Concession Stand Equipment: How to Power A Concession Stand

Concession businesses have a much lower startup cost compared to food trucks and restaurants. The most crucial part about concession businesses is that the demand for fun foods at a variety of entertainment venues is growing faster than ever.

If you are looking to start a profitable food stand business, you'll need to choose the right concession stand equipment that includes electrical grills, microwaves, freezers, and lighting. Besides, you'll need a portable power source to charge the concession stand supplies.

Jackery Solar Generators combine Explorer Portable Power Stations and SolarSaga Solar Panels to charge most outdoor appliances on concession stands, food stands, and food trucks. They are compact and lightweight enough to be carried around to power appliances.

Products	Image	Capacity	Rated / Peak Power	Battery	Size
Solar Generator 2000 Plus		2-24 kWh	3000W Max/ 6000W Surge Peak	LiFePO4	Height: 14.1 in (35.94 cm) Width: 18.6 in (47.3 cm) Length: 14.7 in (37.36 cm)
Solar Generator 1000 Plus		1.25-5 kWh	2000W/ 4000W Surge Peak	LiFePO4	Height: 11.14 in  (28.3 cm) Width: 10.24 in (26 cm) Length: 14 in (35.6 cm)
Solar Generator 500		518Wh	500W Inverter (1000W Surge)	Lithium-ion	Height: 9.2 in Width: 7.6 in Length: 11.8 in

What Is A Concession Stand?

A concession stand, also referred to as a snack bar, is a designated area where guests can purchase food, snacks, and drinks. You can often find these snack stands inside amusement parks, movie theatres, and stadiums.

One important thing you'll need to understand is the concession stand cost, which generally lies between $11,000 and $21,000. Remember, the new stand won't come with concession stand supplies, so you'll need to spare money to buy them.

While the initial startup cost of the business seems high, it can earn you profits in multifold. A concession stand at the right place will put you in front of the right customers and improve profits dramatically.

Concession Stand Equipment & Supplies

In order to start a profitable concession stand business, you must sell some famous food or snack items. The concession stand ideas can range from traditional food to hot meals to novelty items and beverages.

Traditional Food

Those who are looking for traditional and easy concession stand food items can choose popcorn or gourmet popcorn. It's a simple buttery popcorn that requires minimal supplies and equipment. Some other traditional food items include snow cones, cotton candy, and even crunchy snacks like nachos.

Hot Meals

Hot meals are ideal for warm weather or when the sun sets. You can also include hot meals and treats like hot dogs, fried foods, pretzels, and pizza. They are easy to make and can even be customized per customer preferences for an extra charge.

Novelty Items

Concession customers also love to spend money on interesting treats with a twist. Fudge is one of the novelty items that can be twisted beyond imagination. You can mix ingredients like nuts or even whiskey or crush up candy and cookies for extra sweetness.

Beverages

In addition to food items, you'll need some beverages like lemon shake or lemonade, flavored sodas, mocktails, and hot drinks. They are easy to make and add an extra flair to the overall concession stand items.

Running a concession stand is undoubtedly an exciting venture. However, you'll need a range of essential concession stand supplies to expand your offerings and add a touch of fun. Some essential concession stand equipment includes popcorn machines, hot dog rollers, cotton candy machines, ice shavers, microwaves, electric grills, and mini-refrigerators.

The next important thing that requires close attention is a power supply source like Jackery Solar Generators. They are compact and powerful battery backups that supply steady electricity to charge all the concession stand equipment. You can connect the power stations with the solar panels to recharge the battery and keep charging appliances for longer hours.

How Much Electricity Does Concession Stands Need?

Concessions or food stands need electricity to power the appliances and prepare the food. Since concession stands are often placed in places with no nearby access to electricity, portable solar panels with battery backups seem like an ideal solution.

You can carry the solar generator (a combination of solar panels and power stations) to the concession stand. Solar energy is a financially viable power source that functions well to support the electricity needs of the stand.

The electricity required for a food truck will depend on the number of equipment you are using on the concession stand. You can choose a smaller solar generator for basic equipment like blenders, lighting, and ice shavers. But if you need more power, consider a large solar generator for concession stands.

If you want to calculate the electricity requirements of your concession stand, the first step is to list the appliances you plan to choose.

Total Wattage = Power Requirement of All Appliances  

For example, if you want to power lighting (50W) and a mini refrigerator (200W), a solar generator can supply 300-400 watts of electricity.

Jackery Solar Generators for Concession Stands

Concession stands need a reliable power source, and solar generators can do the task. Jackery Solar Generator combines solar panels (to collect and convert solar energy to electricity) and power stations (to charge the appliances).

Here are some compatible solar generators for concession stands.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus 

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus has a LiFePO4 battery that delivers a mega 2kWh. With the help of 5 add-on Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus, you can expand the battery capacity to 24kWh. The solar generator can charge 99% of your concession stand appliances for long hours.

Customer Review

"Purchased the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus for working on my off-grid cabin and to power the cabin when I'm not working on it. Has worked great running full-size table saw, radial arm saw, air compressor, and more." — Timothy W.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus 

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus features a LiFePO4 battery that covers various scenarios like concession stands, camping trips, off-road travels, and even home emergencies. The battery capacity can be expanded from 1.25kWh to 5kWh with the help of Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus.

Jackery Solar Generator 500

Those looking for a compact and portable solar generator can choose Jackery Solar Generator 500. It has a lithium-ion battery of 518Wh capacity and multiple output ports to charge a wide range of concession stand supplies.

Customer Review

"Provided enough power for USB string lights and several electronic devices (laptop, tablet, air mattress pump) throughout the night." — Chi.

How to Start Your Concession Stand Business?

Starting a concession stand business requires preparing a proper plan and marketing. Here are simple steps you must follow to establish a successful concession business.

Step 1: Write Concept & Prepare a Plan

Your concession stand concept and menu is the first and foremost thing you must consider. It will determine what size cart you need, the ideal location, and how much money you'll require. Next, you must prepare a plan that acts as a blueprint of the business growth trajectory.

Step 2: Purchase a Concession Stand & Equipment

Next, finalize the location and purchase the right size of concession stand and equipment. Different types of concession stands are available, including stationary, mobile, and concession trailers.

If you are looking for a portable concession stand, mobile or concession trailers make more sense. While the exact equipment will vary depending on the menu, consider some common concession business appliances, including:

• Food holding and warming equipment
• Ventless fryers
• Cotton candy machines
• Popcorn machines

Make sure you carry a portable charging solution like Jackery Solar Generators for concession stands. It's a great power solution that will keep the appliances charged for longer hours.

Step 3: Get Required Permits & Licences

Like any business, you'll need proper permits and licenses aligning with local ordinances. Some necessary rights you need are food manager certification, food vendor license, sales and use tax permit, local driver's license, and employer identification number.

Step 4: Market Your Concession Stand

Lastly, but most importantly, you need to market your business and reach the target audience. You can post pictures of menu items on social media, which lets you convert followers to customers.

How to Choose The Best Concession Stand Equipment?

When selecting the best concession stand equipment, several factors must be considered and taken into account.

• Space:Consider how much space you have in your concession stand and choose the appliances that can fit comfortably into the space.
• Budget Considerations:Determine your budget and choose the equipment options that fall into the price range.
• Menu Offerings: Next, consider the preferences of your customers and the food items you plan to offer.

A solar generator or a battery backup is one of the most crucial parts of concession stands. However, choosing the right solar generator will depend on a few factors.

• Battery Capacity:The battery capacity is typically measured in watt-hour (Wh). A higher-capacity solar generator or battery can store and supply efficient electricity.
• Portability:If you plan to transfer the battery backup in and around the concession stand, choosing a portable power station and foldable solar panels like Jackery is vital.
• Power Requirement: When selecting a portable solar generator for your food truck,consider the electricity needs of the appliances and choose the battery backup that can power them.

Jackery Solar Generators are available in various sizes, ideal for small and large concession stands. If you are unsure which battery capacity will fit the concession stand needs, Jackery offers Solar Generator 1000 Plus and Solar Generator 2000 Plus that can be expanded using the additional battery packs.

Final Thoughts

A concession stand business is a great venture that can generate multifold profits if planned correctly. As long as you choose the right concession stand equipment, it's easy to calculate the right size of solar generator.

If you are still not confident about the exact size of the generator, you may consider Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus. Connecting five additional batteries lets you expand the battery capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh and charge most concession stand equipment.