Honest Vending Machine

Honest Vending Co.

Is a B2B socially conscious vending machine service that offers high-quality, ethically sourced products from around the world.

We will install vending machines in strategic locations where: Elementary Youth & Seniors

Flavors of Origin Nutritional Wellness brand partnerships serving Southern Los Angeles for years with “honest” brands—those that prioritize sustainability, fair trade, and positive community impact.

Through these investment efforts, we intend to re-invest communal equity to support community-led economic growth and food health education advocacy programs.

Honest Vending Co.

Growing Ethical Consumerism:

The U.S. sustainable snacks market is projected to exceed $15 billion by 2027, growing at over 6% annually. Consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are willing to pay a premium for ethically sourced, healthy, and eco-friendly products.

Proof: Brands like Kind, RXBAR, and Chobani have built billion-dollar businesses on ethical, health-conscious product positioning.

Demand for Healthier Vending Solutions

90% of vending machines in public spaces offer processed, unhealthy snacks. Schools, workplaces, and community centers lack better alternatives that align with modern dietary preferences.

Proof: The U.S. government has enforced Healthy Vending Standards in schools and federal buildings, proving institutional backing for better options but have yet to equip public health centers with wellness products to support a healthy lifestyle.

Technology-Driven, Low Overhead Business Model

Cashless vending

Proof: Smart vending startups like Farmer’s Fridge (healthy vending) have grown to $30M+ annual revenue through tech-driven operations.

12-Month Community-Led Research Study

Pilot Program with 5 Machines

Place machines in high-traffic public health centers, medical clinics, recreational gymnasiums, and non profit centers in Los Angeles County.

Track weekly sales data, product demand, and engagement metrics to refine machine placement and inventory selection based on community feedback.

Community-Led Data Collection

Pre-launch: Host food health workshops demo-ing the food products at the public health offices, non-profits, parent/teacher associations in Los Angeles County to gather feedback on preferred products, pricing, and purchasing intent.

Post-launch: Implement QR-code-based surveys for live customer insights.

Revenue Share Model as Validation

Partner non-profits receive a 10% of vending profits, incentivizing them to promote machine usage.

If a single machine generates $1,500/month, a 10-machine rollout would create $180,000 annual revenue, proving scalability, providing up to (3) salaried jobs of $60,000 just on one machine.

Community Led Research

Community Led-Research Study

Executive Summary

The DCCS initiative aims to foster inclusive economic growth by diversifying food vendors and products inside community corner stores throughout Los Angeles County.

Inspired by the 15% Pledge from Aurora James, this model will require corner market store owners to allocate a percentage of their inventory budget. This community led research study engages in (3) stages across three sectors: Outreach yields program recruiting, recruiting yields community ownership, which yields to teaching them how to maintain a database of micro-food producers in their community, giving them a direct voice, and active role in what products are being stocked and available.

Mission Statement

To create a more inclusive and economically resilient Los Angeles County by increasing access to community-led research on food products and empowering community members to reflect their families needs for real food at the local store.

Objectives

Encourage Corner Store

Owners to allocate a percentage of their product selection to diverse vendors (food, beverages, etc.) in proportion to the community's racial, ethnic, and cultural demographics.

Los Angeles County 48% Hispanic, products sold in the corner store should represent at least 48% Hispanic owned products if in LA County

Los Angeles County 9% Black, products sold in the corner store should represent at least 9% Black owned products if in LA County

Promote Economic

opportunities for small business owners from underrepresented communities.

Provide quarterly 3-week entrepreneurial bootcamps to promote micro-small food producing businesses to support economic development and food equity needs

Consumer Equity Education

Engage local communities in the decision-making process regarding the food and products stocked in their neighborhood corner stores.

Use The Flavors Of Origin Festival

To report on the progress of economic growth and the impact of this initiative on local businesses.

Foster Multi-Year Long-Term Contracts

For sustainable partnerships between corner stores and local, diverse suppliers including a robust process of evaluation, and growth criteria

Program Overview

Community Corner Store Diversity Pledge

corner stores will be invited to sign a pledge committing to carry a specific percentage of products from diverse vendors (calculated according to the racial and ethnic makeup of their community).

The percentage can range from 10-25%, depending on the community, with larger percentages in neighborhoods with more diverse populations.

Vendor Selection

A marketplace of local, minority-owned food vendors (including ethnic food suppliers, local artisans, small-scale producers) will be created to make it easy for corner stores to find new products.

Vendors will be chosen based on quality, cultural relevance, and ability to scale production as needed.

Community Consultation

Regular community engagement events (town halls, surveys, focus groups) will be held to understand the local preferences and needs for food products in the corner stores.

Corner store owners will be onboarded through introduction of a community member and consumer. We will teach owners how to engage with their customers to assess satisfaction and demand for new inventory.

Flavors of Origin Festival

An annual festival to celebrate and showcase diverse foods from local vendors, with a focus on the cultural heritage and culinary origins of the vendors.

The festival will serve as an economic growth report, showcasing new business relationships, sales growth from community corner stores, and local products’ integration into the market.

Metrics such as vendor sales, local business expansions, and consumer engagement will be used to track the program’s success.

Implementation Timeline

Month 1-3

Establish partnerships with local corner stores and diverse food vendors.

Organize community consultations to set goals and expectations for product diversity.

Launch a marketing campaign to raise public awareness of the initiative.

Host monthly community partner symposiums to highlight the needs of parents, teachers, youth, and senior citizens in need of food that supports their health.

Month 4-6

Begin initial roll-out of the program in selected corner stores.

Hold regular check-ins with store owners to monitor progress and feedback.

Host monthly community partner symposiums to highlight the needs of parents, teachers, youth, and senior citizens in need of food that supports their health.

Month 7-12

Full implementation in all participating stores.

Host the first Flavors of Origin festival to celebrate the results of the initiative.

Host monthly community partner symposiums to highlight the needs of parents, teachers, youth, and senior citizens in need of food that supports their health.

Year 2 And Beyond

Use Flavors of Origin to evaluate the year’s economic impact and adjust the program as needed.

Key Partnerships

Local Corner Stores

Participation in the program ensures (3) corner stores have access to a unique and diverse range of products that reflect the communities they serve.

Diverse Food Vendors and Producers

Local ethnic food vendors, small businesses, and minority-owned suppliers will gain access to new retail opportunities.

Community Organizations

Community groups and local leaders will help guide the vision for which products should be prioritized, ensuring alignment with cultural preferences.

Local Government & Economic Development Offices

Support in tracking economic progress and offering incentives for participating businesses.

Petition to have public health building take the pledge.

Impact Measurement

Vendor Diversity

Monitor and report the percentage of diverse vendors in participating corner stores annually.

Economic Growth

Track sales figures and new business partnerships, using Flavors of Origin as the key reporting mechanism.

Community Engagement

Survey community members annually to assess satisfaction with product availability and store participation.

Job Creation & Local Economic Empowerment

Measure job creation in diverse food sectors and report on local employment shifts resulting from the program.