Corky?s Caters to Hog Fans

Ben Clark is excited about landing the contract to provide Corky’s barbecue to Razorback football games, but he said the profit margin for that catering job is just about zero.

“It’s not a profitable deal for me,” said Clark, who is the majority owner of Corky’s Ribs & BBQ in Fayetteville. “If I break even, I’m happy. But it’s good for me marketing-wise.”

Clark said people who ate Corky’s barbecue at one of the five games in Reynolds Razorback Stadium this fall are more likely to stop by the Dickson Street restaurant for meal some other time. Corky’s has a permanent vendor location in the stadium and catered meals to about 70 of the 200 suites there during each home game. Clark said barbecue meat from about 100 pork shoulders was served at each game.

As far as the profit margin goes, Clark said, 40 percent of gross profits is taken off the top for the privilege of catering the Hog games. The University of Arkansas takes 20 percent, and Sodexho Marriott Services Inc. takes 20 percent. Sodexho operates the food service on the UA campus.

Clark said sales are up about 10 percent at his restaurant this year compared to 2000, but catering is down about 40 percent since Sept. 11 (compared to the same three month period of 2000). Clark said he is looking for a second location, probably in Bentonville or Rogers, that would have a drive-through window for diners on the go.