Nick Yates works for vending machines with healthful snacks in schools, offices
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Nick Yates earn a bachelors degree from the University of Technology in business and marketing. He began his career working for Mojo Advertising in Sydney where he was senior media buyer for the Qantas Airlines and Toyota Motor Company accounts.
Nick Yates
In 2002, Yates founded Healthy Vending Pty Ltd, the worlds first healthy vending machine business, placing 250 such machines throughout Australia. Most contained only macro-biotic products.
After witnessing the demand for healthier food, Yates sold his company in 2005 and moved to San Diego with the intention of introducing healthy vending to North America. In 2006, Fresh Healthy Vending was launched as the first such franchise, placing 1,800 healthy vending machines throughout 250 markets. Fresh Healthy Vending has become the worlds largest healthy food vending machine company with a footprint of 2,300 units (as of July, 2013).
An advocate for childhood obesity prevention, Yates also created the initiative, FreshandHealthy.Org, which offers as incentive, $1 million in grants to schools, businesses, hospitals and community centers in an attempt to replace their junk food machines with healthful snack machines. To date, the initiative has donated $300,000.
What brought you to La Jolla?
Coming from the eastern suburbs of Sydney, I wanted something that offered the same as far as culture, good food and wine, and, of course, beaches. Ive lived on the La Jolla coast for six of the eight years Ive been in San Diego. Im never leaving. I love it here!
What might you add, subtract or improve in the area?
An upscale marina on the coast filled with bars and restaurants for overseas visitors to park their yachts and visit La Jolla would really put us on the map.
Who or what inspires you?
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Nick Yates works for vending machines with healthful snacks in schools, offices