Is Mobile-Only Ordering the Future of Concessions? Lessons from Sam’s Club’s Café

If you’ve been to a Sam’s Club café recently, you may have noticed something strange: no cashier waiting to take your order. Instead, you’re greeted by a sign that basically says, “Craving pizza? Better pull out your phone.”

As of July 28, 2025, Sam’s Club cafés are app-only. That means if you want one of their famous \$1.50 hot dog combos or a gooey pizza pretzel, you’ll need the Sam’s Club Scan & Go app. No more digging for quarters in the cupholder. (Sorry to the dads who still pride themselves on paying exact change with jingling pocket coins.)

Why Would Sam’s Club Do This?

The short answer: it makes their life easier:and yours too (after you figure it out).

1. Speed: Everyone’s phone becomes the cashier. That’s a lot faster than a single register and a line of people who can’t decide between the cinnamon pretzel or the sundae. Sam’s Club has already reported 23% faster exits in stores testing their new app-and-AI checkout system 2. Less Staffing Stress: Sam’s doesn’t have to schedule as many workers. And honestly, would you want to spend all day ringing up \$0.89 drinks? 3. Data Galore: Every order goes through the app, so Sam’s Club can see who’s really powering through those 930-calorie hot dog combos. (We’re not judging… much.) Plus, it aligns with their nationwide plan to eliminate cashier lanes entirely across ~600 locations

What This Means for Concessions Everywhere

While Sam’s Club operates at warehouse scale, the lesson applies just as much to your local high school gym on a Friday night.

- Fewer Volunteers Needed: Volunteers are awesome, but let’s face it:nobody fights over running the cash drawer. If phones handle orders, suddenly you need fewer people behind the counter. - Faster Service: Parents don’t have to miss the third quarter waiting for nachos. They can order from the bleachers, pick up when it’s ready, and still see their kid score. - Higher Sales: When ordering is simple, people order more. It’s the same reason your Amazon cart mysteriously fills itself:except now it’s with pizza slices instead of Bluetooth speakers.

And this isn’t just theory: an Ipsos study found that 70% of quick-service customers aged 18–54 use mobile order-ahead, and even 43% of those 55–75 do too. Translation? Mobile ordering isn’t just for tech-savvy Gen Z anymore.

The Future (and the Funny Part)

It’s kind of hilarious when you think about it: you now need Wi-Fi and a smartphone to buy an 89¢ drink. Imagine explaining that to your grandparents:

- “We had to walk uphill both ways to school.” - “That’s cute. I had to download an app to buy a hot dog.”

But here’s the thing:once people get used to it, they won’t want to go back. No one is nostalgic for long lines at concession stands. Nobody’s saying, “You know what I miss? Waiting 12 minutes for a slice of pizza while the game-winning play happens behind me.”

Sam’s Club is just accelerating what’s already happening at stadiums, schools, and community venues: mobile ordering isn’t just an option anymore:it’s the expectation. And considering that 1 in 3 Sam’s Club members already use Scan & Go regularly, this transition might not be as painful as it looks.

And honestly, when your pizza looks this good and costs \$8.98 for a whole pie…

…does anyone really care how they ordered it, as long as it’s hot and fast?