Concession Stand Equipment, Food, and Drinks

As the temperature heats up, seasonal concession stands will start opening for business. Whether you run a concession stand at a pool, fair, park, carnival, or ball field, it’s important to offer popular foods that consistently attract hungry customers. The following is a list of food equipment that’s commonly found at concession stands and can help your business thrive.

Popcorn Machine

One of the most profitable food items, popcorn has been a popular snack since the 1800s. Beloved by both customers and owners of concession stands, popcorn is both inexpensive and delicious. It’s also perfect for spectator sports—which is why popcorn is found at thousands of ball fields throughout the United States. If you want to offer popcorn at your concession stand, be sure to outfit it invest in a reliable commercial popcorn machine. Featuring built-in warmer lights that ensure your popcorn remains hot and delicious, electric popcorn machines conveniently fit atop counters and attract the attention of customers.

Hot Dog Equipment

No food is more intertwined with American culture than the hot dog. After all, the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest routinely draws thousands of spectators. If that’s not impression enough, over one million people watch the event from home on TV. Suffice to say—America loves hot dogs, and it’s only reasonable that your concession stand offers them by using commercial hot dog rollers or hot dog steamers. Some hot dog steamers conveniently come equipped with bun warmers that keep hot dog buns soft and warm. Rotisserie style hot dog broilers proudly display hot dogs to your customers.

Pizza Oven

Pizza is a perennial crowd pleaser. No matter who you’re with, it’s highly likely that everyone will be willing to split a delicious pie of pizza. That’s why it’s important for concession stands to include pizza with their food offerings. But it’s not enough to just have pizza—you want to show it off too! Capable of displaying two pizza pies while also keeping them warm, a heated shelf warmer is the perfect solution for concession stands. For cooking pizza, a compact countertop pizza oven is ideal for smaller stands that have minimal storage space. Make sure to also keep a pizza cutter on hand so you can cut individual slices.

Cotton Candy Machine

Beloved by sweet tooths everywhere, cotton candy is probably the food on this list that’s the most fun to eat. Kids love strutting around with a big stick of blue or pink cotton candy—showing it off for the world to see. If your concession stand is frequented by young kids, it’d be in your best interest to give them what they crave by investing in a cotton candy machine. To properly display freshly spun cotton candy to your customers, utilize a display stand.  

Slushy Machine

What’s better than cooling off with an ice cold slushy? Whether you prefer strawberry, cherry, grape, orange, lemon, or something else, there is a slushy flavor for everyone. These bright, sugar-rich concoctions can be easily made and distributed by using a commercial slushy machine. Especially if you operate at a pool or somewhere else kids go to relax, a slushy machine will make a great addition to your concession stand. Machines are available in several sizes, with some machines holding only one flavor and other machines holding up to three.

Nacho Chip Merchandiser

Invented in Mexico during the 1940s, nachos quickly spread throughout the southwest and eventually to the rest of the United States. Today, the dish is usually served as a snack or appetizer and has become a popular offering for concession stands. Whether you want to serve basic nachos with cheese or add beans, meat, and cilantro, a nacho chip merchandiser can help attract the attention of potential customers. In addition to bringing in business, these merchandisers also ensure your nachos taste delicious. These large glass boxes feature internal heating mechanisms that keep your tortilla chips warm and crunchy.

Snow Cone Machines

The ultimate in icey refreshment, snow cones are essentially shaved ice that’s been flavored. Snow cone machines—also known as commercial ice shavers—make it easy for concession stands to serve delicious snow cones to its assortment of customers. Make sure to maintain a steady supply of diverse snow cone syrup to ensure your customers’ satisfaction.

Ice Cream Dipping Cabinets and Soft Serve Machines

On blistering hot summer days, ice cream is the perfect snack to bring cool comfort to customers.  Concession stands have the option of offering soft serve ice cream, regular ice cream, or both. Offering soft serve ice cream requires you to outfit your foodservice with a commercial soft serve machine. Although most machines are full size floor models, our catalog also contains convenient countertop units. If you want to offer regular ice cream instead, you’ll need an ice cream dipping cabinet.  Many patrons to prefer to eat ice cream out of a cone rather than a cup. An ice cream cone holder can give you easy access to cones and make your operation run more smoothly. Commercial chest freezers are ideal for ensuring novelties like ice pops and ice cream bars remain frozen and delicious.

Milkshake Machines

Concession stands that offer regular ice cream might as well also offer milkshakes. Only requiring milk and ice cream, milkshakes can be prepared in all the distinct ice cream flavors your stand carries. Although vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are the classic milkshake flavors, feel free to offer more unique milkshakes like banana, oreo, and mint—which is incredibly refreshing on a hot summer day. Compact milkshake machines occupy minimal space and can produce up to hundreds of delicious milkshakes per day.

Commercial Griddles

Add a few protein-rich offerings to your concession stand menu by carrying chicken and burgers. While there is a wide range of equipment that can cook these items, commercial countertop griddles are the best options for compact concession stands.  Perfect for cooking mouth-watering burgers and chicken, countertop griddles are available in a variety of sizes. Whether your concession stand is set up to use a gas or electric griddle, there’s a unit for you.

Commercial Fryers

Complement your chicken and burgers with delicious fried side dishes. Concession stand staples like French fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks are tasty and easy to make with commercial fryers. Units run on gas or electricity, and both countertop and floor model fryers are available. Make sure to equip your fryer with a perfectly sized fryer basket for optimal efficiency.

Merchandising Refrigeration

Bottled water, soda, iced tea, lemonade, and juice can help quench your customers’ thirsts on sweltering summer days. Merchandising refrigerators can keep these drinks cold while providing clear views of what’s in stock. Available with anywhere from one to six sections, there is a perfect merchandising refrigerator for any size concession stand. Merchandising freezers also make great additions, as they’re perfect for holding ice, ice cream, ice cream novelty items, and frozen pizzas.

Condiment Caddies and Racks

What’s a hot dog without ketchup, mustard, and relish? Make sure your concession stand provides all the condiments necessary for customers to get the most out of their meals. Condiment squeeze bottles, salt and pepper shakers, and spice shakers. Condiment caddies and racks will help make organizing condiments easier than ever.

Before your concession stand re-opens for the season—or has its official grand opening—make absolutely certain that it’s stocked with the equipment it’ll need to keep customers satisfied. The aforementioned items are great options, but a stand’s ideal menu and equipment will likely vary depending on what’s popular in its region. Make sure to tailor your foodservice business accordingly.