Don’t Let It Go to Waste

Waste prevention is an important way to protect profits at the close of busy outdoor concession seasons. A few smart storage habits can stretch shelf life, keep quality high, and make fall inventory carry you cleanly into winter events.

Below is a practical playbook you can start now that’s built around smart storage, efficient moving, and serving, and discover the gear Allen Associates can supply to make it all easy.

Store Smarter

Create the right environment to lock in freshness from the get-go. 

• Dry goods: Heat and humidity swings cause sugars and seasonings to go stale and rob popcorn kernels of the internal moisture they need to pop. To prevent this, keep popcorn kernels, flavorings and seasonings, floss sugar, ice cream cones, etc, in cool, dry, airtight containers.
• Syrups & sauces: To keep Slush Puppie®, chocolate, coffee, and other syrups fresh, keep bottles sealed until use, and once opened, clean the cap and/or pump daily, and follow the label for “refrigerate after opening” instructions. Wipe away sticky threads and sugar residue to avoid pests and mold.
  
• Frozen items: Keep Mini Melts® and soft pretzels at their recommended temperatures. Minimize door-open time and keep your eye out for any frost build-up, as it signals temperature fluctuation and quality loss.
  

Stock Up On Quality Storage Containers & Tools

Food-grade bins with gasketed lids are great for kernels and sugar. Be sure to keep containers labeled with products, use-by date, and date opened.

Clear, stand-up pouches protect the oxygen/moisture barrier for pre-bagged popcorn; heat-sealing slows staling and prevents pests.

Date-coded labels on every open case, bottle, and bag. Come up with an easy-to-follow coding and labeling system so all employees can easily view and label as needed. Use removable labels on reusable containers.

Move Inventory Smarter

Rotate perishables and shelf-stable items, and forecast for better inventory purchasing. Here’s how:

Open with Intention

• Use a “one at a time” rule. Do not allow a second case or syrup to be opened until the first is empty.
• Standardize portion scoops and ladles so product usage matches your recipe plan.
• Practice FIFO and FEFO:

FIFO (First In, First Out) for shelf-stable items.

FEFO (First Expiring, First Out) for anything with a use-by date, such as frozen pretzels, toppings, cocoa mixes, etc.

Tighten Inventory For Fall 

• Shift to smaller cases or split-cases where possible as game schedules and outdoor traffic taper off.
  
• Build par levels by day of week. Review weekly and adjust.
  

Color-Code for Clarity

• Use color stickers for menu offerings or stations. This speeds restocks and prevents duplicate opens.

End-of-day Playbook

• Count & Close: Log what’s opened, and be sure containers are properly resealed and labeled with the date it was opened.
  
• Consolidate: Combine partial cases from the same lot to reduce stray opens.

3) Serve Smart

Always defer to your local health department and manufacturer labels for cook time and temperature, as well as storage and food-safety rules and guidelines. When in doubt, throw it out!

Plan a sell-down as you near the end of the season. Feature a “Fall Combo” to move items approaching hold-time limits.

Off-Season Plan 

• Menu simplify: Trim SKUs to your fastest movers for late-fall weekends.
  
• Freeze strategically: Prioritize freezer space for items that hold quality well (like pretzels). Keep shelf-stable syrups sealed for winter events.
  
• Deep clean & winterize:
  
  • Slush machines: Drain, sanitize, dry tanks and lines per manual.
    
  • Popcorn & cotton candy equipment: Degrease, descale, wipe sugar buildup; store covered.
    
  • Label everything for first-use order next season.
    

Partner with Allen Associates to Keep Waste in Check

Waste is a profit leak you can fix. With airtight storage, smart rotation, right-sized fall ordering, and tight end-of-day habits, you’ll sell more of what you buy without sacrificing quality or safety.

Want a quick audit of your current setup and a waste-reduction shopping list tailored to your needs?

Call 1-800-333-1478. We’ll help you button up fall inventory and roll into the winter months ready to win.