Most Popular Concession Stand Foods

If you are running a concession stand or thinking about starting one, knowing the best types of food to serve is essential to the success of your business. However, choosing the right foods is not simply choosing from a list of the top selling concession foods. You also have to consider the types of events you will be attending and the foods that are most popular at those venues. The most popular foods sold at sporting events are generally different than the food sold at an outdoor art exhibition or a county fair. Knowing the customer base for the events that you want to be based at will help you determine the best items for your menu.

It is important to keep in mind that even though an event can often deteMost Popular Concession Stand Foodsrmine which type of food is the best food to sell, some types of food seem to be favorites no matter where they are sold. In this article, we will focus on the types of food that do well anywhere. These foods are appropriate for nearly any concession stand.

Hot Dogs

Quick, easy, tasty, and one of the most popular foods in the nation, hot dogs will generally sell very well no matter where you are selling them. From the ballpark to the carnival and beyond, you can make your hot dog offerings special by changing some of toppings you offer your customers. Of course, you need to have standard condiments like, mustard, relish, onions. and of course, ketchup. However, consider offering Chicago style dogs with tomatoes, peppers, and pickles. Cheese and bacon bits can add flavor to hot dogs as can chili. And you can't go wrong if you have toppings of sauerkraut and BBQ sauce on hand too.

Pretzels

Big, chewy pretzels are a wonderful treat, and displaying them temptingly in aheated merchandisercan do wonders for increasing sales. There are also lots of different options for toppings that you can add to your pretzel menu that will make the crowds line up at your booth. Cheese is excellent choice, and many enjoy wrapping bacon around their pretzels. You can also choose sweet toppings. The choice is yours and having a broad selection is a good idea in order to introduce some variety to your menu. However, limit the options so as not to overwhelm your customer base.

Fried Stuff

Fried foods, as unhealthy as they might be, are popular concession stand sellers. Concession stands at county fairs, ballparks, movie theaters and other events will often have a host of different fried food options. The fried creations are an attraction onto themselves, and they may help draw business to your booth. Aside from ever popular French fries, some popular fried concoctions out there include fried Snickers bars, fried pickles, fried Twinkies, and even fried butter. Funnel cakes are also a popular treat and are an easy sell at any concession stand. These items require an initial investment of a fryer and then - it's up to you how much you want to fry.

Healthy Stuff

With more and more consumers on the lookout for healthy options while out at a concert, ballpark or fair with family and friends, more and more vendors are offering healthy grab and go items that are not typically seen in concession stands. These include items that are prepared off-site and stored at your stand. They include items such as fruit cups, a variety of roasted nuts, sliced veggies with humus, applesauce, popcorn (without butter), trail mix, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and more.

Prepackaged Items

It is also a good idea to have some prepackaged items for sale such as potato chips, candy, crackers, and gum, at your stand. While these items are not always necessary, you can determine if they are based on the other items for sale at your stand. For example, if you only sell hot dogs, adding prepackaged items would be recommended. Remember, you can easily determine which prepackaged foods will be most popular through good old trial and error.

Beverages

It is also important to include beverages on any concession stand menu. These can be cans of soda, bottled water and even coffee and tea. Hot and cold beverages are highly profitable menu items that are always in demand.

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