BUBBLERS®
The most cost-efficient, fastest on-ramp to dispensed-beverage margins with a lower entry equipment cost than frozen and smaller footprint.
Cold & frozen beverages for c-stores
Build a Better C-Store Beverage Program
Simple. Profitable. Easy-to-Execute
Most beverage programs are underperforming. Is yours?
All numbers shown are illustrative estimates, not guarantees. Replace with verified pricing and product cost before you commit.
The Dispensed Beverage Profit Math
Every C-Store Owner Should Run
Before Purchasing Equipment
Dispensed frozen and cold drinks deliver some of the highest gross margins in the store. With most Crathco purchases, payback lands in under 6 months at 60 cups a day. Don't take our word for it. Run your own numbers!
Why crathco?
Turn High-Margin Potential into Repeatable Profit, with Crathco
Dispensed beverages are one of the highest-margin opportunities in convenience retail, but turning that potential into consistent performance requires the right partner. Crathco systems are designed to simplify execution while maximizing yield, helping operators deliver high-quality cold and frozen beverages with minimal labor, minimal waste, and maximum return per pour. This isn’t just a beverage program, it’s a smarter way to build profit into every transaction.
Tell me more about the BUBBLER® Dispensing Business
Turn refreshing juices, teas and signature beverages into an irresistible, visually captivating offerings that hook thirsty customers and trigger impulse buys.
Tell me more about the Frozen Bowl Dispensing Business
Capitalize on the craze for frozen treats by transforming everyday frozen drink into vibrant, churning sensations that guarantee profit margins.
Tell me more about the Frozen Barrel Freezers Business
Convert high-traffic retail zones into profits with eye-catching, strategic focal points that turn casual browsers into customers of premium frozen beverages.
Three ways into the category
Pick the path that fits your traffic and counter space
Frozen Bowl Dispensers
The visual merchandiser of the category, the spinning bowl sells itself. Best at moderate daily volume with room for multiple flavors on the counter.
Frozen Barrel Freezers
Built for throughput, it earns its higher investment once your daily cup count is high, it's the volume operator's machine.
Run your numbers
Beverage Equipment ROI Calculator
Adjust the inputs to match your store. Every default is an illustrative estimate — your rep/dealer will confirm machine pricing with real figures on your quote.
Illustrative. Be honest about your traffic.
Illustrative.
Your estimate
Gross profit per cup—
Daily gross profit—
Monthly gross profit—
Annual gross profit—
Estimated payback—
First-year net after equipment—
Lock in this payback with a quote
Estimates only, shown for illustration — not a guarantee of results. Gross margin on syrup-based drinks is well established; exact payback swings on your price, volume and verified equipment cost.
where convenience store profitability really comes from
Why beverages out-earn most counter investments
Dispensed beverages consistently deliver some of the strongest gross margins in convenience retail, outperforming most core, in-store categories. With lower ingredient costs and high purchase frequency, cold and frozen programs generate significantly higher profit per transaction than packaged drinks, snacks, or even many prepared food offerings. For operators, this isn’t just a beverage program, it’s a margin engine.
| Counter category | Typical gross margin* | Footprint | Spoilage risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen dispensed beverages | ~60–67% | Small | Low (concentrate) |
| Cold dispensed beverages | ~50–55% | Small | Low (concentrate) |
| Roller-grill, hot prepared food | ~52-60% | Medium | High |
| Packaged snacks | ~38-43% | Shelf | Low |
| Bottled cold drinks (cooler) | ~30-45% | Large | Low |
*Source: NACS Magazine. Figures may depend on local pricing, supplier costs and product mix.
Free download
Get the Cold and Frozen Beverage Profit Worksheet
A one-page worksheet to run your store's profit per cup, break-even cups/day, and payback — plus a quick payback reference table. Print it or save as PDF.
No spam. Or open the worksheet now →
We're crathco, we can help
Turn High-Margin Potential into Repeatable Profit
Cold and frozen beverages can be among the most profitable categories in your store—but only when execution is simple and consistent.
That’s where Crathco stands apart. Designed for day-to-day execution, Crathco helps operators turn margin potential into reliable, repeatable profit.
Built for Real-World Performance
- Easy operation
- Low-maintenance design
- Proven reliability
Result: Your team spends less time managing equipment—and more time serving customers.
Consistency That Protects Margins
- Consistent drink quality
- Reduced waste
- Reliable performance at any volume
The Crathco Advantage
Higher margins. Simpler execution. Consistent results.
Crathco delivers the solutions to build a beverage program that works— every day, at every pour.
operator painpoints
A Practical Guide to Building a Profitable Convenience Store Beverage Program
Convenience store beverages have evolved from a simple offering into one of the most powerful drivers of inside sales, traffic, and margin growth. Yet many operators still struggle to unlock the full potential of their beverage programs—often due to inconsistent execution, overcomplicated setups, or a lack of alignment between equipment, menu, and customer demand.
The questions operators actually ask
Cold and Frozen Beverage Profitability FAQ
How much profit does a frozen beverage make per cup?
Dispensed frozen and cold beverages are among the highest-margin items in a c-store. At an illustrative $1.99 retail price and roughly $0.35 in cup, lid, straw and syrup cost, gross profit lands near $1.64 per cup — about an 82% gross margin. Your exact figure depends on Crathco equipment cost, COGS and your shelf price.
How many cups per day do I need to break even?
Break-even is machine cost divided by gross profit per cup, spread over your target payback window. On illustrative figures, a $4,500 machine at $1.64 gross profit per cup, roughly 56 cups a day pays the machine off in about three months. Lower-cost bubblers break even on fewer cups; higher-volume barrel freezers need more.
What's the payback period on a c-store frozen beverage machine?
At moderate volume, payback in under six months is realistic. On illustrative defaults , 60 cups a day at $1.64 gross profit and a $4,500 machine, payback is roughly three months. Payback swings most on daily cup count and equipment price, so run your store's real numbers in the calculator above.
What does it cost to run?
The main running costs are product (syrup or mix plus cup, lid and straw), electricity for refrigeration, and routine cleaning labor. Product cost is already in your per-cup COGS. Many current Crathco units use energy-efficient R290 refrigeration; confirm exact power draw on the spec sheet for your chosen model.
No-obligation quote