Isabella
October 18, 2020
Food is an integral part of most of our day-to-day activities. Whether it be a baseball game or a night at the cinemas, food is always there to enhance the overall experience. This is why concession stands have been a mainstay in most modern institutions and establishments. However, due to recent events cinemas and sports arenas have been ordered to close indefinitely. Saying that this is damaging to concessions stands is an understatement, as the industry has surely taken a hit. In order to cope with the pandemic, establishments have resorted to a pick-up and delivery only system. To help you out in this time of need, we’ve put together a list of the most popular concession food items along with a brief guide on how to make them, so you can allocate efforts into making the best sellers that will hopefully keep your business afloat during these trying times.
Burrito
This item is a little different compared to the other two, as it takes slightly more time to make. However, don’t count this snack out as it is undoubtedly one of the most popular in the nation. So much so that burritos even have a day dedicated just for them. When it comes to making burritos, everything relies on how much you prepare. You’ll just have to invest time in preparing the proteins, rice, and vegetables, as all that will be left to do once that’s done is to wrap the ingredients up in a tortilla. The prep time will be worth it as burritos, on average, have a 346% price markup making it one of the more profitable items on this list. You can even get around the costly prep time by using kitchen tools to optimize the entire process. Something you should invest in is a reliable rice cooker that can cook big batches of rice. Selecting rice cookers that are reviewed highly is a safe bet, and so is choosing multi-functional ones that can cook different types of rice as this will give your customers more options. The added customizability will also do your business good as add-ons are another reliable way to increase profits. As of this writing, there is yet to be evidence of non-person to person transmission meaning that getting the virus from food is highly unlikely. With that being said, most (if not all) of your sales from pick-ups so it would be in everyone’s best interest to strictly adhere to proper hand washing procedures.
Popcorn
Now, you can’t have a list talking about the most popular concession food items without including popcorn. Popcorn is not only one of the most beloved snacks but is also one that has been around since time immemorial, as ancient popcorn kernels have been found at archaeological sites in Chile. The snack has been a staple at the cinemas for as long as we can remember, so much so that a movie feels incomplete without a bucket of popcorn by your side. What makes this snack so great is how easy it is to make. All you’ll need are the kernels and a machine that does all the work for you. Throw in a couple of flavorings such as butter, cheese, and caramel and you can expect profit margins of up to 80%. You may want to consider selling kernels in bulk, as it seems to be the most practical option while people are encouraged to stay at home. Other establishments have resorted to this as well, turning their stores into de facto groceries.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are one of America’s most beloved snacks. In fact, around 150 million hot dogs are consumed across the country on the 4th of July alone — cementing the humble hot dog’s place in the pantheon of American snack food. Hot dogs are popular among concessionaires as they’re incredibly easy to make. Just throw some sausages on the grill and cook them to completion. From there you can mix it up by giving your customers a wide array of condiments. Take note, however, that some condiments (ketchup in particular) are frowned upon in some states. No matter how one chooses to enjoy their hot dog, there’s no questioning that it deserves its spot on the list of most popular concession foods. Due to the ease of preparation and simplicity of the ingredients, hot dogs offer a markup of roughly 300%. Other than the two tips stated above, following strict contactless pickup protocols should decrease the chance of transmission. It also helps that delivery services such as Instacart, DoorDash, and Postmates offer contactless delivery options — minimizing risk on both ends. If you’re looking for more articles to help you optimize your concession stand operations, check out our article on solutions for staffing struggles!