Benefits of a Plant-Based Milk Dispenser
A plant-based milk dispenser is a great way to meet demand for the plant-based milk in a high-volume food service. Compared to single-serve or multi-serve cartons, dispensers speed up service, are more food-safe, reduce packaging waste, and save labor. The benefits are even more impactful in a self-service setting like a cafeteria. A high-quality plant-based dispenser program can increase customers satisfaction and operational efficiency at a large food service.
Plant-based milk now makes up 15% of US retail milk sales and is especially popular among young people. A wide range of consumers prefer plant-based milk because of its taste, sustainability and nutrition. To meet this demand, food services at a college, hospital or k-12 school should offer a variety of high-quality plant-based milks. Food services which serve over a thousand meals per day or one hundred servings of plant-based milk will likely benefit from a dispenser.
Single-serve cartons lead to significant packaging waste, are easily stolen, expensive and often lead to food waste. Quart or half gallon cartons are cost effective and less wasteful but are messy and offer slow service. Multi-serve cartons are also less food safe because they are susceptible to contamination or being left out of refrigeration. Cartons are also difficult to keep stocked. Anecdotally, we often hear from diners that fridges with cartons are frequently out of stock.
A dispenser provides quick service for diners and the control to dispense just the right amount into their coffee, tea, cereal or glass. A good dispenser program will offer a variety of high-quality plant-based milks which can be catered to the specified food service application. Studies on dairy milk service have shown that diners prefer dispensers to cartons because of the portion control and the cold temperature of dispensed milk. Diners will be happy to have a reliable, clean source for plant-based milk.
Uproot provides dispensers free of charge as part of its dispenser program. The Uproot dispenser has attractive branding with callouts for key nutrition and ingredient information on the front of the dispenser. Uproot also provides a ring of waterproof printed information with the full ingredient and nutrition information.
Uproot plant-based milks are packed in a bulk bag-in-box which holds 2.5 gallons which is 40 cups, 80 cereal sized servings or 160 coffee creaming servings. The bag-in-box loads directly into the dispenser cabinet and has a dispensing tube attached. With standard usage, a bag will be changed by food service staff every few days.
The Uproot dispenser keeps milks at refrigerated temperature and is constructed of stainless steel for durability and easy cleaning. The milk dispenses through a tube attached to the bag and is controlled by a valve in the dispenser. There are no food contact surfaces in the dispenser to minimize possible contamination. The dispenser provided by the Uproot dispenser program meets NSF/ANSI 20 Standard which covers the food protection and sanitation requirements for commercial bulk milk dispensers.
A plant-based milk dispenser conveniently meets demand for plant-based milk in large food services. A good dispenser program will increase diner satisfaction and make food service operations more convenient. Additionally, it will help meet sustainability goals by driving more consumption of plant-based milk and reducing packaging waste.
Citations
“2023 State of the Industry Report / Plant-Based Meat, Seafood, Eggs, and Dairy.” Good Food Institute, 18 Apr. 2024, https://gfi.org/resource/plant-based-meat-eggs-and-dairy-state-of-the-industry-report/. Accessed 4 June 2024.
“The Business Case for Transitioning to Bulk Milk Dispensers from Single-Use Milk Cartons in K-12 Schools.” World Wildlife Fund, 5 Dec. 2022, https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/the-business-case-for-transitioning-to-bulk-milk-dispensers-from-single-use-milk-cartons-in-k-12-schools. Accessed 4 June 2024.
Williams, Jennifer Shomo. “Switching from Milk Cartons to Milk Dispensers at Bluestone Elementary School.” University of South Carolina, 1 Apr. 2019, https://n2fdata.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/switching-from-milk-cartons-to-bulk-milk-at-bluestone-elementary-school-final-report.pdf. Accessed 4 June 2024.
“NSF/ANSI 20-2023 Commercial Bulk Milk Dispensing Equipment.” NSF International, https://www.nsf.org/nsf-standards/standards-portfolio/food-equipment-standards. Accessed 4 June 2024.