How to Raise the (Popcorn) Bar at Your Holiday Party!

For holiday parties and corporate events, caterers, event planners, and venues seek ideas that are fresh, affordable, and have a “wow” factor. Serving up a popcorn bar with a variety of fresh gourmet popcorn flavors is an easy way to treat guests to a memorable experience and Gold Medal is here to help you make it a success.

Keep reading for holiday or corporate event ideas that will make your popcorn bar extra fun:

• Include signage that says something along the lines of “Help Yourself to Some Fresh Popcorn!” Use a vintage font, or whatever type of design fits within your corporate event’s theme or culture.
• Have a popcorn “bartender” who’s dressed in traditional bartender attire and serves the popcorn to your guests, perhaps by flavor request.
• Speaking of flavor, offer a variety of choices. These can actually go with the theme of your event (see below).
• Display the various colors and flavors of gourmet popcorn in clear jars to create an enticing visual effect. Make a large batch of white popcorn and a small batch of red and green, then add just enough of the colored popcorn to reflect the holidays.
• Use traditional red-and-white striped popcorn bags and striped table cloth for the display, or tailor everything to your theme with coordinated colors.
• Include seasonal touches, such as having pots of poinsettias on or around the popcorn bar. Or, decorate the space with snowmen accessories, such as a top hat, scarf, and gloves.

3 Popular Gourmet Popcorn Flavors for Fun Corporate Party Themes

1. Christmas theme: Use our Corn Treat mix to pop up batches of red and green popcorn.
2. New Year’s theme: The perfect time to break out “confetti corn!” For a fun, multi-colored (and multi-purpose) twist, ask about our Birthday Cake Candy Glaze Corn Treat.
3. Wine Tasting: We’ve matched up the perfect popcorn flavors to go with a variety of wines. Get the free Gold Medal Wine Pairing Guide here.

Note that Glaze Pop® is another great way to add flavors, including chocolate, cherry pink, and red cinnamon!

No matter which of these ideas you go with, it’s a good idea to have fresh popcorn pre-packaged so guests can take home a bag. This extra delight will make the memories of your amazing space and event last a little longer when they enjoy a treat from your event at home.

Call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074 for more info.

Why THIS is the Right Sized Popper for Most Fundraisers!

If you’re planning your next fundraiser, you might be asking yourself, “What’s the right size popper for my event?” There are many popcorn machines available, so start here with these general guidelines to help you start to narrow down your choices.

Popcorn machines are categorized by how many ounces of popcorn kernels it takes to pop a full amount. They come in a variety of sizes to accommodate everything from a bank lobby to a busy movie theater. Technically speaking, the sizes range from 4 to 60 ounces. Knowing what size you need based on the scale of your fundraiser will save you money and help you get the most for your investment.

Bonus! In this free download, we present 6 important questions you need to ask yourself before you go to purchase a popcorn popper, along with our recommendations.

For most fundraisers, Gold Medal 12/14-ounce popcorn machines are ideal. They come in a variety of models, all of which are durable, reliable, and efficient. These qualities are important because they’ll add to the simplicity of running them during your event – you don’t want to find yourself with a jammed popcorn machine during your peak time for sales. The 12/14-ounce models are also ideal for fundraisers in particular because they’re easy for your volunteers to operate after basic training. With the removable E-Z Kleen kettle, the machines are also a breeze to clean at the end of your event.

Other practical aspects of the 12/14-ounce popcorn machine is that it easily fits on a countertop, or it can be paired with a cart so that it stands alone. Most models run on a standard 15-amp plug, so there’s no need for a special outlet.

Bonus Tips for Selling More Popcorn

When you sell popcorn for your fundraiser, your profit margin starts at about 80%. See even more money come in for your cause when you add Glaze Pop® to color and flavor your popcorn or use special packaging! Plus, pop up extra bags of popcorn as a take-home gift to and upsell by suggesting patrons buy a bag for later.

Having the right equipment and supplies makes all the difference. Let our concession specialists help you make your fundraiser a great success – it all starts with a simple phone call or email to our customer service team.  Call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074.

7 Brilliant Holiday Flavors (and 2 Recipes!)

Although we’ve yet to hear the mantra of “Trick or Treat” from neighborhood children, it’s time for your store or venue to begin planning for Christmas-time holiday traffic and sales. Some time-tested snacks are positively predictable because of their proven success, but this is a great time to add in a new twist that will delight your customers. In addition to sweet treats such as frosted nuts and hot chocolate, give one of the following concession food ideas a try this year!

7 Holiday Flavors to Help Boost Your Sales

1. Winter Frost Cotton Candy
Just the name “Winter Frost Cotton Candy” is enough to give visions of snowmen clad in scarves and blankets of delicate snowflakes resting on pine trees. You don’t need many cotton candy ingredients for this treat – simply start with Gold Medal Winter Frost (Item #3225) for a one-of-a-kind peppermint flavor that’s reminiscent of candy canes. Sell it with hot chocolate as a combo upsell, or add it to the hot chocolate itself for a gourmet drink.

2. Red and Green Popcorn
Adding specific colors to traditional gourmet popcorn is an easy way to provide eye candy that can translate to additional sales. Use a color mix (note that this is different from a flavor mix) to make a batch of red popcorn and a batch of green (Items #2310 and #2289 of our Corn Treat Mixes), then mix the two together before packaging for sale. These can be sold for immediate snacking and also put into decorative boxes, bags, or tins that your customers can serve later at their own holiday parties.

3. Gingerbread Caramel Corn
Warm gingerbread cookies fly off the shelf at holiday events, so consider the possibility of offering caramel corn that provides the same nostalgic flavor while delivering an attractive profit margin. To help you get started, here are the directions:

Click the preview image above for the complete Gingerbread Caramel Corn recipe!

4. Peanut Brittle
Another treat that is associated with the holidays is peanut brittle. Don’t buy it premade when you can prepare it fresh and offer the highest quality. If you’re able to make the preparation visible to your customers, you’ll awaken their senses of sight and smell (and taste, when you offer free samples). Here’s how to make peanut brittle:

Click the image for the complete Peanut Brittle recipe!

5. Mint Chocolate Swirl Fudge
Here we see peppermint making a return to our list because it’s worth including this flavor in more than one holiday treat! Start with Sweet Selections® fudge, which is a one-step mix. Then gently swirl Green Mint Flavoring (ask for Item #1379) into your batch. Try it with chocolate fudge, vanilla fudge, or both.

6. Candy Cane Fudge
Similar to the mint fudge, but more visually apparent, candy cane fudge is another simple way to take a year-round favorite and give it a holiday spin. For this treat, start with the Sweet Selections® Base Mix. Crush candy canes either by using a blender or by putting them between two layers of parchment paper and breaking them with a meat tenderizer. Then while the fudge is still cooling, sprinkle the candy cane pieces onto the top of the fudge. Gently press them into it so that they stay in place until they’re enjoyed by your customers.

7. Festive Funnel Cakes
Make your candy canes do double-duty when you use them for more than one menu item, especially one that’s so popular during the holidays and colder seasons in general. You can sell traditional funnel cakes that are plain, with powdered sugar, and/or whipped cream, and offer a festive version that has the crushed candy canes sprinkled onto whipped cream (this will help them stay in place instead of falling off of the funnel cake onto the plate).

Love this list?  Call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074 for your concession needs, including equipment, wholesale supplies, and creative ideas.

How the Gourmet Popcorn Business Can Boost Your Holiday Retail Sales!

It’s no secret that there’s an increased number of shoppers who are out and about in local stores, and it’s only natural that they’re going to get hungry while checking off their shopping lists.

The most fulfilling holiday shopping experiences incorporate all of the senses. Gourmet popcorn works well as it has an appealing sight (like red and green varieties), an appetizing smell (try flavors of caramel, cinnamon, or peppermint), an attention-getting sound (the unmistakable pop of fresh popcorn cooking), and yes, especially the satisfying taste (lots of flavors are available; consider offering free samples with coupons).

Since you’ll already have guests coming in to browse your selections of candy, ice cream, or mixed nuts for their holiday parties or as a snack for themselves, it makes sense to sell gourmet popcorn in your store.

Salty snacks, including popcorn, recently brought in $27,723,199,319 in annual retail sales.
(Source: Nielsen)

Consider tried-and-true flavors such as caramel popcorn and kettle corn, or surprise your patrons and offer a unique savory flavor such as Buffalo Blue Cheese. Let’s take a look at the numbers to see how gourmet popcorn pays off:

Kettle Corn Profit Per Serving
Cost (product and packaging) = $.52
Retail price = $2.99
Profit = $2.47 per serving!

When you offer popcorn in your store, you have the option of selling it as a grab-and-go snack with a display near the cash registers and/or of selling it in tins to be given as a gift (encourage the idea of “one for you, one for a friend”). You can also offer popcorn trays and holiday party platters for sale. Feature suggested flavor pairings with wines or other foods to create special package deals. (Click here to browse essential gourmet popcorn supplies.)

People love to satisfy their senses, and the smell alone of hot, buttery popcorn is one that will draw their attention to your display. To learn more about how to succeed in the popcorn business, download our free “Top-Performing Snacks – Gourmet Popcorn & Fudge” guide and call one of our specialists today at Beach Cities Wholesalers.  562-355-4074.

For businesses like restaurants and sports bars, game time equals snack time! That makes it a perfect time to get out those nacho cheese dispensers, corn dog fryers, and more. Take advantage of the season by implementing key concession strategies that are sure to attract hungry customers.

• Offer Game Day Specials: Start by offering promotions on certain menu items such as corn dogs or creating combo deals. Give a discount to customers dressed in team apparel. Because concession foods are inexpensive, it makes it easy to customize pricing and still earn high profits.

• Show Your Team Spirit: Sell popcorn in your team’s colors! It can be a signature item that you prepackage and sell in souvenir containers. Because popcorn costs so little, you also have the option to use it as a complimentary snack to help boost beverage sales.

• Connect in the Community: If you want to increase foot traffic, get engaged in the community. Businesses can volunteer to sponsor local kids’ teams or adult community leagues. Get your logo on jerseys (which is great advertising) and invite teams to come celebrate after the game.

• Come up with Creative Names: Have fun with your food names! It will add to the experience when your guests are ordering All-Star Appetizers or a burger that’s named after your favorite mascot. You can also sponsor a contest where customers enter their own name suggestions for a particular menu item.

• Keep Them Coming Back: Don’t restrict yourself to just game day. Get guests to return by offering them a coupon that’s good on non-game days. It’s a low-cost way to encourage repeat business at off-peak times.

Make concession foods a win-win for your business when you partner with Gold Medal, the industry’s leading supplier. We’ll assist you with selecting foods, calculating profitability, managing inventory, training staff, and more. To get connected with a concession pro in your area, call Beach Cities Wholesalers at 562-355-4074 or send an email to info@beachcitieswholesalers.com today.

And in the meantime, show your local team spirit on Twitter and use the hashtag #GMPopcorn to join the conversation!

8 Creative Popcorn Gift Baskets for Your Store

Between holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations, your customers are likely often looking for a great gift. Save them a stop when you offer the versatile, flavorful option of a popcorn gift basket. Gourmet popcorn is a best seller because it can easily fit with nearly any special occasion. That means there’s a wide variety of opportunities in which you can market popcorn buckets and baskets.

Gourmet popcorn gift baskets can work well for many businesses, including but not limited to: popcorn shops, candy stores, grocery stores, gift shops, and even florists. The possibilities are endless and so is the profit potential.

To make popcorn baskets for your store, start with the basics that you need to make popcorn, then add your own twist to cater it to your local patrons. (Click here to share this list of popcorn ideas on Twitter!)

1. Movie Night – Movie-based gift baskets are the perfect way to showcase a variety of popcorn flavors including buttered, caramel, and cheese corn. The traditional red-and-white striped popcorn buckets make a decorative addition.

2. Military Care Package – Popcorn is one of the snacks that can be easily shipped, making it ideal for care packages. Put together a patriotic thank-you to our on- and off-duty troops with red, white, and blue popcorn.

3. Off-to-College – Help students be prepared for long nights of studying and snacking. As an added fun touch, color the popcorn in the school’s colors. Include other dorm life essentials like Post-it notes and caffeinated beverages.

4. Beach Bound – For sun and fun, plan a tropic-inspired beach basket. Combine sunglasses, beach towels, flip-flops, and decorative drink cups (don’t forget a few tiny umbrellas!). Add a taste of banana or piña colada to the popcorn for a unique twist with a simple additive of Corn Treats Candy Glaze Flavors.

5. Holiday Selections – Popcorn is festive and can be paired with any holiday celebration. For example, red cherry and blueberry fit the 4th of July. For a Halloween treat, try orange and black cherry; and fall in love with red cinnamon for Valentine’s Day.

6. Bake Sale – Tempt the taste buds with some sweet Gold Medal flavor recipes such as lemon pound cake, birthday cake, and churro.

7. Cheese Lovers – Create a cheese lover’s dream with a tantalizing combination of cheddar, white cheddar, buffalo blue cheese, and nacho flavors. This would be a great addition for a tailgate-themed sports party as well!

8. Spice It Up – For those who are up to the challenge of the hottest, spiciest flavors. This selection includes Guadalajara hot sauce, jalapeño, and ghost pepper. If timed right, you could also make this a Father’s Day special.

Trust Gold Medal as your source for all the best in gourmet popcorn equipment and supplies. We know the industry and our concession specialists are here to assist you. To schedule a personal profit consultation, contact us at 800-543-0862 today.

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