Beyond Chocolates: Creative Valentine's Day Food Ideas
Unique Concession Food Ideas for Valentine’s Day
Did you know Valentine's Day continues to be one of the top occasions for holiday spending? According to the NRF Survey, Valentine's spending reached a record high of $27.5 billion in 2025. "Consumers are looking for special ways to treat their loved ones and can expect retailers to provide the best gift options and deals," says National Retail Federation's vice president of industry and consumer insights, Katherine Cullen. There are plenty of ways to drive fun food sales that center around a Valentine theme – you just have to think outside of the (chocolate) box. Here are some creative food ideas for putting a Valentine's Day twist on your concession products.
Red Popcorn
Popcorn is one of the concession industry's most popular snacks and it makes a great gift too! Rely on red-inspired colors and flavors to set the tone for Valentine's Day. Choose from color-only or flavored Signature Blends® to make your popcorn a vibrant color.
Strawberry-flavored popcorn can be served year-round, but February is the perfect time to put this flavor center stage. Serve your popcorn in clear and/or heart-shaped packaging to add interest that catches the eyes of your customers.
Another fun Valentine's-themed recipe we recommend is red velvet popcorn – made even better when topped with a white chocolate drizzle!
Cotton Candy Sweetness
Cotton candy is a fun sweet treat that's perfect for Valentine’s Day—especially when you feature gourmet cotton candy flavors like chocolate strawberry or chocolate cherry. These decadent choices of Flossugar will wow your customers.
Pro tip: Give cotton candy a creative presentation like a heart or flower shape. And use red, pink, or other decorative cellophane to dress it up and make it even more attention-grabbing for the consumer.
Swirled Fudge
Swirled fudge is another popular snack option for Valentine's Day. Instead of just relying on traditional chocolate flavors, swirled fudge offers a unique, festive twist. We recommend making vanilla cherry swirl fudge, which is both delicious and visually appealing.
Watch the video below for a demonstration on how to make a winged fudge swirl pattern. If you’re feeling especially romantic, try making a heart-shaped pattern!
As you can see, there are many more Valentine’s Day food ideas besides traditional boxes of chocolate. For more inspiration, check out our Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup!