I sell hebrew national grilled for 1.50 w/ kraut or relish. Chili or any other topping add .25 per item. I also sell sabrett 10/1 the same. I couldn’t even imagine spending 3.50 for a dog. OMG!!!

I actually have some of those kosher nathans dogs and they are tasty I must say, also a little salty but that will only make the customer buy another soda. Just like the trick in the bar with the free pretzles. Not sure if it works, but hey, sounds good!

adbunting:

Most Nathan’s franks are not Kosher. However, there are Nathan’s Kosher skinless franks sold in retail packs of six in New York metro area Pathmark and Shoprite supermarkets. The USDA plant number indicates is comes from that huge Kosher meats plant in Iowa.

Grillmeister… sounds like opportunity!

quote:

Originally posted by twinwillow

quote:

Originally posted by LarryRickenbacker

Howdy,

I’ve tried the much-ballyhooed Hebrew Nat’l dogs from my local grocer. Made by Sara Lee. They are among the most disappointing ‘dogs I’ve ever tried. Sorry If I offend. I like Kent’s all Beef barkers.
I’d like to try Vienna Beef or Sabretts, but where on Earth can one FIND them?

LarryRickenbacker

PS: I live in Shreveport/Bossier City, La; some 175 miles due East of Dallas, Tx.

All the Sabrett’s products are sold at the Central Market (HEB) stores in Dallas.
On the package of hot dogs, it say’s, distributed by, Marathon Enterprises, Bronx, N.Y. The mustard bottles list Marathon Enterprises, East Rutherford, N. J.
Central Market sells the hot dogs with & without the natural casing.
Personally, I much prefer WITH the casing.

Twinwillow: I go to the one in Plano for high-end items and admittedly, haven’t priced hot dogs when I’m there. Can Central Market prices be commercially competitive, or is it just something we in the hotdog-ambivalent Southwest have to deal with? It would seem to the novice that Sam’s would be about the only way to lower costs in an area where we don’t normally carry all of these fine northern brands.

VERY interesting discussion by the way. I’ve been keeping up with this forum, and have always wondered if hot dog carts could ever seriously make it in Texas. I would eventually like to give the taquerias a run for their money!

Grateful Dog and Vienna Beef: the best of both worlds. They produce the great product that we consistently serve fresh and hot to our loyal customers.

Do I hear Amway, Fuller Brush, Mary Kay, AVON, LOL.

I suppose I’m different, I want my business name on my signs, aprons, t-shirts, hats, menu boards, cups etc. and etc.

I believe the brand should have to earn my business, not the other way around.

I agree Chicago..We have lots of NE folks, Jersey, New York, Philly folks here in the winter..Also a fair number from the Chicago area.
I have the Best Kosher umbrella(Chicago dog)Sabrett(New York dog)It pays off..Yes I agree u need to feature what the folks in u’r particular area want to buy..U’d probaby die on the vine with BBQ’ed Pork Ribs, me i do about 20 racks a week at $20 per rack. That is for 2 days a week..Same with pulled pork here..Couldn’t give a Italian Beef Sandwich away tried for 3 weeks..Cannot keep my Geno’s cheese steak sandwiches on the cart..U go figure??[:I][:0][:0][:0][;)]

To sell hot dogs in Chicago or Milwaukee, branding is very important. Vienna Beef is the most popular hot dog stand dog. People immediately recognize the colors and signage, just like McDonald’s. Branding has it’s marketing advantages, such as free umbrellas, metal signs, menu boards, counter top signs, hats, and aprons. It’s free advestising and worth every cent.

I don’t think brand matters unless you are trying to sell Sabrett’s outside of the Hewbrew National Packing Plant. If your cart/ trailer or store is professional looking and you are not selling water logged decomposed soup dogs, then people will buy more and then come back in the future.

Regarding potato chips, people are big on removing Trans Fats from their diets, be sure to buy chips that have no Trans Fats. Also offer bottled water and have a box of the Nestea or Crystal Light mixers available for the water.

One needs to use what ever works for them, as every market is different. When ever I post, it’s the world of vending hot dogs seen through my eyes, in my area. The chip market isn’t here. Chips with dogs are eaten at picnics. Chicago & Milwaukee hot dog eaters prefer fries with their dogs. Chili dogs also don’t market well. Our Hispanic customers use mayo and sport peppers on their dogs.

I sell lots of dogs to hispanic folks, they like their chips, figure they are getting a real deal.I am still making .64 per can of soda, my soda sales have more than dbl’d since i started this offer..
Even have a special once in a while with chips on the dog and black beans and salsa. Goes over well enuf that i’m considering adding it..[:I]

quote:

Originally posted by MBFDFyre

quote:

[any dog with beverage and chips 1.00

the immediate above is my LOST Leader!

Why bother with the lost leader? The reason people come to you is the dogs, not the soda and chips. Thats an after thought. So why sell those for a loss?(although, I don’t think it would be much of a loss since you can get soda for a quarter a can at Costco and chips can’t be too bad) Why not sell them for a profit?

-MB

No lost leader or "value meals" from my hot dog cart. I charge $1 for a can of soda and .50 for a bag of chips(when I sell chips, which is hardly never). My cost for soda is .22/can. My cost for Jay’s Potato chips is .16/1oz bag. At $1.50 for a soda & chips, profit is $1.13. At $1.00, profit is .63. Soda and water are high profit items. Chips aren’t. Besides, people only have two hands to use while eating on the run; one for the dog and the other for the drink. Adding chips makes it a balancing act.

genewj – if you were closer, I’d ask for one of the Boar’s Head hd’s! My (and my 17 year old son’s) favorite dog is the Boar’s Head all-beef in natural casing. Love ’em. Love the snap of the natural casing. Gotta have it with diced tomatoes, onions, pickle and Gulden’s spicy brown mustard.

Darn it, now I gotta go get some for lunch later on. You wouldn’t happen to have an IBC or Stewart’s root beer, would you?

quote:

[any dog with beverage and chips 1.00

the immediate above is my LOST Leader!

Why bother with the lost leader? The reason people come to you is the dogs, not the soda and chips. Thats an after thought. So why sell those for a loss?(although, I don’t think it would be much of a loss since you can get soda for a quarter a can at Costco and chips can’t be too bad) Why not sell them for a profit?

-MB