It is no secret that impulse items like snack cakes can make retailers a quick buck. Why else do you think that the candy and small novelty items are stocked near the check-out registers? The addition of snack cakes to your retail shop can be a boone to your bottom line.

There have been great strides in the snack cake business over the years. If you are thinking of a cupcake wrapped in chocolate frosting, then think again. There has been a trend towards more upscale snack cakes especially with the explosion of high end and gourmet coffee sales. Do the following to increase your sales:

1. Get creative with merchandising your cake snacks. Attractive displays increase sales.

2. Cater the snack cakes to your customers. If your shop is in an ethnic neighborhood, supply snack cakes that appeal to the culture.

3. Sell snack cakes at different price points. Offer both high end and low end products to capture all of the customer base.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend food trade shows and join snack cakes associations

The snack cake business has a lot of competition so you should join an association that will help give your business the edge. Attending snack food trade shows puts you in touch with distributors for your cake snacks. It is a great opportunity to sample new products from snack cake suppliers.

I recommend: Taste the latest developments in snack cake recipes by attending Snaxpo, the largest snack food trade show. Join the Snack Food Association (SFA) to become educated on issues impacting the snack food industry.

Provide specialty products from snack cake bakeries

Custom made snack cakes are more expensive than grocery snack cakes, but consumers are willing to splurge. Having a line of custom made snack cakes will set you apart from your competition. Try selling novelty products too.

I recommend: Just Desserts sells single serve cakes chocolate snack cake as well as other flavors such as lemon and carrot. You might try working with a local bakery in your area. Ask them to make a certain quantity of single serve custom made snack cakes for you to sell. Buy a case of Moon Pies from ItsAllDirect2U to try and capitalize on the snack cakes that will bring back nostalgia.

Offer a variety of snack cake products

Variety is the spice of life and you should have several choices for your customers. Low fat options are always popular and sell well. Wholesale clubs are an easy way for you to get a variety of snack cakes to sell.

I recommend: McKee Foods is the manufacturer of Little Debbie snack cake brand which are a value product. Blue Bird and Mrs. Freshly brands of low calorie snack foods can be ordered from Flowers Foods snack cake manufacturers. Sam's Club is a wholesaler of many products, including snack cakes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Associations usually offer its members substantial discounts on industry magazine subscriptions so you can learn the latest in the snack cake business.