Oktoberfest snacks perfect for fall noshing

Summertime is just around the corner, but believe it or not, now’s the time to make plans for a successful fall. Oktoberfest will be here before operators know it, so it’s important to get started on menu planning and promotion ideas for September. When choosing the type of snacks to feature during Oktoberfest, restaurants need look no further than the classics—soft pretzels are the ideal snack for Oktoberfest—as well as all year round.

Enticing consumers who want a snack

Snacking has always been a common activity, but operators may not know just how common—according to Technomic’s 2022 Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report, 75% of consumers snack at least once a day. This presents tremendous opportunity for foodservice operators, who have the chance to capitalize on consumers’ tendency to snack.

Consumers do snack because they’re hungry, of course, but plenty of consumers get snacks for other reasons, too: Thirty-three percent say they eat snacks because they want to give themselves a treat, while 22% say they snack not because they’re necessarily hungry, but just because they enjoy snacking, according to Technomic’s Snacking Occasion report.  When adding snacks to the menu, it’s crucial to ensure they’re listed in the right places so customers see them—and it’s even more important to make sure that the snacks being offered are ones diners are craving.

When consumers order snacks off a menu, 59% say they look for them in the appetizers/small plates section, while 52% say they look in the snacks section of the menu. Make sure to highlight snackable options in those sections—and make those parts of the menu eye-catching to ensure customers find them easily.

Choosing quality products from reliable vendors

When choosing the types of snacks to offer, operators should not only consider consumer preferences, but also seasonality and special occasions. Oktoberfest offers the perfect opportunity for a year-round preference and an annual event to collide—in the form of soft pretzels. In fact, they’re a customer favorite, with Technomic’s Snacking Occasion report finding that about one in four consumers purchase soft pretzels at least occasionally.

J&J Snack Foods offers a variety of Bavarian-style soft pretzels which are ideal offerings for Oktoberfest snacking. With its SUPERPRETZEL® Bavarian and Bavarian Bakery® soft pretzels, which have an authentic Bavarian flavor profile, and leading into the brand’s Brauhaus™ line, a hand-crafted German-style soft pretzel with an earthy rye flavor, these three soft pretzel brands allow for unique soft pretzel options to offer seasonally. Their heat-and-serve prep is fast, easy and low-labor, too—perfect for foodservice facilities facing staffing challenges. They’re available in various dough formations, such as sticks, twists and braids, perfect for creating appealing appetizers, snacks and shareable plates. Serve with diners’ choice of dips, including mustards, cheeses and more to boost appeal, and consider promoting combo deals, such as a drink-and-pretzel combo, to encourage ordering.

J&J Snack Foods is proud to offer everything operators need for Oktoberfest. Don’t wait—start planning now! To learn more about Bavarian-style pretzels and more, visit www.jjsnackfoodservice.com.