MMMM.. BRISKET..
The BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS.  



Our Homepage Donation to Forum Overhead Welocme Merchandise Associations Purchase Subscription Amazon Affiliate
Go Back   The BBQ BRETHREN FORUMS. > Discussion Area > Catering, Food Handling and Awareness > Catering, Vending and Cooking For The Masses.

Notices

Catering, Vending and Cooking For The Masses. this forum is OnTopic. A resource to help with catering, vending and just cooking for large parties. Topics to include Getting Started, Ethics, Marketing, Catering resources, Formulas and recipes for cooking for large groups.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 08-25-2009, 05:25 PM   #1
SlowJoes
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 07-10-07
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Default Soda fountains

For all you food vendors that use a soda fountain instead of carrying cans, what are your most popular sodas? This is going in a BBQ vending trailer. I am looking toward buying a fountain instead of going through Coke or Pepsi so as to vend what I want.
Thanks,
Joe
SlowJoes is offline   Reply With Quote


Old 08-25-2009, 06:00 PM   #2
C Rocke
is One Chatty Farker
 
C Rocke's Avatar
 
Join Date: 01-29-07
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
Default

Hate to sound like a broken record, but ask the HD before going the fountain soda route. Additional ice storage/Ice maker, and possibly needing additional counter top space may be an issue in your area. Also, the ROI on the additional equipment vs the savings/margin of fountain drinks (lids and straws). Don't forget about the time/labor to scoop ice, fill soda, put lid on and get to the window.

That being said, in some parts of town, Pepsi, Sprite and Orange are big. In others, it's a Coke, Dr Pepper, 7 Up deal. We've gone the route of selling what we sell - Cans of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Water from either Sam's or Costco depending on price. We consolidate our inventory, and can always get product, and never worry about being out of CO2.
__________________
Just me, the Wife, and the Dogs
C Rocke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2009, 08:24 PM   #3
Bbq Bubba
somebody shut me the fark up.
 
Bbq Bubba's Avatar
 
Join Date: 05-03-07
Location: New Baltimore, Mi.
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by C Rocke View Post
Hate to sound like a broken record, but ask the HD before going the fountain soda route. Additional ice storage/Ice maker, and possibly needing additional counter top space may be an issue in your area. Also, the ROI on the additional equipment vs the savings/margin of fountain drinks (lids and straws). Don't forget about the time/labor to scoop ice, fill soda, put lid on and get to the window.

That being said, in some parts of town, Pepsi, Sprite and Orange are big. In others, it's a Coke, Dr Pepper, 7 Up deal. We've gone the route of selling what we sell - Cans of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Water from either Sam's or Costco depending on price. We consolidate our inventory, and can always get product, and never worry about being out of CO2.
I will totally agree!
Alot of overhead and a long time to pay it back.
I go with Pepsi, diet Pepsi, Sprite and Lemonade and water...covers about everybody!
__________________
Owner of Bubba's BBQ & Catering L.L.C.
Beer Snob
I cook the #bestbrisketnorthoftexas. Get over it.
#detroitporkmafia
BBQ Person of the Year 2013
Bbq Bubba is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2009, 08:29 PM   #4
BBQ Grail
somebody shut me the fark up.
 
BBQ Grail's Avatar
 
Join Date: 08-11-03
Location: Rocklin, CA
Default

Now if Leonard chimes in you'll have some of the top three guys on the list for this type of information...
__________________
Larry

Soon to be a Texafornian.

For a limited time I will be issuing Moink Ball Certificates. I'm working on a special COVID 19 Verson.
Email me for details.
BBQ Grail is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2009, 08:55 PM   #5
SlowJoes
Found some matches.
 
Join Date: 07-10-07
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Default

Thanks C Rocke, We have only been vending for a year and even though it hasn't been a tough learning curve, it's been a curve none the less. I am now just looking into the fountains. Not totally sold on them, but the D's I got in basic math From North Pole High School are pointing me in the direction of the fountain. Long run seems like a better deal, up front cost, not so much. We still have time to research and crunch #'s before things fire up again next May. Your advice is appreciated and should you have more...I'm happy to hear it.
Thanks,
Joe
SlowJoes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2009, 09:12 PM   #6
C Rocke
is One Chatty Farker
 
C Rocke's Avatar
 
Join Date: 01-29-07
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BBQ Grail View Post
Now if Leonard chimes in you'll have some of the top three guys on the list for this type of information...
And Larry's no slouch either...
__________________
Just me, the Wife, and the Dogs
C Rocke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2009, 06:51 AM   #7
blues_n_cues
is One Chatty Farker
 
Join Date: 12-16-07
Location: south central,ky.
Default

don't forget about the additional weight of the fountain cans & spare cans in your mobile vending unit and the gas used to pull it.
you almost have to go through coke or pepsi to get the product,co2,repair service,etc.
the last time i had one coca cola provided us w/ free banners for any & every occassion,cups & lids,free repair service & maintenance,etc etc.

say you buy your own fountain & only have 1,if it malfunctions or you run out of anything w/out backup you forfeit the drink sales for that day.
just food for thought.
__________________
Blues_n_Cues BBQ Concessions & Catering
blues_n_cues is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2009, 03:17 PM   #8
tony76248
is One Chatty Farker
 
tony76248's Avatar
 
Join Date: 09-10-06
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Keep it simple and it will be more fun. If it ain't fun you won't make it.
__________________
"Grilla in the Pits" "IMAGRILLA"

There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures.
Right next to the mashed potatoes.

Brinkmann Model 6668 Gasser
Hibachi Grill
Stumps GF223 w/ Stoker assist
ECB that wins the $
Weber One-Touch Gold 22-1/2"
#3 Komono
Large BGE w/ Stoker assist
55 gallon Drum Smoker
Wood Crate Cold smoker w/ smoke injector
No need for certification, I already know good BBQ!
tony76248 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2009, 04:35 PM   #9
chambersuac
somebody shut me the fark up.

 
chambersuac's Avatar
 
Join Date: 04-02-09
Location: San Antonio, TX
Default

I don't vend, so I don't know if I should time in, but I will. Take my advice or ignore it :) I have lived in several different areas of the country and have noticed that certain areas have their own favorites. Dr. Pepper is a must have in TX, for example. If you know where you will be vending primarily, I'd go to a 7-11 (or some place like it) and ask the manager what they sell the most of.
__________________
Dan

IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball maker and IMBAS Sgt. At Arms.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. [Acts 20:32 KJV]
chambersuac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2009, 05:38 PM   #10
Slamdunkpro
Babbling Farker
 
Slamdunkpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: 02-27-07
Location: Northern VA
Default

We had a gun system at the bar. My concern in a vend trailer would be that bag-in-box syrups will go bad over time and the bags will clog. So depending on your frequency of use, you may lose bags to spoilage, and the bags ain't cheap.
__________________
Aporkalypse Now Competition BBQ team
Thanks to our sponsors: Wusthof Trident USA, Creekstone Farms, Myron Mixon Smokers & The BBQ Guru
MABA 2014 Team of the Year
Spicewine Tandem - "The Beast"
, 2 Vulcan V33's & 1 V9
Brinkman modified upright, Weber Kettle(s); Meadow Creek Pr-24, Super Stealth Mode black & Night Vision Red Thermopens
-----------------
MABA - (Mid Atlantic BBQ Association) President
KCBS Certified Judge - #23289
Slamdunkpro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2009, 06:04 PM   #11
Bbq Bubba
somebody shut me the fark up.
 
Bbq Bubba's Avatar
 
Join Date: 05-03-07
Location: New Baltimore, Mi.
Default

Well, did we talk you out of it?
__________________
Owner of Bubba's BBQ & Catering L.L.C.
Beer Snob
I cook the #bestbrisketnorthoftexas. Get over it.
#detroitporkmafia
BBQ Person of the Year 2013
Bbq Bubba is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2009, 03:23 PM   #12
smokinit
is One Chatty Farker
 
smokinit's Avatar
 
Join Date: 03-16-07
Location: Coxsackie NY
Default

Don't do it!!!
__________________
I'MMM Back💪
smokinit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2009, 03:43 PM   #13
Kevin
Quintessential Chatty Farker
 
Kevin's Avatar
 
Join Date: 02-06-05
Location: Southern Minnesota
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slamdunkpro View Post
We had a gun system at the bar. My concern in a vend trailer would be that bag-in-box syrups will go bad over time and the bags will clog. So depending on your frequency of use, you may lose bags to spoilage, and the bags ain't cheap.
Yep. The Pepsi vendor talked me out of going post mix (fountain). We had a small town cafe and he told us we wouldn't do enough volume to keep the stock fresh.
__________________
Kevin
Kevin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2009, 06:10 PM   #14
Learnin Querve
Full Fledged Farker
 
Join Date: 04-25-09
Location: Des Moines, IA
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SlowJoes View Post
.

...but the D's I got in basic math From North Pole High School are pointing me in the direction of the fountain. Long run seems like a better deal, up front cost, not so much. We still have time to research and crunch #'s before things fire up again next May.....Joe
I'm very curious. Let's here what kind on numbers you've worked up.

Chris
Learnin Querve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2009, 05:56 PM   #15
Chuckwagonbbqco
is one Smokin' Farker
 
Join Date: 10-19-07
Location: Oroville, CA
Default

Fountain type soda requires high volumn sales to keep from going bad. Fountain machines must be constantly cleaned --they attract ants. Fountain soda cannisters and boxes are a storage problem. Pepsi supplies only Pepsi products---Coca Cola does the same----so you usually are stuck between using one of them for a supplier.
Ice supply becomes a Health Dept issue if it is being put into drinks. In some states -sales tax is figured not on the amount of mix that you use-----but by how many cups that you use--if an employee has a soda or uses a cup---you get to pay sales tax on it. If you have a fountain machine , and cups, and ice you will be constantly asked for cups of ice----and people get pissed if you charge them for it---it is sooo much easier to say "We have cans of soda or bottles of water" "Sorry no ice" Cans of soda are easy to inventory, easy to store, do not deteriorate while being stored, do not attract ants,do not require maintainence, do not require stocking cups, and you can buy what ever you want. Some states have "redemtion value" on cans that must be paid --however that is usually not much.

We have been using cans of soda, and bottles of water. If it doesn't sell today-it will sell next week. We also have been selling "energy drinks" ----the younger generation buys and buys the expensive energy drinks. We buy cases of "Red Bull"
Chuckwagonbbqco is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fountains Blaze Off, Independence MO is on! bover Competition BBQ 1 07-07-2011 12:21 PM
fountains senior Q Rickwieser Competition BBQ 27 10-18-2009 01:19 PM
Contest Announcment Fountains Blaze-Off & Senior Q (Independence, MO) Jeff_in_KC Competition BBQ 4 09-23-2009 07:32 AM
Fountains Blaze-Off and Senior Q October 17-18 Jeff_in_KC Competition BBQ 14 10-16-2008 11:43 PM

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


Forum Custom Search: Enter your Search text below. GOOGLE will search ONLY the BBQ Brethren Forum.
Custom search MAY not work(no display box) in some configurations of Internet Explorer. Please use compliant version of Firefox or Chrome.







All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:34 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
2003 -2012 © BBQ-Brethren Inc. All rights reserved. All Content and Flaming Pig Logo are registered and protected under U.S and International Copyright and Trademarks. Content Within this Website Is Property of BBQ Brethren Inc. Reproduction or alteration is strictly prohibited.
no new posts