10 Most Profitable Concession Stand Foods

With concession stand profits ranging from 5-20% based on the items sold, it’s clear that menu selection can make a big impact on your business’ success. If you’re not sure what foods are the best money-makers, this list of the 10 most profitable concession stand foods will guide you in developing a lucrative menu that’ll boost your bottom line while also satisfying customers.

Nachos & Cheese

Due to the inexpensive ingredients, easy preparation and strong demand, nachos are often one of the most profitable concession stand foods. To maximize profitability, portion each serving consistently instead of estimating by the handful so you can manage inventory accurately, leading to more efficiency and lower costs. Additionally, be sure to charge extra for add-ons like salsa or guacamole to boost revenue even more.

Tacos

From standard Tex-Mex to traditional Mexican, tacos are a simple, handheld snack that are perfect for entertainment venues. Since most of these destinations have limited seating, consider offering “walking tacos,” which are single-serving size bags of corn chips filled with traditional toppings like ground beef, lettuce and cheese: besides being easy to eat while standing, they’re also a novelty, so you can get away with charging a bit more without driving away customers.

Hot Dogs

According to concession equipment manufacturer Gold Medal Products, hot dogs have a potential profit margin of 73%. Even though standard hot dogs are always a hit, small details like toasting the buns or offering a variety of condiments can differentiate yours from competitors and score a home run with customers, increasing demand and thus profits. Or, diversify your menu with corn dogs instead: anything fried is almost guaranteed to sell well.

Soft Pretzels

Made with simple ingredients and minimal labor, soft pretzels are a staple on concession stand menus for a reason: they’re great money-makers. Although they’re delicious plain or salted, offering dipping sauces like cheese, mustard or even chocolate gives you the opportunity to upsell an add-on. Since most customers will order a drink as well, putting pretzels on your menu can increase sales of other items, too.

Popcorn

Given the long shelf life and quick cooking time of kernels, it should be no surprise that the profit margin of popcorn can be over 100%. Besides purchasing in bulk and minimizing waste, you can make popcorn more profitable by charging more for butter or cheese-flavored varieties. If you want to appeal to more customers, use a plant-based oil to make your popcorn suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Cotton Candy

Cotton candy is an iconic carnival snack that’s also one of the most profitable concession stand foods. Although the spectacle of making fresh cotton candy gets peoples’ attention, pre-packaged options in resealable bags are great because they let customers save some for later. And since bagged varieties require no labor, they’re a win-win for business owners, too.

Roasted Nuts

For something a bit healthier yet still delicious, consider offering roasted nuts. Although pre-packaged nuts don’t require any labor or equipment, roasting the nuts on-site releases an aroma that’s sure to draw a crowd. Similar to pretzels, people who buy nuts are likely to buy a drink as well, leading to even more revenue and profits per customer.

Bottled Water

As reported by Reader’s Digest, the markup on bottle water can be as high as 4000%, making it one of the most profitable items wherever it’s sold, including at concession stands. If you want to make as much money as possible, make sure it’s nice and cold: there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day, so you’re almost guaranteed to sell a lot at a busy baseball stadium or amusement park.

Healthy Options

In addition to roasted nuts, it’s a good idea to offer other healthy options at your concession stand since more people are looking to eat better. Simple snacks like packaged crackers or pita chips, quick meals like simple sandwiches or deli wraps and light desserts like fruit cups or yogurt parfaits are all attractive items with wide appeal for which you can charge a nice markup.

Ice Cream

Ice cream is an almost universally-loved dessert that’s also very profitable, especially since you can charge extra for mix-ins like nuts and toppings like fudge. Although premium, scoopable ice cream is always in-demand, soft serve requires less labor and facilitates consistent portions, increasing profitability. For people who are dairy-free or want something a bit less rich, consider offering other frozen treats like slushies, sorbet or Italian ice as well.