The Best Office Drinks and Snacks for Your Workforce

Getting through a busy day at the office can be hard enough, but when you throw hunger and thirst into the mix, your workforce can give the work ‘hangry’ new meaning! Keeping the team energised, motivated, hydrated, and comfortable is about more than just a comfy chair and a water cooler in the staff room. Think about the details – we are in no way saying you should provide a 3 course lunch every day, but drinks and snacks can make all the difference to workplace morale!

Whether you’re setting up a new business, or looking to overhaul your current offices, offering the best drinks and snacks to your employees will go a long way to keeping them happy. Below, we’ll be covering the essentials, the ‘naughty but nice’, and some healthy swaps, showing how to strike the right balance between variety and practicality.

Why do office drinks and snacks matter?

Think about the last time you craved a mid-morning coffee or reached for an afternoon biscuit. These moments aren’t just about satisfying hunger or quenching thirst. They’re mini breaks that can help us reset, recharge and refocus!

Research shows that providing free (or subsidised) drinks and snacks can increase productivity and concentration, improve employee satisfaction and morale, reduce temptation to leave the office, and can support healthier habits when the right options are provided. In a nutshell, a well-stocked office kitchen or break room is an investment in your workforce.

The Essentials – Drinks that Every Office Needs

Fresh Water

It may sound obvious, but water is the most important drink in your workplace. Staying hydrated improves your cognitive function, can reduce fatigue, and can help regulate mood. At Cooleraid, we supply a range of water coolers, both bottled and mains fed, so your workers will always have access to clean, chilled water. A water cooler placed in your office will also encourage people to get up and move about now and again, which is another small but healthy habit during the long workday. Of course, businesses wishing to reduce their carbon footprint should encourage reusable bottles and cups, and discourage singe use plastics.

Coffee

You might think of coffee as fuel; we think of it as a ritual. For so many of us, the day doesn’t really start until we’ve had our first cup! A good office coffee machine provides consistent barista style drinks without the coffee shop price tag.

From bean to cup machines, and pod based systems, the right setup makes sure that your team can enjoy espresso, cappuccino, latte, or whatever they need as a pick-me-up. At Cooleraid, our Flavia systems are perfect for busy offices, so you can keep the team energised with a caffeine fix without the queue at the local coffee shop.

Tea

As not everybody likes or drinks coffee, tea is still one of the nation’s favourite drinks! And it doesn't have to be builders’ strength. There are so many different varieties of tea, and each of them can offer different health benefits. Peppermint tea after lunch, or chamomile tea in the late afternoon for example, can be soothing and good for digestion.

Juices and flavoured water

While water and hot drinks are (in our humble opinion) must haves, a small variety of natural juices or flavoured waters can be a refreshing alternative. Just remember that fruit juices are high is sugars, even if they’re naturally occurring ones, and some squashes can contain additives. Look for natural, no added sugar options.

The Best Office Snacks

A good office snack selection should get the balance between indulgence and health. Too many sugary treats can lead to that dreaded 3pm slump, but overly strict ‘healthy only’ options can feel uninspiring.

Healthy staples

Fruit is always a winner! Apples, bananas, and satsumas are affordable, easy to store, and most importantly, easy to eat. Nuts and seeds provide protein and healthy fats, while being a crowd pleaser, while rice cakes or oatcakes are light, crunchy, and go well with spreads.

Protein boosters

Protein helps keep you feeling fuller for longer, so keep your fridge stocked with yogurt pots, protein bars and individual cheese portions.

Classic treats

It would be really boring to forget the fun stuff! Some biscuits, chocolate bars, or crisps can be a weekly treat, maybe on a Friday afternoon. Everything in moderation, after all!

Tips for staying stocked!

• People are more likely to grab a piece of fruit, or visit the water cooler if they’re attractively displayed and easy to access.

• Ask your team to find out their favourites – it’s pointless buying snacks that nobody wants to eat.

• Think about storage. Airtight containers will help keep things fresher for longer. Make sure your fridge is kept clean and at the right temperature.

• Cut down on waste by providing mugs, glasses, plates and cutlery. Disposables are not always sustainable!

How Cooleraid Can Help

While snacks are easy to rotate and buy in, your drinks provision should be reliable and long-lasting. That’s where we come in. At Cooleraid, we supply:

• Water coolers (bottled and mains-fed) for fresh, chilled hydration.
• Coffee machines tailored to office needs (we also supply a coin operated version, enabling you to charge on a per-drink basis).

These core essentials are the backbone of any great office setup, keeping your workforce hydrated, caffeinated, and ready to work their hardest for you.

Founded over 30 years ago, we offer a nationwide service in the UK supplying water coolers, hot water boilers and bottle filling stations and hot water taps to schools, universities, businesses and the NHS. We pride ourselves on excellent customer retention and rapidly increasing new contract levels and we believe this is down to our commitment for providing water coolers to suit your needs at a cost that suits your budget! Contact us here for more information.