Feb 4, 2026

The real MVP of Super Bowl Sunday? Food logistics

Super Bowl snacks rely on supply chain solutions, and TQL helps keep shipments moving when demand surges
   
By Shannon Russell 

Key points:  

• Super Bowl Sunday drives one of the biggest food consumption spikes of the year, requiring tens of thousands of truckloads.
• Months of planning and coordination keep gameday favorites on store shelves.
• TQL ensures shipments arrive on time, so fans can focus on the game (and the snacks). 

Move over, Thanksgiving. It’s time for the second-biggest feast of the year: Super Bowl Sunday. 

As football fans across the country rally behind the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, viewers everywhere will share a love of snack foods by consuming massive amounts of pizza, tortilla chips, guacamole, pretzels, beer and more.

The battle for the Lombardi Trophy at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. is just one draw of the Feb. 8 showdown. 

The real MVP of America’s unofficial holiday is the logistics industry. Shippers, 3PLs, carriers, warehouse teams and drivers team up behind the scenes to keep shelves stocked and food shipments right on time for kickoff.

Ready, set, eat
Preparations for America’s unofficial holiday begin long before the big game. TQL supports this nationwide effort by coordinating truckload, refrigerated, intermodal and specialized shipments that help keep stores and homes equipped.

From moving avocados from Mexico and routing beer from breweries to coordinating cold chain shipments, supply chain plans have been in motion to ensure every ingredient and beverage reaches its destination.

Just how much food moves for the big game? Check out these national consumption estimates for this year’s Super Bowl:

• 50 million cases of beer = 17,000 truckloads
• 1.5 billion chicken wings = 13,000 refrigerated, or reefer, truckloads
• 100 million pounds of avocados for guacamole = 4,000 reefer truckloads
• 10 million pounds of tortilla chips = 400 truckloads
• 5 million pounds of pretzels = 200 truckloads

That’s enough chicken wings to stretch 71,000 miles and circle the Earth over three times. One hundred million pounds of avocados would fill the Empire State Building more than 20 times. Five million pounds of pretzels would fill more than 10 Olympic-style swimming pools. 

That’s not to mention the popcorn, potato chips and sweet treats viewers consume in a quest for fun, football, fellowship and, of course, commercial watching. 

Gorging on gameday grub
The massive quantities satisfy millions of people that gather for the most-watched TV broadcast of the year. In 2025, a record 127.7 million viewers tuned into Super Bowl LIX to watch the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22.

This year’s numbers could even surpass that mark. So, when you’re grabbing a wing or topping off your nachos, remember the industry that helped make it possible. 

Food logistics won’t make the gameday highlights but might just be the unsung hero of Super Bowl Sunday.

TQL is available when you need us – even at halftime – to ensure your freight is delivered safely and on time. Reach out to your dedicated Logistics Account Executive or call 800.580.3101 today.