Imagine this: families arrive at your indoor play center, ready for a day of fun. After a few hours of activities, the kids are hungry, the parents need a break, and everyone could use some rest. This is where a well-placed snack area becomes a real game-changer. Offering a spot where your customers can grab a quick bite doesn’t just enhance their experience—it turns your play center into an ideal all-day destination, increasing the time spent on-site and boosting your revenue.

Our goal is simple: to show you the usefulness and profitability of a snack area in your indoor play center. Ready to discover how a snack area can take your facility to the next level? Let’s get started!

The financial benefits of adding a snack area

When considering the addition of a snack area to an indoor play center, it’s easy to think of it as just a service to satisfy small appetites. But in reality, a well-placed snack area is much more than that: it’s a key growth driver for your business! Why? Because it diversifies your revenue streams and encourages visitors to stay longer, increasing your profits.

Diversifying revenue streams

To grow the income of your indoor play center, it’s essential to diversify your revenue sources. And what better way to achieve this than by adding a snack area? With snacks available, you no longer depend solely on entry fees or merchandise sales. You add a new, independent, yet complementary source of revenue.

Why is this so important? Imagine your play center as a table with several legs. Each leg represents a source of income. By adding a snack area, you add a new leg, making the table more stable, especially when visitor numbers fluctuate.

A real-world example: let’s say your center has 200 visitors on a busy day. Without a snack area, these visitors stay an average of one hour before leaving to eat elsewhere. But with a snack area, 75% of them decide to stay for a quick bite. That’s 150 people spending an average of 5 to 10 euros on drinks, coffee, treats, or sandwiches. In one day, this adds between 750 and 1,500 euros to your income just from snacks! And this number can grow with attractive menu options, special promotions, or themed events.

In an indoor playground, around 25% of revenue typically comes from snacks, as parents often stay to watch their kids and enjoy a coffee or snack while they play. Meanwhile, in spaces like trampoline parks, the snack revenue might be slightly lower, as teenagers often have less to spend on-site.

Extending the time spent on-site

One often overlooked benefit of adding a snack area to your indoor play center is that your visitors stay longer. The longer they stay, the more they’re likely to pay for another game, buy a souvenir, or try out that new attraction their kids have been asking about. This creates a virtuous cycle!

Imagine a typical day: a family arrives in the morning, ready to make the most of all your play center’s activities. After one or two hours of play, hunger strikes. Instead of leaving to find food elsewhere, they naturally head to your snack area, drawn by a range of tasty treats that delight both kids and adults. After a quick bite and a short break, the kids are eager to get back to playing, while the parents enjoy a well-deserved rest with a coffee or treat. The result? They extend their stay, increasing their total spending.

A real-world example: before adding the snack area, visitors spent an average of one hour in your center. After opening the snack area, this increases to around three hours. Why? Because families appreciate being able to grab a quick bite on-site without needing to leave for a full meal, turning a short visit into a half-day experience. If each family spends 10% more simply by staying longer thanks to the snack offering, your revenue can really grow!

Enhancing the customer experience

In an indoor play center, the customer experience is key. Visitors aren’t just looking for fun activities; they also want a welcoming space to relax, socialize, and fully enjoy their day. Adding a snack area to your offering not only boosts your revenue but also enhances the overall experience of your visitors.

Creating a space to relax and socialize

After hours of running, climbing, and playing, your visitors need a break. A well-designed snack area, with cozy seating, becomes a much-needed retreat. It’s not just a place to grab a snack; it’s a space where families, friends, and groups can sit, share stories about their adventures, and create lasting memories.

Why is this space so important? Because it enhances the experience in a positive way. A well-thought-out snack area provides a well-deserved break after intense activities and becomes a social hub. Parents can chat while watching their children play safely nearby, friends can share stories over snacks, and even solo visitors can relax with a hot drink or treat in a comfortable spot.

Imagine a snack area with comfortable seating, warm decor, and an inviting atmosphere. The sound of children’s laughter, parents’ conversations, and the joy of sharing a snack create a convivial atmosphere that makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. This is where your visitors feel truly at home, ready to extend their visit and perhaps return for more fun!

Tailoring the menu to different audiences

Your indoor play center welcomes a wide range of visitors: families with young children, teens seeking excitement, adults looking to relax, and groups of friends or sports teams. A well-designed snack area should reflect this diversity by offering a menu that caters to all tastes and dietary preferences.

Why is this important? Because each group has different food expectations. Kids love fun, easy-to-eat snacks like mini-sandwiches, nuggets, or small pizzas, while adults often look for more varied options, ranging from healthy snacks like fresh salads or smoothies to indulgent treats like paninis or quiches. For athletes or health-conscious visitors, offering balanced options like composed salads, fruit bowls, or protein wraps is essential.

A diverse menu might include a “Little adventurer’s menu” for kids with fun, healthy snacks like mini-burgers, wraps, or crepes, and a “Gourmet snacks” selection for adults that changes with the seasons using local ingredients. For health-conscious guests, a range of “Healthy snacks” and “Detox drinks” would satisfy their cravings while supporting a healthy lifestyle.

This approach not only attracts a diverse clientele; it also encourages repeat visits, as your customers will know they can always find an option that suits them, whether they crave a light snack, a gourmet treat, or a healthy break. All of this can be tailored to the theme of your complex, thus offering a complete and cohesive experience for all your visitors.

Strengthening visitor loyalty

Building customer loyalty is crucial to ensuring the sustainability and growth of your indoor play centre. A snack space does more than just feed your customers; it becomes a cornerstone of your loyalty strategy. By creating experiences and offering attractive deals, you can turn occasional visitors into loyal regulars, or even true ambassadors of your brand.

Creating memorable experiences

Memories are what make people want to come back. A unique culinary experience can leave as lasting an impression, if not more, than an attraction. Offering a memorable snack break isn’t just about taste; it’s about sensations, conviviality, and shared emotions. By creating a setting where fast food and atmosphere become unforgettable memories, you directly touch the hearts of your customers.

Why is a memorable culinary experience essential for building loyalty? Because even a snack break can become a moment of sharing and conviviality. Imagine families or groups of friends fondly remembering their day at your complex while recalling that refreshing smoothie they tasted or that fun, original snack that surprised them. Every snack, every drink, every detail of the ambiance can become a precious memory and strengthen their emotional attachment to your establishment.

An example of an immersive experience: offer activities that turn a simple snack into an unforgettable adventure. Imagine a “Pirate’s feast,” where your snack space transforms into a corsair tavern, complete with a special “Captain’s snacks” menu and staff dressed as pirates. Or why not offer interactive snacks, like flavored popcorn prepared before the customers’ eyes, or colorful cotton candy? These creative touches surprise, entertain, and delight your visitors, while creating memorable moments that entice them to return for more fun culinary experiences.

Loyalty programs and special offers

Beyond the culinary experience, a snack space offers an excellent opportunity to set up loyalty programs and bundled offers that encourage repeat visits and increase the long-term value of each customer. A well-designed loyalty program can turn a satisfied customer into a loyal regular.

Why is a loyalty program so effective? Because it rewards visitors for their loyalty. For example, a loyalty card offering a free snack after a certain number of purchases encourages customers to return to accumulate points. Additionally, bundled offers, such as the “Snack and Jump” package — which combines a snack and access to several attractions at a favorable price — can not only attract more visitors but also encourage cross-sales between different services of your complex.

Examples of attractive offers: a loyalty card that accumulates points with each purchase: “10 points = 1 free snack,” or a 20% discount on admission tickets when purchased with a snack package. These small gestures build trust and recognition with your visitors, encouraging them not only to return but also to recommend your complex to their friends and family.

Ready to take it to the next level?

Adding a snack space to your indoor leisure complex isn’t just a simple convenience; it’s a winning strategy on all fronts! By enhancing the customer experience, diversifying your revenue streams, and strengthening visitor loyalty, you propel your establishment to new heights. A relaxation and socialization space allows your customers to unwind and extend their stay, which multiplies spending opportunities. A varied culinary offer attracts and satisfies all customer segments, transforming each meal into a truly fun moment. And let’s not forget the loyalty programs and bundled offers that encourage your customers to return again and again, thus increasing their long-term value to your business.

So, what unique culinary experience would you offer your customers in your complex? Let your imagination run wild and share your ideas!