Sponsored by J&J Snack Foods
Right now there is great opportunity in snacking, already on the rise before the pandemic and even more ingrained in consumer behavior since. A Hartman Group report last year notes that “the idealized notion of three ‘square,’ structured meals a day is now, in practice, an eating culture characterized by frequent snacking throughout the day.” In fact, 48% of food and beverage occasions are snacking occasions, Hartman says.
One-stop shop
A key step to building a strong snack business is partnering with a food manufacturer that offers a portfolio of snacks broad enough to satisfy the varied demands of snack lovers and the corporate resources to support operators.
That describes J&J Snack Foods Corp., the one-stop snacking solution found everywhere the fun is. A publicly traded company with more than $1 billion in revenues, the J&J Snack Foods portfolio encompasses more than 30 brands, ranging from soft pretzels to churros, funnel cakes, baked goods, frozen novelties and frozen beverages. This product range offers solutions for appetizers, entrees, desserts and side dishes as well as snacks.
Prominent J&J Snack Foods brands include SUPERPRETZEL
With its corporate reach and market presence, J&J Snack Foods can provide benefits to its partner operators such as equipment and service support, insights on industry trends and advice on getting the most out of culinary concepts, promotions, and social media.
Familiar and comfortable
Another reason to work with a snack food provider with market-leading brands is the comfort and reassurance that consumers take in names that they know and respect, especially in these uncertain and unsettling times. “With many consumers returning again and again to their go-to, favorite snacks, brand iconicity and familiarity are attributes of rising importance,” says Hartman Group.
“Turning to a favorite brand, or a small set of favorites, is another way consumers seek some familiarity in an unfamiliar world,” is how Hartman Group sums it up.
Operational pluses
The minimal labor requirements for serving snack foods can help restaurant operators cope with the staffing challenges that are common in today’s industry. In fact, 7 in 10 restaurant operators say their restaurants lack enough employees to support customer demand, according to the National Restaurant Association 2022 State of the Restaurant Industry Report.
Thus it is advantageous for operators to add snacks that are prepared, prepackaged and ready to serve with minimal labor. For example, fully baked, individually wrapped soft pretzels are easy to heat and display in a soft pretzel warmer for grab-and-go sales. Another example, The Funnel Cake Factory® Traditional Funnel Cakes, need only to be refried and served with powdered sugar or a flavorful sauce. And nothing tops the ease of serving ready-to-enjoy frozen novelties in convenient pre-portioned formats, such as tubes and cups.
Creative flair
The inherent operational advantages of snack foods provide operators with ideal platforms to make creative appetizers, main courses, side dishes and desserts. With a little imagination and products already on hand in the kitchen, an operator can add exciting sweet and savory items like the following to the menu:
Tio Pepe's® Sticky Spicy Asian Churros: Fry a 10-inch churro, cut it into pieces, and toss with sweet and spicy sauce, orange blossom honey, allspice, chopped candied orange and sliced roasted almonds.
The Funnel Cake Factory® Key Lime Funnel Cake Parfait: Bake a funnel cake, cut into pieces, layer them in a mason jar with key lime curd, whipped cream, and powdered sugar.
SUPERPRETZEL® Soft Pretzel Fries with Warm Crab Dip: Bake Soft Pretzel Fries until warm, blend with a mixture of lump crabmeat, cream cheese, butter, mayonnaise, and spices. Bake to create a novel entrée or shareable appetizer that takes just a few minutes to heat and serve.
A well-conceived snack offering can help operators attract more guests and boost sales while holding the line on labor. Teaming up with the snack experts at J&J Snack Foods will give operators an advantage in this major business opportunity.