Vending Sense x London Fire Brigade x Nebrak

the challengE

An Outdated Catering Mode

London Fire Brigade (LFB) was operating an outdated contract catering model with limited food options, poor flexibility for dietary needs, and an inefficient setup that didn’t support the round-the-clock nature of their teams. The lunchtime-focused provision left shift workers, including control staff, non-operational and non-uniformed personnel, without access to food during off-peak hours.

The canteen space, already underutilised, was hit further by the effects of COVID-19. With fewer people on site, the setup became increasingly redundant and financially wasteful. LFB needed a more sustainable, cost-effective, and flexible solution that could adapt to the evolving needs of their workforce.

The Solution

A Fully Bespoke, 24/7 Micro Market

Partnering with Vending Sense, Nebrak was commissioned to design, build, and install a fully bespoke micro market furniture solution. The brief outlined the need to meet LFB’s operational, nutritional, and environmental goals. Additionally, it included a specific equipment specification provided by Vending Sense.

To deliver a true 24/7 offering, suitable for the varied levels of demand across shift patterns, we designed a considered retail layout. By clearly separating zones for ambient snacks and fresh food refrigeration, we ensured a smooth and intuitive user flow. As a result, staff could easily access a wide selection of chilled drinks, fresh meals, and everyday essentials, whenever they needed them, day or night.

Intelligent Layout for a Smooth Staff Experience

To keep customer flow running smoothly, we positioned the Nayax self-scan payment system away from the fridges and the ambient market area. This layout lets users grab a quick coffee without disrupting others selecting food, boosting both efficiency and experience, especially during busy shift changes.

Our fit-out included:

• Two refrigerated merchandisers for fresh food and chilled drinks
• Four-tier shelving for ambient snacks and grab-and-go products
• Two industrial microwaves for food heating
• Two award-winning Coffetek Vitro X3 bean-to-cup coffee machines
• A dedicated cashless, contactless payment zone

Quality Materials and Finishing Touches

We built all of the modules in Egger light oak decorative board and added bespoke branding from our in-house print studio. This created a cohesive look that reflects the LFB identity.

LED lighting across the setup boosts energy efficiency and showcases products. We also fitted equipment brushes on all refrigeration units. These subtle details help reduce noise, block debris, and extend equipment life. Proving it’s the little things that set Nebrak apart.

The build

• Furniture: Egger H3326 ST28 Grey-Beige Gladstone Oak
• Work Surface: Egger Boston Concrete F283

Egger is a leading international family-owned wood-based material manufacturer. Since 1961 they have been responsibly sourcing and producing sustainable wood materials to the highest quality. Materials in this project were selected from The Decorative Collection 24+

All components were chosen to support ease of use, energy efficiency, and minimal environmental impact.

the results

 

£1M+

saved over 5 years by replacing traditional catering with a micro market

95%

of products plastic-free, supporting LFB’s sustainability goals.

24/7

access to fresh, hot and cold food for all staff, regardless of shift.