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Of all the decisions an ice cream vending machine operator has to make, your choice of mix format is one of the most significant. How you procure and store your product affects everything from your supply chain to storage space to the quality of ice cream that comes out of the machine and the price you can charge. Traditional soft serve vendors have for years opted for liquid mixes but with increased popularity and automation of vending machines, the scales have tipped. This guide discusses powder vs. liquid and why we designed the IC350 to leverage the best aspects of powder mixes.
The Case for Powder Mix: Logistics, Shelf Life, and Control
The powdered ice cream mix offer so many operation and supply chain advantages over a liquid mix which requires a refrigerated cold chain to transport and display the mix from manufacturing plant to retail outlet. With Powder, once you receive the product at the store, it does not require any additional storage as it is room-stable.
Shelf life is a game-changer. Unopened powder mix may sit for 12 to 18 months on shelves, certain high quality options have an extended shelf life of as long as 24 months. Liquid mix, on the other hand, usually has an incredibly brief shelf life-as little as a matter of days or weeks post-production. An extended product life of this sort means less waste and less money lost to expired ingredients for operators with slower inventory turn rates than those working at high volume eateries or food trucks.
Shipping and storage costs are significantly lower. Powder mix is a lower density product and there is no need to move or store the product cold. In so doing, all of the expensive cold chain logistics associated with liquid mix are eliminated. According to one supplier, the dry mix is “much more lightweight and space efficient than liquids which is why transport and warehouse costs are lower”. The financial benefit of this is particularly evident for operators who serve many machines in various locations.
Customization is a major advantage. Dry mixes offer a tremendous amount of operational flexibility, the operator can change the sweetness level, fat content and flavoring by using different reconstituting liquids. In fact, a plain powder base plus an unlimited variety of flavorings create an unlimited menu of products that can be made from a single mix inventory. Liquid mixes generally have fixed formulas that can be difficult to customize and stand apart from the competition.
The Drawbacks of Liquid Mix for Vending Operations
What makes liquid mix, despite all the advantage of being ready for consumption and without preparation, a disaster when used with machines vending systems?
Storage and refrigeration requirements are burdensome. Liquid mix can take up space in a refrigerator or freezer, and these appliances can add to the cost of running a business. This is a particularly inconvenient factor if the machine is located at an airport, mall or a train station that doesn’t offer an on site cold storage facility. This isn’t a problem at all if the drink is made with dry powder mix.
Limited shelf life creates waste risk. When opened, or thawed if previously chilled in a cooler or freezer, the liquid mixture has a shelf life of only days to a week. This can lead to considerable spoilage and product loss for vending operators that do not visit vending machines for replenishment every single day.
Higher costs reduce profitability. Compared with the same flavored mix that came as a powder, liquid mix tends to be more expensive, because of the larger proportion of dairy fat, plus the cost of refrigerated transportation and storage. That adds up to extra percentage points for vendors, where every point of profit matters more than you’d think.
UHT processing can compromise flavor. Liquid mixes processed by ultra high temperature (UHT) can damage the delicate dairy flavors causing a “cooked, flat taste” . Powder mixes on the other hand can hold onto their nutrient integrity and dairy flavors for extended periods.
Powder Mix Technical Requirements: Why the IC350 Excels
The IC350 was developed precisely to accommodate the handling of powder mix. So where certain machines fail to achieve smooth consistency when dealing with a rehydrated powder mix, our unit ensures that the material passes without a hitch.
Consistent mixing is critical. The real trick with powder mixes is to make sure that the powders are properly incorporated into the liquid base. If you don't mix evenly, then the final product will be of varying consistencies and quality. Fortunately, the mixing technology in the IC350 makes sure that the proportions are exact with every use, resulting in that creamy texture that customers love.
High overrun capability is retained. Some mistakenly believe that a powder mix can’t deliver the fluffy, light texture associated with a liquid mix. Actually, powder mixes can work just as well when pumped through equipment that injects air into the product, producing the high overrun which indicates superior soft serve. The advanced freezing and aeration system on the IC350 allows for maximum overrun to provide the volume typically achieved only by a liquid product.
Remote monitoring simplifies mix management. With the SUNZEE’s IoT-connected machines, operators are immediately alerted to low levels of inventory and don’t need to make frequent trips out. This is especially useful for powder mix, where longer shelf lives mean the urgency to replace stock isn’t as high and operators can save money through bulk ordering.
Which Format Is Right for Your Vending Business?
For established, high volume accounts with plentiful cold storage space, liquid mix might still make sense. But for those that will require unattended, space constrained unattended machines, with no access to refrigeration and less predictable stock turnover, liquid mix the best choice.
Purpose, designed to release the full potential of powder mix, the IC350 takes the efficiency and logistic simplicity of powder and brings to it the very best of mixing, freezing, and monitoring technology, to produce a machine that guarantees great product quality and keeps operational costs to a minimum.
From machines installed at the local mall to those situated in airports or theme parks, every machine in which an IC350 is placed provides optimum, waste-free quality and therefore optimum profit. That’s why powder mix has become the vending alternative of tomorrow and today.
