National Independent Concessionaires Association

What National Independent Concessionaires Association does

The National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA, Inc.) is a Florida-incorporated nonprofit trade association founded in 1993 and headquartered in Brandon, Florida, serving mobile food and retail concessionaires, fairs, festivals, and industry associate members across the United States and Canada. As of 2026 (its 33rd year), NICA reports more than 1,200 members and operates with a 1-10 person staff. The core product is an annual membership (Early Bird pricing at $125, with a stated $80 savings off a higher regular rate) that bundles negotiated discounts with major national suppliers, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi (with a $.65 per gallon rebate program), Sysco and Entegra (a dedicated NICA Sysco Marketplace covering 6,000+ products and quarterly rebates), Fiserv/Clover (exclusive low set pricing on credit card processing), Goodyear (truck tires), Dell (technology), Hertz (vehicle rentals), Sherwin-Williams, Office Depot, and Ford Pro Fleet (fleet vehicles), plus a NICA Health Plan provided through Hummel Group.

The underlying technology is conventional association infrastructure: NICA runs its member portal, event registration, billing, directory, and job board on the GrowthZone membership management platform (business.nicainc.org), with no proprietary AI, API, or SDK layer disclosed. Member-facing products beyond discounts include the CCE certification program for concession professionals, the NICA Foundation and First Timer's Convention scholarship programs, a monthly NICA News publication, a weekly NICA Now! email newsletter, peer-to-peer resources, and a 24/7 searchable member directory. Distribution combines direct event participation (state fair conventions, IAFE Convention, Florida Federation of Fairs, IAAPA presence, NICA Business Expo in February, and the 5th Annual NICA Marketplace trade show scheduled November 8-11, 2026 in Las Vegas) with self-serve digital onboarding and direct member recruitment by a small staff. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and derives from annual membership dues, event registration and exhibitor fees (e.g., $149 Early Bird member registration and $1,195 trade show exhibitor pricing at Marketplace 2026), partner programs, donations to the NICA Foundation, and ancillary sources consistent with a member-driven 501(c)-style trade association.

Name

National Independent Concessionaires Association

Legal name

National Independent Concessionaires Association, Inc.

Website

https://nicainc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA) is a Florida-based, member-governed nonprofit trade association serving 1,200+ mobile food and retail concessionaires, fairs, festivals, and supplier associate members across the United States and Canada via annual dues, negotiated supplier discounts, certification, scholarships, and annual conventions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Membership Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAFAG

Membership, Accreditation & Credentialing Registration Systems

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Event Registration, Ticketing & Attendee Management Platforms

SECONDARYTHAHAFAB

Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Event Registration, Ticketing & Attendee Management Platforms

Keywords

• Trade association membership
• Concessionaire industry network
• Group purchasing discounts
• Fair festival industry
• Membership discount programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brandon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: NICA generates revenue through annual membership fees from mobile food and retail concessionaires, fairs, festivals, and associate members. Members receive access to negotiated discounts on products and services from partner companies including beverages, food supplies, equipment, travel, and lodging.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NICA is a membership-driven nonprofit trade association that provides independent mobile food and retail concessionaires, fairs, festivals, and associate member companies with access to negotiated group discount programs (food, beverages, supplies, payment processing, insurance, travel, equipment), industry education, professional certification (CCE program), scholarships, advocacy, and networking across the United States and Canada. Its primary revenue driver is annual membership dues, which unlock a portfolio of exclusive partner benefits.

Product overview

National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA) is a membership-driven organization offering a unified membership program that provides benefits, discounts, and resources to over 1,200 mobile food and retail Concessionaires, Fairs, Festivals, and Associate Members in the Fair, Festival, and Special Events Industries across the United States and Canada. The core offering is the NICA Membership Program, supplemented by partner discount programs including the NICA Sysco Marketplace (food purchasing), Fiserv/Clover Payment Processing, Pepsi National Account Program, and NICA Health Plan. Additional member services include the CCE Program for professional certification, Scholarship Programs, the NICA News publication, Peer-to-Peer Resources portal, and a Member Directory. The organization also hosts annual events including the NICA Business Expo (February) and the NICA Marketplace (November).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NICA Membership Program Annual membership for independent mobile food and retail concessionaires, fairs, festivals, and associate member companies in the United States and Canada. Members receive access to negotiated discounts on food, beverages, supplies, payment processing, equipment, fleet, insurance, and travel, plus peer resources, networking, certification, and scholarships. Over 1,200 members.
• NICA Sysco Marketplace A purchasing program designed exclusively for NICA Members providing savings on over 6,000 food and beverage products, access to quarterly rebates, dedicated Sysco account support, and delivery of Sysco and national branded products.
• Fiserv/Clover Payment Processing Program Exclusive low set pricing on credit card processing fees and equipment for NICA Members. Accepts credit, check, cash, debit, gift, chip cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay via Wifi, Wireless 3G, or Ethernet, with support for front gate, concession, kiosk, pre-sales, and online ticketing needs, plus 24/7 customer service and security/EMV/PCI compliance support.
• Pepsi National Account Program Special pricing on Pepsi beverage products for NICA Members, accompanied by a rebate program offering $0.65 per gallon rebate for holders of a Pepsi National Account card.
• NICA Health Plan Health insurance benefit program for NICA Members provided through partnership with the Hummel Group, giving members access to group-negotiated health plan options.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coca-ColacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNICA has a partnership with Coca-Cola providing members with negotiated pricing on Coca-Cola beverage products.
• PepsicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNICA and Pepsi offer special pricing on Pepsi beverage products to all NICA members through a National Account Program. Includes rebate program with $.65 per gallon rebate.
• Sysco and EntegracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNICA Sysco Marketplace is a purchasing program designed exclusively for NICA Members providing savings on over 6,000 products, quarterly rebates, and dedicated account support.
• Fiserv (Clover)coreTechnology or IntegrationNICA negotiated exclusive low set pricing with Fiserv for credit card processing fees and equipment. Members receive lowest price on credit card processing, reduced equipment pricing, 24/7 customer service, and security/EMV/PCI compliance support.
• GoodyearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNICA provides members with access to Goodyear truck tire discounts and services through the partnership.
• DellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers have access to Dell technology products and services through negotiated corporate pricing.
• HertzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNICA members receive discounted rates on Hertz vehicle rentals for business and personal travel.
• Sherwin-WilliamsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers have access to Sherwin-Williams paints and coatings products through negotiated pricing.
• Office DepotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers receive office supplies through Office Depot with negotiated member pricing.
• Ford Pro FleetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFleet vehicle purchasing program for NICA members through Ford Pro.
• IAFE (International Association of Fairs and Expositions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization with IAFE; NICA participates in IAFE Convention in November.
• WFA (World's Fair Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization listed as part of NICA's industry association network.
• IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization listed as part of NICA's industry association network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): Professional society for the association-management profession itself. ASAE does not compete with NICA but provides relevant benchmarking on governance, member engagement, and non-dues revenue strategy for trade associations of NICA's scale.
• North American Midway Entertainment (NAME): Largest traveling midway operator in North America serving fairs and festivals. NAME is not a trade association but is a major participant in the same fairs-and-festivals ecosystem NICA serves, and a potential strategic partner or supplier-member for NICA.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA): Global trade association for the attractions industry including amusement parks, family entertainment centers, and fairs. IAAPA is a listed sister organization of NICA and overlaps on the fairs/special events segment while serving a much broader scope of operator types.
• Event Industry Council (EIC): Federation of trade associations serving the broader events industry. EIC addresses overlapping event-organizer and supplier communities and shares the trade-association business model of NICA, though at a meaningfully larger industry scope.
• National Restaurant Association: Largest foodservice trade association in the US with a similar dues-driven, member-benefit model including education, certification (ServSafe), and supplier discounts. While focused on fixed-location restaurants rather than mobile concessionaires, it represents the mature archetype for the model NICA operates.

Direct peers

• International Live Events Association (ILEA): Trade association for live event professionals including event designers, producers, and suppliers. ILEA shares NICA's event-industry DNA, networking-driven value proposition, and certification offerings, serving an adjacent but overlapping member base.
• International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE): National trade association for state, county, and regional fairs. IAFE is a sister organization that NICA participates in annually, serving the same fairs/festival industry from the operator side versus NICA's concessionaire side, making them the most directly comparable peer.
• National Association of Concessionaires (NAC): Trade association serving the concession industry with a broader foodservice scope including theaters, stadiums, and recreational facilities. NAC directly competes with NICA for the concessionaire membership wallet and offers comparable education, networking, and supplier programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nicainc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNm1qBo7dOC5G7MTsP3eEOw
• Facebookfacebook.com/nicainc
• Instagraminstagram.com/nicainc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Independent Concessionaires Association