When it comes to marketing, some businesses have it easy. For a bowling alley or laser tag arena, food service is a way to capitalize on the customers already enjoying your facilities. Marketing to these customers may require effort, but the marketing strategy is much less involved than for a standalone restaurant. But no one in the industry has it harder than a mobile food business. Quik n’ Crispy shares 3 proven marketing tips for mobile food services.

Marketing Tips for Mobile Food Businesses

Whether you own a food truck, kiosk, or a lemonade stand in toy wagon, they key to a successful mobile food business is drawing in customers. But this presents a real challenge for businesses who move from location to location based on demand. Use these marketing tricks to keep your lines long and your ventless ovens hot.

1. Do it right. The first step in good marketing? Create a good product. Don’t rush through the process of choosing a name, speciality menu, or quality kitchen equipment. Get all the appropriate permits before you hit the road for your first day of business.
2. Go social. The easiest way for mobile food businesses to promote their daily (or even hourly) location is to go social. Get active on social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Share daily menu specials, fun behind the scenes snapshots, and, of course, your location as it changes.
3. Get involved. For small, mobile businesses, it’s all about getting involved on a local level. This could mean offering half-priced dessert when the local high school team wins a game, or giving away free fries on National French Fry Day (July 13, in case you were wondering).

For more tips on creating a profitable mobile food business, call QNC, Inc.

Food Trucks

Another school year is nearly behind us. Soon educators will be free to do their own homework: making next year’s curriculum, carnivals, and cafeteria food even better than this year’s. Quik n’ Crispy is doing our part at the Texas Association for School Nutrition conference on June 21-22 and the School Nutrition Association Show on July 11-13. But teaching kids about health, fitness, and nutritious eating goes beyond making healthy choices in the kitchen. Nutrition belongs in the classroom, too.

Teaching Kids about Nutrition

School nutrition standards are always changing. But no matter what regulations you’re meeting in the kitchen, your kids won’t be healthy unless you encourage them to embrace nutrition. Here are a few things educators can do to promote healthy eating:

• Let your kids get involved. If they don’t like the school lunch options, they won’t eat them. Ask for feedback from your students and add healthier versions of their favorite foods to the menu.
• Teachers can encourage kids to try new foods by speaking positively about their favorite healthy cafeteria fare.
• Eat lunch with your students. Not only are you connecting with your kids and learning about their eating habits, you’re serving as a role model.
• Teach your kids the value of health and nutrition. Assign school projects where they must plan a healthy meal and ask the students to bring in samples. Incorporate lessons about food and nutrition into science class.
• Consider letting kids eat snacks in class if they bring (non-messy) fruit and veggies.
• Serve healthier options at class parties and school events.
• Get the parents involved in your new, nutrition-first food discussions.

Want do your part to provide healthy school lunches to your students? Call QNC, Inc to learn more about making healthy choices in a school cafeteria.

Student Learning

It’s our birthday; we can fry if we want to!

That’s right, this month marks the 26th anniversary of the day Paul Artt said, “Hey, there’s got to be a healthier way to cook fried foods.” He did a little research, experimented with kitchen equipment, and discovered a ventless fryer than stands above the rest.  And thus the Quik n’ Crispy was born. It’s the only high volume, compact “hot air fryer” that cooks chicken tenders, egg rolls, hamburgers, pizza, pretzels, and even dessert just the way you like it . . . but without the extra grease!

Happy Birthday Quik n’ Crispy!

The Quik n’ Crispy greaseless fryer hit the market in May of 1990. Our company has gone through a lot of changes over the last 26 years, but one thing has remained the same: our dedication to helping food service professionals cook the best food! To thank our customers for 26 years of loyal service, we’re offering you a present for our birthday. Call us Tuesday, May 17th or Wednesday, May 18th and wish Quik n’ Crispy a “Happy 26th birthday!” and we’ll give you a 26% discount on anything you order. Share the news with your friends! There’s no limit to this gift. Everybody who calls to celebrate gets a birthday wish back from us!

Do you have favorite memories from our years in the business? Share pictures, stories, and tales of success on our Facebook page! And don’t miss this chance to get your birthday gift. Call Quik n’ Crispy today.

Ah, the hamburger. Juicy, flavorful, and convenient for customers, with the potential to earn food service operators almost $1.50 per sale. Almost as synonymous with “America’s favorite food” as pizza, this savory finger food can be cooked, fried, grilled, and served up any way you like. And thanks to National Hamburger Month this May, we get to celebrate burgers for a full 30 days!

National Hamburger Month

National Hamburger Month isn’t just a chance for Quik n’ Crispy to make ourselves hungry by dreaming about charbroiled burgers. It’s an excellent opportunity for restaurants, food trucks, burger kiosks, and concession stands to generate excitement and promote a profitable menu item. Get on social media to announce your National Hamburger Month specials. Americans consume over 14 billion hamburgers per year. Make the most of it by serving hot new burger toppings this month, then digging in with coupons for free burgers on National Hamburger Day (May 28).

How to Build a Better Burger

What makes the perfect burger? That depends on where you’re located, who your customers are, and what capabilities you have in the kitchen. But with a greaseless fryer and a little creativity, every food service can create a signature burger to celebrate National Burger Month. Here are a few tips for adding fresh flavor to a classic hamburger:

• Switch up the bun. Ciabatta, brioche, italian rolls, pretzel buns, and sourdough slices are just a few options for sandwiching your burgers.
• Layer on toppings. First up, cheese. Next? Bacon, lettuce, onions, avocado, herbs, olives, or even an egg over easy.
• Add flavorful condiments. Aside from the gimmes like ketchup and mayo, you can dress up your burger with condiments like barbecue sauce, salsa, chutney, honey mustard, and salad dressing.
• Add a side. Don’t just stick to tried and true french fries. Spice things up by offering sweet potato fries, onion rings, salads, fruit cups, and battered vegetables to complement hamburgers this month.

It’s time to get cooking! To learn more about making a profit on frozen menu items, call QNC, Inc.

Hamburger

Education and healthy eating are an unbeatable combination. It’s something we strive for in our schools, but health class isn’t just for kids. Join the Quik n’ Crispy team for the 2016 Texas School Nutrition Conference and get ready to learn!

Texas Association for School Nutrition Conference

Each year the Texas Association for School Nutrition hosts the second biggest state school food show in the US. The annual conference brings together exhibitors, educators, and administrators for four days of great fun and great food. This year the TASN Conference will be held at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX on June 19-22. The attendees play a vital role in providing over 750 million meals to Texas students annually.

Quik n’ Crispy and School Nutrition

Quik n’ Crispy is proud to do our part in teaching kids the benefits of healthy meals. Our ventless fryers have revolutionized school cafeterias across the state of Texas. Not only do they help cafeteria workers cook easy, healthy meals for school children, our ventless fryers allow kids to enjoy their favorite meals with full flavor and fewer fat and calories. Stop by Booth 925 for free food samples, nutritional information about ovenable products from our preferred partners, and details about how to operate our hot air ovens.

“Frisco ISD Child Nutrition Programs purchased a double stack Quik n’Crispy Greaseless Fryer, Model GF5, this year after watching and tasting a demonstration at the School Nutrition Association show in Dallas. We continue to be amazed at the quality products these “little ovens” produce. While we thought the products produced in our convection ovens were good, the end product from the Q-n-C equipment is of much higher quality. . . We will continue to purchase these ovens and invite any of our neighbors to come taste the difference.” Debera Tredennick, Director of Child Nutrition Programs, Frisco Independent School District

Want to taste the difference? Find Quik n’ Crispy at Booth 925 at the Texas School Nutrition Show.

Student

The backbone of any food service is a stellar menu. The menu draws customers in and keeps them coming back. But a good menu doesn’t need to mean a full time team of chefs searing expensive meat and sprinkling garnishes. Plan a simple, cost-effective menu with these tips from Quik n’ Crispy.

How to Plan a Menu

Know your business. Are you a food truck that caters to the local brewery? A food kiosk in the mall? A full kitchen restaurant that’s losing money on night time kitchen staff? What type of business you run will affect how much variety (and how many options) your menu should have. Next, read your target audience. Craft beer enthusiasts may want flavorful snacks that are light on the stomach, while families at family entertainment centers want healthy, filling meals. Find your niche and build from a few staple items. The smaller the food service business, the smaller and more specific the menu. Decide how many cooks payroll will cover vs. how many you’ll need to operate kitchen equipment. Then determine the cost of the food. Profitable menu items can earn businesses $1-2 per meal. Customer favorites include:

• French fries
• Onion rings
• Cheese sticks
• Personal pizzas
• Mini corn dogs
• Chicken nuggets
• Chicken sandwiches
• Charbroiled hamburgers

Think of your menu as a fluid concept. Keep your most profitable menu items as a base, then adapt the menu seasonally. Many full service restaurants change their menus several times a year, while smaller food stands add occasional specials to increase interest and boost revenue.

The Quik n’ Crispy gives food services the ability to heat a variety of ovenable products quickly without sacrificing quality. To learn more about our ventless fryers, call QNC, Inc.

Lunch Specials

Kids may be going crazy over End of School parties, but for teachers, administrators, and other school leaders, Back to School is basically here. As summer approaches, schools work tirelessly to make sure next year (and the next, and the next) runs smoothly. That means finding qualified teachers, revamping curriculum, and determining the best way to handle daily tasks. For many educators, that also means taking a closer look at the school cafeteria.

Nutrition for School Cafeterias

This summer, educators across the country will attend School Nutrition Shows designed to share new opportunities for creating healthier school lunches. Nutrition specialists, vendors, and other educators will share information to help schools provide meals that keep kids, parents, and the lunch lady happy. To accomplish this goal, administrators must consider the ease of preparation; cost of cooking food; taste, texture, and flavor; and, of course, overall nutrition of school lunches.

Quik n’ Crispy for School Cafeterias

The Quik n’ Crispy is a revolutionary greaseless fryer that prepares foods quickly, nutritiously, and without losing taste or texture. Our hot air technology makes it easy for the kitchen staff to prepare a variety of foods in quantities large enough for a school cafeteria. And because it’s prepared without hot oil, each meal or snack contains 20%-40% less fat and calories than the same foods cooked in a fryer. Teaching kids to eat healthy doesn’t mean starving them to get in your semester’s quota of salads. Kids and parents love the tastier, healthier versions of students’ favorite meals.

Visit our booths at the Georgia School Nutrition Show (April 14-16), Texas Association for School Nutrition Show (June 21-22), and School Nutrition Association Conference (July 11-13). Can’t make it to a show? Call QNC, Inc to learn more about ventless fryers for school cafeterias.

Girl with Banana

Some businesses make the bulk of their revenue through food. Others use food service to supplement profits. But many businesses don’t know where they fall. Managers new to the skating industry don’t realize what an integral part food sales play in overall skating center profits. But seasoned rink owners know that concession stands, along with birthday parties and general admission, are a top three source of revenue. So how can skating centers make the most of food service?

Building Food Service Profits

1. Listen to the kids. Roller-skating brings in a diverse customer base, from semi-pro speed skaters to folks reveling in the glory days of skating. But the most frequent skaters are kids and families. And kids build up one heck of an appetite with all that exercise! Pizza, chicken tenders, burgers, and simple sides like french fries will boost kids’ energy without transforming them into complainer skaters.
2. Listen to the parents. After all, they’re the ones paying for lunch. Think about the nutrition, flavor, and bang for their buck when designing your skating center menu. Offer deals like 2-for-1 pizza slices on Friday nights, or heat up personal pizzas for birthday parties and special events. Don’t forget to advertise the nutritional value of your meals. Foods prepared in a ventless fryer have 20%-40% less fat and calories than their baked, fried, or microwaved counterparts. And they taste better, too!
3. Listen to the pros. Conventions like the upcoming RSA Show aren’t just to check out the latest glow skates. Talk to other rink owners, attend educational conferences, and check out the Quik n’ Crispy booth to learn how you can improve skating center profits through better food service.

Time to get rolling! To learn more about improving roller-skating concessions, call QNC, Inc.

Boy Eating Chicken Sandwich

Ah, soft pretzels. Just a whiff brings people back to their favorite memories: a day at the park, strolling through the country fair, or exploring the zoo on an elementary school field trip. It’s hard to go wrong with this classic snack item, but there are more than a few ways to go very, very right.

How to Serve a Soft Pretzel

• Dash It. A dash of salt is the classic way to eat a soft pretzel. Why mess with a good thing? Add a little extra flavor by brushing water onto a frozen pretzel and sprinkling coarse salt on top. Want a new twist on an old classic? Sprinkle a dash of parmesan cheese onto your pretzel instead of salt.
• Dunk It. Looking for a snack that’s more sweet than savory? You can easily transform a classic soft pretzel into a tasty dessert. Simply brush an egg mixture over your frozen pretzel, dunk it in a cinnamon and sugar mixture, and bake as normal in your Quik n’ Crispy. It will come out golden brown and delicious (and your customers won’t stop clamoring for more).
• Dip It. Hot mustard, gooey chocolate, nacho cheese . . . the possibilities are endless. Transform a simple soft pretzel into something sensational with a variety of dipping sauces and drizzles. No extra work, plenty of extra pay!
• Drape it. What’s better than a soft pretzel? A stuffed soft pretzel! Invest in pretzels draped around gooey cheese, hearty hot dogs, and other tasty treats. After all, soft pretzels aren’t just for snacks anymore! A pretzel dog makes a perfect light lunch for kids at roller-skating rinks, bowling alleys, and laser tag arenas.

Ventless fryers give food service vendors versatility and ease, no matter what they’re cooking up. To learn more, contact QNC, Inc.

Soft Pretzel

One of the things we love about our jobs is the people. We don’t just sell greaseless fryers. We help businesses small and large transform their food service with a hot air fryer we’ve spent years finessing. We love talking to customers at trade shows, learning how their greaseless fryer has improved their bottom line. We love hearing business owners’ ideas for pizza baskets and new menu programming. We love talking to people who have never heard of the Quik n’ Crispy, learning how we can help their business. As we prepare for this year’s expo season, we’re more excited than ever to see how the Quik n’ Crispy can simplify your life.

Cinemacon

Lights, camera, action! The movie theater industry has long been an American staple, but as movie theater proprietors know, things are changing every day. New summer blockbusters, new technology, and new cinema legends hit the theater each year, and it’s up to the managers to discern which trends are worthwhile. One trend we can get behind? Drawing profits by expanding the concessions menu. To learn more, visit Quik n’ Crispy booth 332F on April 12-14.

International Roller Skating Association Convention

Roller-skating helps kids and families to stay active and have fun. It provides high energy, a wholesome atmosphere, and plenty of activities to keep families playing. The RSA Show helps rink owners improve their skating centers by giving them access to educational seminars, the latest skating technology, and networking opportunities with the best in the business. Visit Quik n’ Crispy booth 314/316 and taste the difference a greaseless fryer can make for your family entertainment center.

This is just a taste of our upcoming trade shows. To learn where to find Quik n’ Crispy at the Texas Association for School Nutrition Show, the International Bowl Expo, and the School Nutrition Show, call QNC, Inc.