Creative (and Tasty) Ways to Sell Fudge This Fall!

Farms and orchards are gearing up for fall festivals, and while there are many seasonal snacks that are proven sellers, it’s important to remember year-round favorites such as fudge. If you’re looking for ways to sell fudge, you’ve come to the right place; Gold Medal offers the Sweet Selections® Fudge Mixer and 1-STEP fudge mixes that you can use as a base to create fall-specific treats for your concession business.

First, select your flavor. The easiest flavors to start with are chocolate and vanilla. All you need to do is add butter and water to the mix. If you want to take it up a notch for your customers, add seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice or salted caramel to the Sweet Selections® base mix. Easy to make with a convenient batch size, it is very simple to test different signature flavor recipes. Take advantage of this and push the limits!

Add an extra level of delight when you market your fudge with creative names like Freaky Fudge (add googly-eyes or use green food coloring in vanilla fudge), Fall Fudge (with orange, red, and yellow sprinkles or M&Ms), and Candy Corn Craze. Lightly press these special touches into each batch of fudge before it cools.

If you want to go an extra step, use cookie-cutters to create fun shapes. Ghosts, leaves, pumpkins, and bats are easy shapes to find at this time of year. When the fudge has completely cooled, use fall-inspired packaging as another way to get the attention of your customers.

You can get set up in time to use all of these great fudge ideas this season! Contact us today and we’ll help you get the process started.

Do you have any other ways to add a seasonal twist to your concessions?  Call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074.

Favorite Fall Flavors and Ideas for Concessions!

It may be early August, but if you’re already planning for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, and other fall festivities then you’re on the path to success. Fortunately for those in the concession business, autumn treats will be top of mind for the general public, and we’re here to help you sell them.

Surprise customers of all ages with items such as pumpkin funnel cakes with cream cheese icing (use Gold Medal Pumpkin Spice Flavoring #1391) and fall spice cotton candy (Gold Medal Flossugar flavor #3229). It’s also a smart idea to have kettle corn and gourmet popcorn available; go the extra mile and use Corn Treats to create an orange and black popcorn that your customers will love.

When it comes to selling concessions at fall festivals, caramel apples are a must. Make parents (aka, your paying customers) happy with a caramel apple decorating station for the kids. Set up a table with shakers that contain sprinkles, mini marshmallows, chopped nuts, crushed Oreo’s, mini M&Ms, mini chocolate chips – the sky’s the limit! This also creates an almost guaranteed photo-op that families will share on social media, helping to increase your reach.

If you’re new to selling caramel apples, start with the Gold Medal #4211C High-Output Twin Caramel Apple Dip Warmer. To see a 62-74% profit you need only a few supplies: apples, Reddy Apple Mix, Setterstix, and Apple Bags. Call us today so that we can help you get all the carnival food supplies you need for a successful season.

Have you experimented with caramel apple decorations and toppings? Join the conversation on our Facebook page and follow our Caramel Apples board on Pinterest for even more ideas!

Starting a Gourmet Popcorn Business!

Popcorn is an all-time favorite, loved by grownups and children equally! Visit any local movie theater and the scent in the air is like it just rained butter and caramel.

One of the many reasons that the gourmet popcorn business is gaining popularity is due to the low startup cost and gourmet flavored popcorn is straightforward enough to make with easily available flavorings, popcorn machines and off the shelf kitchen equipment that will fit right into any kiosk or modest storefront.

What makes popcorn gourmet is simply the creative aspects of it! Therefore, you are someone who loves cooking and experimenting with different ingredients, seasoning and recipes, starting a gourmet popcorn shop is no doubt a right fit business idea for you!

Come to to West Coast Gourmet Popcorn Day, hosted by Beach Cities Wholesalers. 

This event is being held at the Business Expo Center in Anaheim, California on November 14th. It will feature a morning session focused on industry trends, start-up costs, production & product costs, and marketing strategies. Our guest speakers include some of the most knowledgeable experts in the Gourmet Popcorn industry.

Our goal is to give you a day filled with new snack ideas and marketing information on the incredibly profitable popcorn products that will enhance your already successful operation.

SPACE IS LIMITED! Sign up at our website: 

http://beachcitieswholesalers.com/gourmet-popcorn-day.htm.

Please call me if you have any questions. Tom 661-713-2281 or call my office at 562-355-4074.

We look forward to seeing you on November 14th at West Coast Gourmet Popcorn Day!

Sweet and Salty: Why Fudge and Popcorn Should Be on Your Stock List!

When you have customers coming into your grocery or retail store looking for something specific, having impulse items like snacks available is a no-brainer. But not all snacks are equal; fudge and gourmet popcorn in particular will give you a significant profit margin, and both are easy to make and sell.

Simply start with a few basic gourmet popcorn supplies and products, such as Gold Medal popcorn and Sweet Selections® wholesale fudge mix. We’ll help you with the rest.

And if you’re considering selling popcorn and/or fudge but haven’t committed yet, consider these key Gold Medal advantages:

• Easy to Make: When you work with our user-friendly equipment, the process isn’t labor intensive.
• Attractive Margins: The high perceived value of popcorn and fudge produces profit margins that have a 70-80% average.
• Popular: With the wide variety of flavors available to you (from caramel corn to vanilla swirl fudge and everything in between), these options help you attract customers.
• Versatile: There’s a range of set-up options that work for settings from grocery stores to tourist attractions, gift shops, cafés, and more.
• Unique: You can even make your snacks private-label! Gold Medal offers display and packaging design guidance to walk you through the process with expert advice. Learn specific flavors for fudge and more (start with this Sweet Selections® Recipe download!)

3 More Reasons to Choose Gold Medal Products:

• Technical Support: Have a question about the equipment? Call/email us at your convenience.
• One-Stop Shop: Take advantage of the best combination of fudge and popcorn supplies and products. We have everything you need and we’re happy to share our knowledge.
• Display and Retail Consulting: If you’re new to selling products, let us share advice on how to display your concessions in your space so your work is streamlined and your stand is attractive to customers.

Our team even helps design in-store production layouts for you!

Selling popcorn and fudge is a great way to increase your profits. Note that it’s also easy to mix in an additive such as shake-on flavors for popcorn or candy pieces for fudge to broaden your menu. Having both snacks for sale will allow your customers to satisfy their salty or sweet cravings (and more, depending on the varieties you offer).

Beach Cities Wholesalers is holding our second West Coast Gourment Popcorn Day on November 14th in Anaheim.  Click here to attend and find out more information about adding Gourment Popcorn to your menu or starting a new Gourmet Popcorn business!

Call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074 for more information to grow your business!

Is your sports concession stand ready for the upcoming season? If you take the time to follow a checklist of a few simple best practices, you’ll be able to keep your lines moving and your sales increasing. Here are some food concession ideas to improve your efficiency.

Concession Equipment

No matter what type of equipment you have, start with a thorough cleaning. This is the number one way to avoid performance issues. Tip: use an ammonia-free cleaner, which will be easier on your equipment.

Have your machine serviced to help prevent any unplanned breakdowns.

Make sure you have essential items on-hand, such as extra blades for the Saratoga Swirls® Fry Cutter or ribbons for cotton candy makers.

Concession Supplies

Stock up on popular flavorings or seasonings (including popcorn flavors in your team’s colors!). You’ll want to order these ahead of time so you don’t run out. Remember non-food essentials like cups, napkins, food trays, cleaning supplies, etc.

With the right supplies, you can even try adding menu items such as Funnel Swirls® or Funnel Fingers™ as an alternative to funnel cakes. It’s a simple twist that will get the attention of your customers.

Staff

Make sure all of your staff is trained on the concession equipment and safety precautions. If your team is efficiently working the machines and packaging the food, your lines will keep moving smoothly.

Training should also include the importance of ongoing cleaning throughout the shifts. Note that the condiments/napkins area might not be in your staff’s direct line of vision, so make it a point to have someone periodically tidy up the area.

If you have questions about your Gold Medal concession equipment, supplies, or training, contact us today and we’ll be glad to offer our expertise so you have a successful season.

Call Beach Cities Wholesalers today at 562-355-4074 and let us help you have the concessions year ever!

Stand Out with These Fall Fair Food Ideas!

This fall, make more sales by tailoring your concession stand to the season! Take advantage of the following concession ideas, which target a broader customer base, as well as Halloween-specific treats.

Ideas for Fall Fair Foods

Fall weather can be unpredictably cool, so be prepared and have hot chocolate available for sale. For an extra touch (and perhaps additional charge), include mini-marshmallows to top it off.

Caramel and candy apples are a must for this time of year. Note that when it comes to apple varieties, Granny smiths are a great choice because their tartness pairs well with the sweet candy coating.

While hot dogs are popular fair foods year-round, offering them at a fall festival gives attendees an easy-to-eat meal option as they walk around and take in the sights. Make your hot dogs even more appealing when you offer toppings such as spicy mayo, BBQ sauce, or honey mustard.

(Like these fair food ideas? Click here to Tweet them!)

Halloween Touches

Put your caramel popcorn to work this season and add a special touch with your packaging. A fun way to sell caramel popcorn is to drop it into clear plastic gloves; first, place a dark chocolate Hershey’s kiss (with purple wrapping) into the fingertips, fill with caramel popcorn, then tie it off with a purple ribbon. To keep the lines and popcorn moving, prepare these in advance and have them sitting out where customers can see them.

If that’s too time-consuming, you can always toss a handful of candy corn into each bag of popcorn. If you’re using clear plastic bags, customers will see the extra touch and be enticed to indulge in this Halloween staple.

Another simple way to make your snacks stand out is to lightly press gummy worms into your batch of fresh fudge before it cools. The kids will love this creepy-crawly touch!

What’s your favorite fall fair food? Send us your answer on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/BeachCitiesWholesalers

And stay tuned here at the Gold Medal blog – next, we’ll share the hottest concession trends for fall sports.

Frightfully Fun Halloween Menu Ideas for Fall Attractions!

When your guests are so hungry they seem like zombies, it’s time for menu selections that will satisfy their appetite. We’ve scared up some Halloween favorites that apply whether you have a farm, haunted house, fall attraction, or a fundraising event and you’re looking for ideas to maximize fall sales. Promote these specials in your advertising to give your location added appeal this fall season.

Freaky Fudge: Take your favorite flavor and mix in gummy worms or gummy insects. Use food coloring to turn your vanilla flavor orange, then layer it on top of chocolate and top with a piece of candy corn.

Creepy Cotton Candy: Kids will love cotton candy made to look like a spider’s web. Add in a black plastic spider ring for that added scary touch!

Petrifying Popcorn: There’s so much you can do with popcorn. Color it orange and shape into pumpkin-shaped balls. Or take clear gloves, place a single candy corn in each of the finger tips and fill with popcorn to make Halloween Hands.

Dracula’s Candy Apples: Dip the apple into white chocolate. After it has cooled, gently top it with red candy apple mix and let the liquid candy stream down to make it appear like dripping blood.

Mummy Dogs: One of the simplest recipes! Wrap hot dogs in a strip of dough and leave ½ inch uncovered (this space will be used for the mummy’s face). Bake until golden, then use mustard to make eyes that will appear to be glowing.

Zombie Nachos: Break out the green food coloring and the nacho cheese dispenser – when you add the color to the cheese, it will look like green slime.

Frightful Funnel Cake: Decorate your funnel cakes with icing applied in the shape of a spider web. Bonus idea: use Red Velvet Funnel Cake Mix to make them an oozing blood red.

What’s really scary is the revenue you’ll miss out on if you don’t incorporate concession foods into your fall/Halloween menu! Follow us on Pinterest for even more fun food ideas to help your business!

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If you’d like to make 70-80% profits, contact our concession specialists and we’ll show you how to get started. Call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074 today!