Lodge Food Prices

[Glenn]

I think it's been brought up here before...anyone know the 10% or revenue F&B brings into a mountain? I want to say despite the high prices, it's not a large percent.

 

[kingslug]

Food in any venue is not a high markup item ..compared to booze which is around 900%. If a restaurant does not sell enough booze it will go under. Think about how much booze you buy at lunch..usually none..just some free water most times.

 

[deadheadskier]

Food in any venue is not a high markup item ..compared to booze which is around 900%. If a restaurant does not sell enough booze it will go under. Think about how much booze you buy at lunch..usually none..just some free water most times.

Yeah, that's not all together true. I've managed all kinds of food service operations including ski areas. The difference in food cost and beverage cost only averages about 5%. Typical target for liquor cost is anywhere from 22-29% depending on product mix. Sell more liquor you hit low end. More wine and it will be higher. Food cost ranges in the 24-34% range depending on product mix. It's the labor in food production that chews up most of the profit.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[Harvey]

You guys are making me hungry.

 

[cdskier]

If a restaurant does not sell enough booze it will go under.

That's certainly not true from a general perspective. There are many very successful restaurants here in NJ that are BYOB and do not sell alcohol at all.

 

[kingslug]

And they are set up that way. Not all places are created equal. I went to school for this but decided I hated the hours. First thing we learned..was sell booze!
A $12.00 baked potato..that defies description.

 

[Edd]

Just dropped $14 for wings at the K1 summit lodge. My first time at this lodge. It’s quite nice.


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

 

[ThinkSnow]

At Sugarbush, skip the crowded lodges and take the Out to Lunch trail to Chez Henri's, Pizza Soul or Mutha Stufffers.

 

[legalskier]

I thought the 12$ Chili was very good. I mean, it is Deer Valley.

Colbert agrees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1iAggtNDUM

 

[smac75]

The best deal at Sugarbush is the $17.00 lunch buffet in Rumble's Kitchen. The food is very good and its the nicest place (by far) to eat a sit down lunch on the mountain.

https://www.sugarbush.com/dining/rumbles-holiday-buffet-menu/

Agree! It really is the best deal on the mountain.

 

[cdskier]

At Sugarbush, skip the crowded lodges and take the Out to Lunch trail to Chez Henri's, Pizza Soul or Mutha Stufffers.

Never had lunch at Chez Henri, but eat at both Pizza Soul and Mutha Stuffers often.

 

[andrec10]

Colbert agrees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1iAggtNDUM

:grin:

 

[Jully]

Yeah, that's not all together true. I've managed all kinds of food service operations including ski areas. The difference in food cost and beverage cost only averages about 5%. Typical target for liquor cost is anywhere from 22-29% depending on product mix. Sell more liquor you hit low end. More wine and it will be higher. Food cost ranges in the 24-34% range depending on product mix. It's the labor in food production that chews up most of the profit.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using AlpineZone mobile app

You've mentioned before that part of the struggle with ski area food pricing being so high is because all the business is jammed in two days a week, for about 3 months of the year.

Does anyone think that as ski areas gain more summer business, we could potentially see food pricing come down or is the discrepancy just always going to be too great?

 

[kingslug]

A lot of ski areas do a big business in Summer...but yes they have to maximize the take when they can get it. I don't mind dropping 20 bucks for some food in the middle of the day. Skinny pancake at Stowe is good. With a Heady topper it comes to around 25 ,26 bucks.
I'm still not buying 12.00 potato's though.

 

[2Planker]

Wifey and I are seriously thinking about doing a Box Lunch Take Out place in N Conway.
My buddy did it in Stowe and made a killing on 4 hours/day

 

[kingslug]

The Edelweiss deli on the way to Stowe..I stop there every morning..good stuff.

 

[Ol Dirty Noodle]

Wow living on LI working in Manhattan must really curb my sticker shock as all of this sans the baked potato don’t even faze me, then again I had somewhat reverse sticker shock in LA, for the most part it was cheaper than NY

 

[kingslug]

I think the K lodge at the top is a bit on the very expensive side..yet I've eaten there. Skiing is expensive so what the hell.

 

[Ski the Moguls]

Does anyone have opinions on the various options available at Snowbird?

 

[JimG.]

You've mentioned before that part of the struggle with ski area food pricing being so high is because all the business is jammed in two days a week, for about 3 months of the year.

Does anyone think that as ski areas gain more summer business, we could potentially see food pricing come down or is the discrepancy just always going to be too great?

I think this is like asking if banks increase interest payments to account holders when the fed increases interest rates.