New data from VendEase shows what went into building the Olympic Park
This one’s for people who like trivia. Ahem: around 46,000 construction workers helped build the Olympic Park and Village for London 2012. That’s a lot of builders’ tums.
And when a cheese and pickle sarnie just wasn’t enough, those builders needed a Boost. 7,000 of them, in fact. Every month.
VendEase
New data just released by VendEase, supplier of onsite vending machines during the Park’s construction, shows the snack of choice for hungry builders was Cadbury’s Boost Bar.
When they’d worked up an appetite, famished builders headed for one of 25 onsite vending machines to relieve their hunger pangs and get a much needed pick-me-up. At 310 calories a bar, workers munched their way through more than 2 million calories a month in Boosts alone.
At 310 calories a bar, workers munched their way through more than 2 million calories a month in Boosts alone.
Top seller Boost was closely followed by Twirl, Wispa and Snack Shortcake but ravenous roofers, peckish plasterers and starving scaffolders were also sinking their teeth into a whole range of crisps, drinks and sweets.
Dave Berman, director of UK-based VendEase said: “The Olympic Park Big Build was a military operation and we’re proud to have played our part in keeping that army of builders marching on its stomach.
Vending machines have proved their worth
“Once again, vending machines have proved their worth in providing a 24/7 service where it’s needed most. Whether it’s snacks and crisps on construction sites, swimming goggles in leisure centres or toiletries in hotel lobbies, vending machines deliver a service to consumers in an age when convenience is King.”
As well as 24 hour access to sweet treats, Olympic Park construction workers were well looked after. There were 11 canteens on site, which served up to 350 people a day with breakfasts, lunches and snacks. And getting around the 2.5 square kilometre site was easy thanks to the 21 buses that transported workers along 5km of temporary roads. In addition, workers had access to an onsite fuel and service station for construction vehicles, a mail service, a health centre and a dedicated radio network.
Here are a few more quirky Olympic Park stats. Throw them into the conversation over mince pies and sherry.
- The Park was home to 10,000 temporary toilets – enough to service the entire population of Malta.
- 70 sheep, 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens and three sheepdogs took part in the opening ceremony.
- Five jumbo jets could fit into the Park’s International Broadcast Centre.
- Four skeletons were discovered and removed from a prehistoric settlement discovered on the site of the Aquatic Centre.
- 4,000 smooth newts, 100 toads and 300 common lizards relocated off the Park, as well as fish including pikes and eels.
- The Stadium contains around 10,000 tonnes of steel – the lightest Olympic Stadium to date.
- 150,000 condoms were provided to competitors in the athletes’ village.
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