar-containing ingredient such as juice or dry fruit is added during processing
Low Sugar: this term is not allowed as a claim on food labels

Unfortunately, it is still difficult to know the exact amount of natural sugar is in a snack if that snack contains both added and natural sugars. But that will soon change as food manufacturers are required to list amounts for both by mid-2021. Researchers hope that this change will prevent nearly one million cases of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes over the next 20 years.

New York City employers have an opportunity to positively impact their employees’ health by offering snacks, beverages and fresh food that contain lower amounts of added sugar in the break room. Healthier employees miss fewer workdays, have more energy and are more productive – an important benefit for employers.

We are here to help New York City employers and employees enjoy the benefits of healthy options available in micro-markets and office coffee service. For more information, please call Marché at 833-627-2431.