For many pubs and bars, snacks have often been viewed as an afterthought – a few packets of crisps behind the bar or a bowl of snacks on the bar, but today’s customers expect far more options than a packet of crisps with their pint. Whether guests are catching up with friends, watching live sport or enjoying a pre-dinner drink, the right snack offering can encourage them to stay longer, order another round and spend more.
With minimal preparation and healthy profit margins, snacks are one of the easiest ways for pubs to increase revenue. The real question isn’t whether you should offer snacks, but what you want them to achieve.
Start with a Purpose
A well-planned snack range should do more than simply satisfy hunger. It should complement your drinks, enhance the customer experience and encourage incremental spend.
Ask yourself: Why do we stock the snacks we do? Are they helping customers stay for another drink? Are they suited to your customers? Or are they simply the same snacks that you have always offered?
Premium is Driving Demand
Consumers are increasingly seeking higher-quality products, and snacks are no exception.
Premium crisps, gourmet nuts, pork crackling, baked snacks and locally produced treats can elevate your offer while delivering strong margins. Many customers are happy to spend a little more on products that feel special, particularly when enjoying premium drinks.
Offering something different from the standard selection can also help your pub stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
Sharing Means More Spending
Sharing remains one of hospitality’s biggest trends. Groups meeting for drinks often prefer to graze rather than order full meals, making sharing snacks a valuable addition to your menu.
Loaded fries, nachos, chicken bites, mozzarella sticks and mixed sharing platters all encourage customers to linger—and the longer they stay, the greater the opportunity for additional drink sales.
Even pubs with limited kitchen facilities can embrace this trend by offering simple, easy-to-prepare sharing options.
Think Beyond the Basics
Crisps and nuts still have their place, but today’s customers appreciate variety.
Have you considered:
- Flavoured nuts
- Pork crackling
- Olives and antipasti
- Cheese snacks
- Hot finger foods
- Sharing boards
Refreshing your range from time to time keeps the offer interesting and gives customers another reason to indulge.
Pair Snacks with Drinks
One of the easiest ways to increase sales is by encouraging staff to recommend snacks alongside drinks.
Whether it’s pork crackling with a pint of beer, olives with a glass of wine or gourmet crisps alongside a premium lager, thoughtful pairings enhance the customer experience while naturally increasing spend.
Simple bundle offers or menu suggestions can also encourage customers to add a snack they may not have otherwise considered.
Are You Keeping Up with Trends?
Consumer tastes are constantly evolving, so it’s worth reviewing your snack offering regularly.
Ask yourself:
- Does our range of snacks reflect our customer preferences?
- Have we introduced premium or local products?
- Are we offering enough sharing options?
- Is our snack selection helping drive another round of drinks?
Sometimes a few small changes can make a significant difference to both customer satisfaction and average transaction value.
A Small Investment with Big Potential
Snacks may represent a small part of your overall offer, but they can have a big impact on profitability. By viewing them as more than just an add-on, operators can create new opportunities to increase spend, improve the customer experience and complement their drinks range.
As customer expectations continue to evolve, pubs and bars that embrace premium products, sharing options and thoughtful drink pairings will be well placed to turn small bites into bigger returns.