Let J&J Snack Foods Take Your Guests’ Tastebuds on a Memorable Ride

A concession stand is an essential element in the attractions ecosystem. Unlike a typical food court or restaurant, snack shacks satiate a desire for munching on a fun, yet filling food.

But how can amusement parks and family entertainment centers leverage a concession stand to enhance the guest experience in meaningful and memorable ways? 

Whether visitors want to spoil themselves with their favorite treat or quickly quell their hunger with a familiar flavor, J&J Snack Foods offers a line of delicious frozen novelties, baked goods, and frozen beverages that are as timeless as theme parks themselves. 

Serving Smiles Through Snacks
Snacking is no passive activity, especially in a setting designed for constant guest engagement. Consumers approach the decision between a soft pretzel and an ice cream cup with the same excitement and expectations that they do when choosing which thrill ride to hop on first. 

“It’s hard not to smile when you’re sipping an ICEE or sharing a funnel cake with friends at an amusement park,” says Norma Abbattista, vice president of marketing—foodservice for J&J Snack Foods. 
 

Abbattista believes that the J&J Snack Foods portfolio reads as a list of reasons to smile. Its product lineup includes iconic brands like SuperPretzel, ICEE, Slush Puppie, Dippin’ Dots, ¡Hola! Churros, and The Funnel Cake Factory that spread happiness across generations of guests. 

She also understands that these snacks have become so popular that they’re now foundational parts of the guest experience, regardless of whether the guest purchases the food. Most visitors will notice the absence of what they consider to be quintessential theme park treats. 

For instance, 57% of guests expect to see soft pretzels served at amusement parks, according to a study conducted by Technomic in early 2026. 

“Soft pretzels remain one of the most recognized and expected foods in recreation venues,” says Abbattista. “Concession stand standouts, like our SuperPretzel soft pretzels, do more than spark joy and bring people together—they act as keystones for the overall guest experience.”
 

Brands like ICEE are immediately recognizable partially because of the context they’re served in and that fact is not lost on Abbattista. She notes that because these unique products are served at equally one-of-a-kind destinations, the brand often becomes synonymous with the experience.

“ICEE is often tied to going to the movie theater in my mind,” she says. “When I was younger, it was a special treat to go with my family and mix as many flavors as I could.”

J&J Snack Foods are accessible to audiences young and old, but it’s their primary availability in the attractions and entertainment industry that makes these sensational snacks even more memorable.

Making Memories in More Ways
From weekly visits to movie theaters and arcades, to annual trips to amusement parks and summer midways, guests expect the reliability and predictability of concession stands. Fulfilling this expectation strengthens their attachment to both the experience and the brand, which is one reason J&J Snack Foods anticipates the success of their ICEE products year after year.

“Frozen carbonated beverages are in a unique category because you can’t replicate them without the machine that makes them,” says Lynwood Mallard, chief marketing officer of J&J Snack Foods. “You probably don’t drink an ICEE every day, so when you do, the experience reminds you of those special occasions when you’ve had them in the past.”

But no matter how popular a product is, contemporary trends will always influence the market and temporarily sway consumer behavior. Mallard believes that adjusting a brand’s messaging can strengthen communication with new customers.

“ICEE still markets the nostalgia of the original frozen beverage while also leaning into new trends like Gen Z’s dirty soda craving,” Mallard explains. “The Dirty ICEE concept encourages guests to mix up their drink with flavored boba, candy pieces, and special syrups that align with the trend and make the experience current and fresh.”
 

Similarly, Dippin’ Dots is another J&J Snack Foods product that introduces customization, limited only by creativity. Some theme parks offer a mix of ICEE and Dippin’ Dots as a “float.” Others work with the brand to create exclusive flavor combinations that align with the facility’s color scheme, theme, or special events.

“We encourage our partners to embrace customization and make our products their own,” Mallard says. “We can create different Dippin’ Dots flavors, innovate with custom ICEE flavors, and can reshape SuperPretzels to allow these products to uniquely come to life within each venue.”

Mallard notices that most partners choose one of two avenues for customization based on the size of their operation. Large amusement parks and multi-franchise FECs are more interested in long-term collaborations using the research and development team at J&J Snack Foods as an asset when creating entirely new products and specialized packaging.
 

Smaller operations find creative, low-overhead solutions more appealing, which can range from dressing churros and funnel cakes in a different sugar for a special event, to simply renaming a core ICEE, Dippin’ Dots, or Slush Puppie flavor to reflect their brand.

“Our products are the perfect canvas,” Mallard shares. “With a little creativity, our partners have a fast and unique way to make these foods just as special as the destination.”

Serve Simplicity with J&J Snack Foods
J&J Snack Foods products are designed to accompany guests throughout their experience as they wait in lines, walk between attractions, and manage children. Their portability makes them a practical option that enhances, without interfering, with an activity.

Mallard and Abbattista believe that serving these smiles should be just as simple without compromising what makes each product special.

The aroma of a SuperPretzel and the first cold sip of an ICEE leave impressions on the mind the same way roller coaster drops, laser tag battles, and movie cliffhangers do. That’s why J&J Snack Foods help clients enhance the guest experience on a sensory level through turnkey solutions.

From storing and preparing the foods, to marketing the brands and troubleshooting equipment, the J&J Snack Foods team wants its partners to serve smiles without stretching budgets, operational capabilities, or patience.
 

“Dippin’ Dots require freezers and SuperPretzels require warmers, which is why we offer an equipment program and have teams to service this equipment, including a team dedicated specifically to ICEE machines,” Mallard says.

Low out-of-pocket bundle programs make it easy for venues like movie theaters and indoor adventure parks to replicate the offerings of major theme parks on a micro level. While J&J Snack Foods does have a collaborative marketing team that will assist partners with promotional efforts, strong brand recognition means that operators can maximize sales simply by leveraging social media and updating signage.

“Keep it simple and let the products speak for themselves,” Abbattista advises. “Let the product shine through; even when you customize one of our snacks, it doesn’t require a lot of lift to promote why it’s unique.”

Contact J&J Snack Foods to learn more about how their iconic brands can bring smiles to your guests.
 

The article above is sponsored by J&J Snack Foods. The content presented does not imply endorsement by IAAPA, IAAPA.org, IAAPA News Daily, or Funworld magazine. The information contained should not be construed as a formal recommendation for products and services or instructional guidance provided by IAAPA.