How to Cater Concession Stand Foods
Catering a concession stand can mean serving food out of a kitchen at a high-school sporting event or feeding a crowd from a portable booth at a street fair or carnival. Food-safety regulations will vary by city or state and will impact the type of food you sell and whether you can serve it hot, cold, prepared in advance or made-to-order. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Contact information for event organizers
- Concession booth
- Hot food warmers
- Cookery or barbecue supplies
- Coolers
- Extension cords
- Foods, condiments, beverages
- Menu/sign
- Utensils
- Napkins
- Cash box with cash and change
- Cleaning supplies
- Disposable gloves
- Fire extinguisher
- First-aid kit
Instructions
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Decide what you want to sell. Once you do this, you can determine the type of equipment you need and research the steps you'll need to take to make sure your booth complies with health-code standards and city ordinances.
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Obtain a license to operate your stand, if necessary. Check with your city government for information on how to apply, as licensing requirements vary by city. You'll also need to follow food-safety regulations. Check with your local health department for information. It's important your booth can pass food-safety inspections, since the health department can shut your booth down on the spot if it doesn't.
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Sign up for the event. Some events want vendors who sell specific food or beverages such as kettle corn, hot dogs or lemonade. This can be a good thing if the organizer allows you to be the exclusive vendor for that item. Ask the organizers what equipment and amenities are available on-site, such as outlets or grills. You can also ask what the expected head count will be at the event to help you determine your inventory.
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Buy your equipment, food, condiments and utensils. If you're used to selling food and beverages out of a full-service kitchen, such as one at a high-school gym, you might need to buy a concession stand, extension cords or other equipment which you wouldn't normally need. Buy your food and drinks in bulk at a superstore to save money. Make sure you have enough utensils and cleaning supplies, too.
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Price your items. Decide what profit you want to make and add that percentage to your base cost for doing business--cost of equipment, food, labor and event fees.
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Create your menu. Since your prices and possibly your menu items will change per event, use dry-erase or chalk boards or marquees with magnetic letters to create your menus.
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Arrive early and set up. Prepare as many ingredients and foods in advance as you can. If you're offering chopped onions, buy them frozen or cut them before you arrive at the event. Present a clean environment and make sure your stand meets health-code standards. If you have to cook your food at a certain temperature, set your cookery to that temperature. Prepare your cash register with fresh receipt tape and about $100 in cash.
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Refill, reload and refresh. In between rushes, refill your condiments and restock the napkins, utensils, drink fountains and ice dispensers. Clean the kitchen and any areas with which the customers come in direct contact. Reset the cash box by putting any large bills in a locked pouch that you store in your locked vehicle.
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Tear down. Dispose of any ice on a grassy area or on the pavement. Pack your foods in large plastic pouches or plastic dishware. Unplug all of your equipment and make sure the hot items have cooled down before disposing of them or storing them. Pick up and throw any trash left by you or your customers. If there is a hose on-site, wash down the area you used.
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Tips & Warnings
Working a concession stand can require some heavy lifting and working for long hours on your feet. Work with a team to set up, operate and tear down. Wear comfortable, slip-guard footwear and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Working with heat for cooking can pose its usual set of risks, such as burns and small fires. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on-site and a first-aid kit that contains aloe and bandages. Lift properly and think before acting to prevent injuries while moving at a fast pace.
