A woman with vending machine

BCNET News

BCNET & Feed BC are Working Together to Bring More B.C. Foods to Campus Vending

BCNET is helping B.C.’s post-secondary institutions achieve their local food goals with Feed BC, a provincial government initiative led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to increase B.C. foods in public institutions.

BCNET is helping B.C.’s post-secondary institutions achieve their local food goals with Feed BC, a provincial government initiative led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to increase B.C. foods in public institutions.

In September 2021, we worked with Ryan Company to help formalize the company’s commitment to expand choices and feature more B.C./local food products in Ryan Vending machines on B.C. post-secondary campuses. BCNET brings value and opportunity by consolidating demand and purchasing power for the benefit of member PSIs. We worked closely with PSIs, Feed BC and Ryan Company to help the company respond to the growing interests in PSIs for more local, innovative snack products in campus vending machines.

“We are pleased to support the Provincial Government’s local food initiative by bringing more B.C. produced snack products into facilities and services at our member institutions. Our members are committed to offering more local food products on campus to support their community, respond to food security concerns, and align to their sustainability objectives. We worked with Ryan Vending to simplify the process of adding B.C. produced foods and snack products to campus vending machines.”

Dennis Silva, Chief Procurement Officer, BCNET

Ryan Vending is actively working to identify and test potential new B.C. products with institutions in selected campus vending machines. The Ministry’s Value Chain Innovation Service has provided support to help identify B.C. snacks and drinks suitable to the unique size, packaging and perishability needs of vending machines and foster new connections with B.C. suppliers.

Ryan Vending currently carries several B.C. products, including Spinnaker’s sodas, Underground kombucha, and Dan-D Pak snack mixes. Since starting to work with Feed BC, Ryan Vending has brought on new products including Victoria-based B.C. Better Seafood Supply Inc.’s Wild BC Pacific Salmon Jerky, Comox-based Hornby Organic Bars, and Surrey-based Hardbite Chips. Ryan Vending looks forward to expanding new B.C. food and beverage vending offerings throughout 2022.

About Feed BC

Feed BC is a provincial government initiative led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in partnership with others to increase B.C. foods in public institutions.

Through collaboration with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training and 20 public post-secondary institutions (PSIs) across the province, Feed BC and its PSI partners promote actions that increase local foods on campus and beyond.

As Feed BC partners working to bring more local foods to campuses across the province, PSIs showcase and demonstrate commitment to their sustainability goals and student interests in local food, and measurably contribute to the economic development and vibrancy of their local B.C. communities and regions.

“Its incredible to see the broad support for local food across the post-secondary sector and the leadership that Feed BC post-secondary institution partners are taking to activate new opportunities for B.C. food businesses, their programs and services. Through this initiative, BCNET is helping open new doors for B.C. food processors in campus vending machines which helps grow businesses, communities and our provincial food system resilience.”

Linsday Bisschop, Executive Director, Food and Beverage Branch, Ministry of Agriculture and Food