The ROI of Snacks: Small Perks, Big Impact on Workplace Happiness

How Industrious Designs Food Moments That Matter

When companies assume a pizza party is all it takes to bring people back into the office, we can’t help but giggle. They’re onto something, just not the whole story. 

Food can absolutely motivate people, but its real value lies in the connections and stories it inspires. That’s why we have a team dedicated to curating food and beverage experiences across all our markets.

We know that small workplace perks and hospitality details contribute to culture, morale, and productivity, going beyond surface-level benefits. According to CBRE, food and beverage amenities are cited by 39% of companies as a key factor in office experience and attraction. When companies clearly communicate those office benefits, they see higher attendance, with 57% of firms doing so reporting an average attendance of three days a week or more.

We’ve found that small gestures like curated snacks and coffee rituals have a measurable impact on happiness, attendance and belonging, which is why we consistently design these moments into our work experience philosophy. 

At most offices, snacks are a perk. At Industrious, they’re proof of care. It’s a small but powerful signal of how we design for people, not square footage. We curate snacks and beverages seasonally and regionally to reflect care and variety, choosing partners who are aligned with our sustainability, wellness, and quality goals. 

We spoke with Melissa Zelko, Operations Program Manager at Industrious, to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we choose our food and beverage options. 

Powerhouse of the day

Breakfast is the most important part of the day, and we are happy to provide it. We choose localized options, built into a regional menu to provide for flexibility. That means if you’re a traveling Industrious member, you’ll find a familiar experience wherever you go—yet one that’s tailored to the local community. Think of it like staying at your favorite hotel chain: the comfort is consistent, but each location adds something of its own. We aim for that same balance of comfort and curiosity, keeping members excited to see how we bring quality to life in fresh ways each time. 

What does that look like in action? For example, in Austin, you can find breakfast tacos from Tex Mex Joe’s, but in Nashville, expect chicken and waffles from The Pepper Pott. Or, that might be empanadas from The Nada Cart in Boston and Bergen Bagels in New York.

“We really want our communities and our individual locations to feel individualized, to really serve the communities that are there,” said Zelko.

We empower team members to work with local businesses for what makes sense to the market they are in. Sometimes, that starts with members first, who are encouraged to provide suggestions on what they wish they saw more or less of.

Everything that we choose is seasonality-infused. This fall, that looked like a pumpkin pie spice oatmeal offering. Earlier this summer, it was orange creamsicle oats during National Ice Cream Month. But it’s seasonal based on your location. While one spot might be focused on pumpkin this fall, others might be leaning toward apples if they’re grown nearby.

But one thing we never overlook is how breakfast will leave you feeling for the rest of the day. Zelko responds to member feedback that may say, “I don’t want a sugary breakfast,” and instead focuses on power throughout the day. 

“When I’m coming up with a breakfast item, I’m really thinking about what long-lasting carbohydrates it has,” said Zelko. “Do you have a protein that you know can help you feel satiated, to carry you through your block of meetings until you can get a lunch or snack?”

Beverages are our best friends

Coffee, coffee, coffee. What is a good coworking destination without good coffee? One that we don’t want to go to!

We offer craft coffee in two distinct brews, produced in small batches by local roasters, with each machine calibrated to the temperature recommended by the roaster to bring out the best flavor. 

“Nobody compliments you when the air conditioning is the right temperature, but you’re going to know when it’s the wrong temperature,” said Zelko. “You’re going to know if your members do not like your coffee, because they’ll tell you.”

At Industrious, that feedback is positive, and their one request is more of it. Listening to feedback, we’ve begun to offer espresso at a few of our locations. 

“In some respects, it’s fuel, but another part, it’s an experience,” said Zelko. “It’s a ritual that they can look forward to every day.”

But besides coffee, we partner with Bevi to offer still or sparkling, flavored or unflavored water, which doesn’t use any artificial sweeteners or dyes. We also serve Smith Tea and Fruit Water. That’s all able to be enjoyed with universally loved pebble ice.

“One location might have a guava flavor with coconut and lemon, but another might be orange and mint,” said Zelko. “It’s just another way that folks have a delicious, qualitative experience.”

Special events: how we celebrate and why it matters

Besides our weekly happy hours, we try to gather around food and beverages in other ways, too. As a member of Industrious, you’ve probably taken part in at least one of our special events centered around food and beverage. Our latest, to celebrate Halloween, was a special Char-boo-terie board for grazing. 

Others include special happy hours, like an English tea party, or events catered to larger moments like the Kentucky Derby, when we had a barbecue slider bar. To commemorate our new location opening in Berlin, we had a themed Oktoberfest with pretzels, mustards and cheeses. To launch our summer passport series, our happy hour leaned into fresh fruits and veggies, with themed Palomas and an immersive activity.

Above all, it’s a way to connect.

“We’re creating opportunities throughout the day with our food and beverage program to make sure that people have an opportunity to come out, connect with other people, or connect with themselves,” said Zelko.

Accommodating and communicating dietary restrictions 

For anything we offer, we are mindful about dietary restrictions, offering vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and kosher options. It is a part of our promise to be intentional and prescriptive. A key component of that is offering variety.

“When I’m creating the food and beverage menu, I take into consideration people’s dietary restrictions, people’s religious differences, and what they can and can’t eat, ensuring there is a variety of different food types,” said Zelko. 

For the snacks left out all day, members can easily locate nutritional labels to see allergens and if they fit within their dietary restrictions. 

“Snacks are one of those things that differentiate us from any of our competitors,” said Zelko. 

And it’s true. If you get a chance to ask any Industrious member about what their favorite part is about coming to one of our offices, they won’t finish their sentences before mentioning the snacks and food. Our member feedback and surveys back that same sentiment. Knowing that you can grab food in between a wall of meetings tells our members that we care about them.

The connection that gathering around food brings leaves the water cooler moment in the past, making way for more opportunities to gather and enjoy food together. With posted times for breakfast, snacks and happy hours, members can plan their schedules to be a part of a window of networking.

“Food is one of those things where you need it to survive with nutrients in your body, but you also need it as a way to connect with other people,” said Zelko.