Survey indicates importance of employer-provided meals, snacks

A ZeroCater survey of 100 employees and office managers found that food plays an important tole in a company's culture and has a deep effect on employee happiness, relationships and reliability. 

About 75 percent of employees said they were happy at work, and almost  the same percentage — 74 percent — said they had access to free meals and snacks at the office. Ninety percent of employers said that free meals help their employees build stronger relationships with colleagues.

Employees consider it important for their employers to provide food in the office, with 88 percent considering snacks important. But not just any snacks; employees are more health-conscious than ever, and 65 percent of respondents said that access to healthy snacks in the office is very or extremely important.

More than half (53 percent) of those surveyed said that office snacks help them stay healthy — not only physically, but also budgetarily. 

About 76 percent of employees considered office meals to be a money-saver, saying that they save an average of $50 or more per week with office meals.

What's in it for restaurant operators?

The introduction to snacks and meals in the workplace can acquaint hungry customers with restaurants and brands they weren't previously aware of. The study found that 63 percent of employees have gone to restaurants after discovering them through their office's meals, and 68 percent of employees have purchased snacks and beverages they discovered through their office's snack programs.