Questions about vending some local events

[browe]

We have a 4 hour event the night before each college football game that is put on by the United Way. They are estimating 8000 to 10,000 people were there and I've heard similar numbers from past events. It is basically a big street party and space is limited. I've committed to the last spot for the last 5 events this year. There is food vending, games, singers, and the works. Each event is $200 and they give you a tent, electric, etc. I'm trying to determine if it is worth doing but I'm also trying to compare the pricing to catering an event. I've searched the forum on "vending" and read many of the previous threads.

I went to the first of seven events on Friday night to get a feel for it from the perspective of a vendor. I've attended them with my children for years and have purchased food and drinks previously. My only true BBQ competition would be a chain restaurant called Shane's Rib Shack. At the event, they were selling the following:

3 Ribs with one side - $7
Pulled pork sandwich with one side - $6
Pulled chicken sandwich with one side - $6

The sides were:

Beans
Slaw
Chips

Each vendor is not allowed to sell drinks.

Bottom line for me is I'm trying to determine and compare pricing for vendoring vs an actual catering event. Some of the pricing I am seeing in the other threads doesn't always make sense and sometimes it makes me wonder how people actually make money on the vending.

I'm also using Soezzy's spreadsheet.

Butts are 1.87/pound
Pork ribs are 2.39/pound - 33 pounds per box - 8 racks in a box
Buns are .19 per bun
Chips are .20-.30 per bag depending on size

If I sell the sandwich, bun and chips for $5 and my true food costs including tax are 1.03, I'm making $3.97 (without accounting for meat shrinkage). If I just sell 100 sandwiches, I net $197 after the entry fee. With all the kids that attend, I'm also considering selling hot dogs.

From a price standpoint, should I go with the same price as the competition? That's another $1 profit per sale.

The ribs are a different story. My cost on a box of 88 ribs is $84.79 (including tax) or .96 per rib. Selling 3 ribs and chips for $7 gives me a $3.82 profit per order.

I'm also considering taking credit cards for these events as no one else there does. I'm thinking more people would buy from me because of the convenience and potentially buy more.

So with all this rambling, at what point do you determine if an event is worth doing? To me, being new (not to catering just this new company) it will help me get the word out. If I break even and get future business out of it, it will be worth it. I fully feel I will make a profit in the end.

Lastly, what I didn't find in my searching was pricing determination for vending compared to event catering. If someone sees me selling a sandwich and chips for $5 but yet my catering fees are much higher, how am I to justify the difference?

Brian

[BBQMAN]

I don't do sides at vending events B!

A pork sammie and two sides, along with plates, utensils, and napkins for a catered event would be in the $9.95 range (add chicken and it's $10.95)

So there is no issue (for me) on the price difference. And that price is for a 75 person min. Smaller events are more money.................

The CC thing might work if you have a wireless terminal. Paper takes too much time, and cannot be verified. I stick to cash only.

As a "get your name out there" type of promo that could be a good way to promote the caterimng. However, broke d!ck college students don't usually have money for that type of thing (but their parents do).

At the market we generally serve:

4 oz. PP sammies at $5.00 (150)
2 ribs and garlic flatbread $5.00 (9 slabs, sometimes 12)
Burgers $2.75 (box of 40)
Hotdogs $1.50 (100)
Grilled chicken sammie $4.00
4 oz. smoked salmon $6.00
Brats $4.00
Drinks $1.00
Chips $.50
Add Cheese $.25
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"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[browe]

[T00lman]

do your homework b4 you get a mobile / wireless credit card machine
seems the rate % of sale taking is all over the place the unit I use does not charge a % for debit cards just a fee per swipe 13 cents i think
make sure the unit will work in your area mine runs off gps siginal not through mobile phone be careful of the fine print .

been using one for last 11 years its a money maker seems no carries cash anymore just plastic credit or debit I,ll take it
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[browe]

[BBQMAN]

Which service are you using John?

I've been interested in that before, the expenses didn't seem worth it at the time.

Do you have to pay for the unit itself, or is that included in the plan?

My average sale is maybe $6.00, so a $.13 charge for the swipe makes the charge 2.16%.

For vending, I'm foreseeing a $5.00 min. to take the CC being a necessity.

Paying 13% on a canned drink or bottle of water wouldn't be worth it.............................

It also slows your serving time a bit. We operate as a two man unit at the market, and do a lot of volume in just a few hours of time.

And regardless of taking cash only, we always sell out!
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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[Harry Nutczak]

As for costing & pricing, Taxes should not be part of the cost ratio.


Butts $1.87/LB figure 50% loss to cooking and you are now at $3.74/LB your cost for each pound of cooked pork without seasonings. For 1/3rd # sammies your meat cost is $1.25 (28% cost) lets figure bun selling price at $0.60 (33% cost)

So your cost is just under $2.00 per sammie without a side item.

Bare minimum to charge would be $6.00 at a near 33% overall cost. Anything less than that and it may become a non-profit situation.

Ribs are easier to figure becuase we are selling by the bone, and they have 12 bones per rack. Avergae weight is what?? 4+ pounds a rack??
($2.39 seems really high for a purchase price for that BTW)

So lets figure each bone portion weighs 1/3LB and use that to see how we come out........

Truthfully, I would pick 1 item to keep it simple, use either ribs or sammies, not both.
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[marvsbbq]

I haven't done a LOT of vending but know several that do vend and in my experience people EXPECT to pay cash at these kind of things (events).

As far as pricing, I wouldn't try to "under cut" the other vendors to get business, there is (or should be) enough business to go around. After all, no matter what your price is, you are not going to get ALL the business. If lines are too long for your food, people might go elsewhere, people (for what ever reason) might not like what they see in your operation and lastly, they just plainly (God forbid) might not like barbecue..

For that many people attending the event and you are only going to be serving for 4 hours, I would keep the offerings K.I.S.S. so you can cook and serve quickly.

The Hot Dog idea is good, I would also do brats and/or sasuages. The costs are nearly the same (to you) but people EXPECT to pay more for them...This is a GOOD thing.

Something else that you "might" consider that usually goes over very well at these kind of events is "Turkey legs". Don't take all that long to smoke and you can do several at a time.

Another idea is baked potatoes...rub with Crisco butter flavor, wrap in foil, throw on smoker for about an hour (needs to cook to internal temp of 210) and then can have several "options" for toppings all at it's own pricing.....

In other words, baked potato $2.00 add cheese for $.25, add chili for $.25 and so on. The "toppings" ideas are endless but don't get carried away. Each "topping" $.25 to keep it simple to make change. These prices are just numbers I threw out....don't take them as what YOU should charge.

Good luck and keep us posted...
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[browe]

[Jerk Pit Master]

Lucky for you, Shane's Rib Shack serves poor BBQ (at least the one by me and they are a franchise).
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www.GourmetIslandBBQ.com

[marvsbbq]

On the baked potato, I wouldn't do the "potato bar" as in let them fix their own potato. Have the "fixin's" on a list so they can pick and choose what they want and you charge for each and every topping seperatly.

Sort of like this:

Baked potato with butter $2.00

ADD...cheese...........$.25
ADD sour cream.......$.25
ADD chili..................$.25
ADD bacon bits.........$.25
ADD onion................$.25
ADD chives...............$.25.....and so on. Let your imagination run wild. People put anything and everything on baked potatoes but you need to charge them for it.. I would charge more for certain items (meat for one)

....and yes, pulled pork would be good on them too!!
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[constructioncrewbbq]

i have done the turkey legs before they are great. The ones I got through my food supplier US FOODS were pre cooked all I did was put them on the smoker for an hour to warm them up. I want to say I gave 79 cents a piece and sold them for $4.50. One thing to remember about vending. The food needs to able to be eaten very easily. turkey legs people can walk and eat. I also sell ribs and they are great I serve them in a 16 oz plastic cup with the bone ends sticking out. I sell 3 ribs for $5.00 or 5 ribs for $ 7.00. Another thing I sell that always sell out first is ABT's (stuffed jalepino peppers) $5.00 for 3 bacon wraped ABT's that I place a scewer in each and serve in a 16 oz cup
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Competition BBQ team

ole hickory EL-IB in 30' concession trailer
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[browe]

[BBQMAN]

I'm thinking no on that one Brian!
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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[marvsbbq]

No on the plate but what about BBQ spaghetti in a CUP??? Could have 2-3 different sizes..

BBQ spaghetti: pulled pork, spaghetti (cooked in boiling water), and BBQ sauce...could even offer different sauces...mild, hot...etc.

Bet no one is offering THAT one..
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Often imitated but never duplicated

[browe]

[BBQMAN]

Simple foods work best for vending B!

And no offense, but since most of us eat with our eyes first, that plate just doesn't look appetizing in any way.

Let's be honest. Take a real good look. That pic just screams TASTY!

And I'm not saying the stuffed tater isn't a good idea, but for vending?

Let me know how those items work out for you!
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[Poppa's PTL Club]

You might want to try the Cowbgoy Cocktail/BBQ Sundae Idea:
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18230&highlight=cowboy

They are always big hits when I've done them for private parties, but I've never vended, so I can't say how they'd sell (the people in the post above say they do well). You'd certainly differentiate yourself from Shane's.

The bigger question: Do people still go to FSU games?
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[browe]

[browe]