The following is a guest post by Tim VanDusen…
I really love the concept of of the 5 compartment/w ice tray condiment holders. The only draw back, for me, is using them during festivals and busy days on the cart. They do not hold enough, in my opinion, to be of value.
I put the condiments on all my dogs myself. No self service. It helps control condiment cost. But when I get busy I can empty the onion, tomato, and pickle slots every twenty minutes. I dodn’t want to have to stop and refill in the middle of a good gin.
The 5 compartment containers are good for gigs, like back yard parties, when you can find the time to refill. But on big gigs the stop and refill factor is frustrating. When I was just getting started, back in ’09, I used the 1/8 pans that were on my first cart. We learned to hate them on our very first festival.
We had a line 40 people deep for five straight hours. Had to refill on the run. The mess was unbelievable. And surprise, that was when the health department showed up. Condiments all over the place.
What I found, that worked well for me, was 1 qt metal food storage containers, in coolers on ice. They have a rubber gasket in the lid, air tight, so they stay fresh all day. I fill these, put them on a rack inside the cooler, and fill the cooler with ice. Also my ice lasts longer in the coolers.
Once they get to temp they hold well. And even when the ice gets low the metal containers still transfer the cold temps quite well. One seven pound bag of ice and they will stay cold all day, even on 100 degree days.
The Blue cooler in the picture below holds the condiments. I don’t have any pics of the inside of the filled cooler, sorry, but I’m sure you get the idea.
They cost a little more. But in my opinion the convenience factor was well worth it. We got them at a place called Miejers. $10.00 bucks each.
Keep Doggin!
-Tim
Thanks Tim… Real good info for volume vending.. And I miss Meijers, they started in my home town but none down here in Southern Florida…
Tim, How many 1/4 cans will fit in the blue cooler ?
Thanks, Larry
Quart……Duh
Thanks! Where is Miejers Located ? Can you buy Online? Thanks Tim !
Looks like a good plan. I also have the problem of having to fill them too often when busy. You mention putting the containers in a “rack” in the cooler. What kind of rack are you talking about?
Meijer stores are all over Michigan with a few in Indiana and Ohio. Try Miejer.com. They started in Greenville MI not Fla. The founder Fred Meijer just passed away. He did a lot for West Michigan. He’ll be missed.
their are meijers stores in Michigan
@Buns ‘n The Sun I can fit 4 in the blue cooler. I also have refills in a cooler not in the pic.
@Don, yes you can get them online
@Dick, I converted a small dish rack for the purpose
walmart has the same thing in plastic. they also make great containers for utensils etc.
Can we get a shot inside the cooler to see the converted dish rack?
Tim…thank you for this!
When you say a converted dish rack are you talking about the ones with little, short legs? The on board cooler for the EZ cart was where I was going to keep my condiments….aren’t there some condiments that don’t need to be chilled? (I know…check my local HD) But in theory a guy could use these even non refrigerated couldn’t they?
I do not enjoy arriving at an event and looking like I am a college aged camper setting up for the day. This is why I shop for food related items at Restaurant Depot. We all want the convenience of being able to work at warp speeds, and have enough product for when our wait is more than 4 deep, and still provide safe and enjoyable food, (HD) included. Try this one out, I love this…its a plastic bus box so they call them, plastic 8 in deep, abou 18 by 24 and comes with a lid. I place ice int the bottom about 1/2 of an 8 lb bag, on top of the ice I place 12 1/6th pans full of condiments yep 12 different types and still have room for my squeeze bottles. People see a covered container and always want to know whats inside. When I lift the lid off they look at all the condiments like its a treasure chest$$$$$…thank you very much $$$$
Found the online store but have had no luck in finding the metal containers…anyone else have luck?
Hey Jim… I know they started in Michigan… lol, was saying that I now live in Florida.. Yup, they started in Greenville, and the first Meijer Thrifty Acres store was in Grand Rapids at Kalamazoo and 28th Street. For those unfamiliar with the Thrifty Acres thing, it’s the first store that carried groceries and everything else, such as clothes, pets, automotive, etc… Was a new concept at the time back in the 60’s. And yes, RIP Fred Meijer…
Here is a link. about $9.00 at Target
one-half gallon size.
I like this idea using a cooler because it gets hot here in Texas. Thanks!!!
The Container Store carries those canisters. Online and in store. 🙂
Joe…I love that idea. Are you talking about the plastic containers that bus boys…er people use in restaurants? Do you use lids on the 1/6th pans? The only thing I would be concerned about is keeping the temp low enough to please the HD…any problems with that?
Joe…you sure you don’t mean 1/9th size pans? I’m at RD right now and can’t even get 6 1/6th pans in a bus box…
So I did end up finding whats called a “lug box” at RD. Dimensions are 17x26x8. I can fit at the most 9 1/9th size pans in it…but no lids. : ( they have a little smaller “bus box” on special right now for $2.59 with lid. Dim are 21x15x7.
The metal containers are a good idea ,I will take advantage of that idea !!The five compartment idea is good too,, for back yard and small events !
Trudeau stainless airtight containers. Under 9 bucks. Amazon.com. Hope that helps
Old Time Pottery has those containers as well.
Hey Uncle Vic!! I almost forgot about the Thrifty Acres part. We’re starting to date ourselves now. I grew up abuot 10 miles south of 28th and Kazoo and went to that store often with my mom. Happy dogin!
I LIKE
WoW thank you guys,Im just getting started and all this info helps alot.
some great ideas here…thank people
You can also use a Coleman 24 can party stacker cooler and fit 1/6 or 1/9 size steam table pans in it.
😉