Do refreshments for employees actually help buy-in during rollout presentations?

I say go for it

I always find it amazing the influence that little things like refreshments have on people.
I think it shows that you are thinking about them and that you are prepared the buy into this.
Not sure on your comment about walking around and causing distraction. Is it to do with the way that you are training these guys?

It depend what you have in mind. A few selection of biscuits on the table with jugs of juice or water to fill up cups, would cause minimal disruption. Tea and coffee for people to serve themselves could cause more disruption.

Or how about holding the meetings, but handle the refreshments in one or two shifts for everyone separately?

Or you could get a breakfast roll for everyone at the beginning of the day, then move onto the training sessions for everyone.

Lots of different ways to have "refreshments" with varying levels of disruption.

Hope you manage to find something that suits you.

And just to add, yes I think refreshments can help with buy-in and can be seen as a reward for their participation.
You just need to decide what is suitable for the number of people involved.

Have you considered asking them what they'd like? I'm almost certain they'll say yes, they do want refreshments. But get some feedback on what they'd like to eat and drink. Most likely you'll have a spectrum ranging from healthy snacks such as fruits and OJ to whatever the local equivalent of a cinnamon roll is. The trick is to now how much of each to have.

As a trainer with many years of experience, by all means have refreshments. Especially if you are starting at the beginning of their work shift. Some people need caffeine and will be in a negative state of mind if they don't get their favorite drink. 

Having their favorite refreshment puts them in a better frame of mind and paves the way for them to accept your proposed behavior change.

Had to chime in on this one.  To me the important part of providing food is that when people break bread together, it strengthens their relationship.  So, by all means, provide refreshments - but be sure to include time for you to participate, socialize a bit, etc.  It doesn't have to take long, even 15 minutes will help.

This has always worked for me during my longer training sessions for all of the reasons listed above.  The key to making it successful and minimizing disruption is to follow the M-T guidance on meeting breaks.  If you give your trainees a break every hour, they'll be able to get up, use the facilities, get refreshments, and return with a better mental state for learning.

The worst result I've ever had with refreshments was that during one training session, nobody ate the donuts. I found out later that they were "bagel people."  So, to that point, figure out what they'd appreciate.

Please let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out for you.

--Steve

I am a huge foodie. I love having food at a class, event, and here in the middle east even an office call demands tea and at least a cookie or candy.  If the class is very early or more than a couple of hours a snack or continental breakfast is nice. But it's important to remember that treats won't create buy in for a bad idea or a "training" that is really meant to bash people over the head.  Make the training useful to the employees is what's most important. My feeling is that all of the tools we give employees should make it easier for them to do their jobs, not harder.  That said, it never hurts to have a treat or two.