How Much Should You Charge for Pulled Pork Sandwiches at an Event?

Selling pulled pork sandwiches at a fair, festival, or other event can be a profitable endeavor. However, determining the right price to charge for your homemade sandwiches can be tricky. There are several factors to consider when pricing your pulled pork sandwiches, including costs, profit goals, competition, and perceived value. Follow these tips to determine the optimal price for maximizing your profits.

Calculate Your Costs

The first step is tallying up what it costs to make each pulled pork sandwich. This includes

• Cost of the pork itself
• Buns, condiments, and any other sandwich ingredients
• Wood, charcoal, or fuel for smoking the pork
• Disposable serving supplies like plates, napkins, etc.
• Equipment like smokers, thermometers, gloves, etc.

Don’t forget indirect costs like transportation, booth fees, permits, and your own labor. Accounting for every expense that goes into making and selling your sandwiches gives you an accurate baseline for pricing.

On average, expect to spend $1.50 – $3.50 just on ingredients per sandwich depending on quality. Equipment and other indirect costs will increase your total costs further

Factor In Desired Profit Margins

Once you know your costs, decide what profit margin you want to achieve. Most vendors aim for a 50-100% profit margin on fair food.

For example:

• If your costs are $2 per sandwich, price at $4 for 100% profit
• If your costs are $3 per sandwich, price at $4.50 for 50% profit

The profit margin you target will depend on your goals. Higher margins mean more profit but lower volumes. Find the right balance for your business.

Compare to Competitor Pricing

Do some market research to see what other vendors charge for pulled pork sandwiches at nearby fairs and events. Their prices give you an idea of what customers expect to pay.

On average, expect pulled pork sandwiches to sell for $6 – $12 at most fairs and festivals. Use this price range as a benchmark when setting your own pricing.

Undercutting competitors too much devalues your product, while pricing too high means lost sales. Find a middle ground based on your costs and profit goals.

Consider Serving Sizes

Pulled pork is often sold by weight. Consider what size sandwich makes sense for your customer demographic:

• Quarter pound (4 oz) – Good snack size
• Half pound (8 oz) – Satisfying meal portion
• Three-quarter pound – For big eaters!

Adjust pricing accordingly for different sizes. Don’t forget to factor in the bun cost per sandwich as well.

Offer Combo Deals

Make your pricing more attractive by offering combo deals, like:

• Pulled pork sandwich, side and drink
• Half pound sandwich and side
• Sandwich with two side choices

Combos allow you to boost profits while giving customers a complete meal at a bundle price.

Price for Your Target Market

Keep your target audience in mind when pricing. Upscale events warrant higher pricing, while community fairs call for budget options.

If selling at a family event, offer kid-sized portions at lower prices. Appeal to hungover college crowds with meal deals. Know your customers.

Consider Location and Venue

Certain locations and venue types allow for higher pricing due to novelty and convenience factors.

For example, you can charge more when:

• Located at an attraction rather than a remote tent
• At an evening event when other options are closed
• At a fair versus a local church picnic

Use location to justify slight price increases.

Sample Pricing for Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Based on the factors above, here are some sample pricing options:

Basic Sandwich Pricing

• Quarter pound sandwich – $6
• Half pound sandwich – $8-$10
• Three-quarter pound sandwich – $12

Combo Meal Pricing

• Sandwich, side, and drink – $10
• Half pound sandwich and side – $12
• Sandwich and two sides – $12

Kid/Snack Pricing

• Slider size sandwiches – $4
• Pulled pork by the ounce – $3.50/oz

Adjust prices up or down based on your specific costs, profit goals, and market factors. Offer deals and promotions periodically to boost sales.

Tips for Pricing Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Keep these tips in mind when pricing your homemade pulled pork sandwiches:

• Don’t price based on costs alone – factor in margins too
• Research competitor pricing as a starting point
• Offer combo meal deals to increase profits
• Consider your target audience and venue
• Adjust pricing for different portion sizes
• Don’t be afraid to run specials and discounts occasionally

Finding the right price that maximizes profits while satisfying customers takes some experimentation. Start on the higher end and adjust as needed. Offering delicious pulled pork at a fair price will have customers lining up all day long!

Cost Control Strategies

To improve your profit margins on pulled pork sandwiches:

• Buy wholesale – Check restaurant supply stores for bulk deals on buns, pork shoulders, and sides. Buying in bulk significantly reduces costs per serving.

• Portion sides wisely – Don’t overserve coleslaw and other sides. Use smaller 2-4 oz portion cups.

• Limit toppings – Offer just one or two free toppings like pickles and onions. Charge extra for premium toppings like bacon.

• Use disposables sparingly – Only provide napkins, utensils, etc. on request. Use recyclable products.

• Track waste – Record unused food, damaged supplies, etc. Identify ways to reduce waste with better prep and storage.

Controlling costs through thoughtful sourcing, portioning, and waste reduction leads to higher profit margins.

Managing Inventory and Labor

When preparing for high volumes:

• Smoke pork in advance – Cook pork 1-2 days before the event for maximum flexibility.

• Portion meat ahead – Weigh pulled pork into servings before the event to streamline assembly.

• Prep toppings in bulk – Chop, slice, and portion toppings ahead of time.

• Set up assembly lines – Have designated stations for warming meat, adding toppings, taking payment to maximize efficiency.

• Schedule adequate staff – Have enough staff to cover each station, take orders, and manage the lines.

Proper planning and an efficient operation ensures you can handle large crowds while maintaining quality and profits.

Selling pulled pork sandwiches at events can be extremely lucrative if executed well. By pricing strategically based on your costs, profit goals, and market, you can make substantial returns on your time and investment. Use these tips to determine optimal pricing for your homemade pulled pork sandwiches.