By Shawn Mack, Contributor
With COVID-19 locking down most restaurants for the summer and now only able to operate their dining rooms at a fraction of their max capacity, most restaurants are hanging in there thanks to their delivery and takeout programs.
And we don’t see this trend changing any time soon. The good news is more and more consumers are growing comfortable with ordering delivery our takeout from their favorite local restaurant. But if this is the “new normal” for the restaurant industry (at least in the short-term), then operators should try to optimize their programs for speed, efficiency, excellence, and profit.
Why Do People Prefer Restaurant Takeout?
While it has existed seemingly forever, restaurant takeout and carryout has gotten more popular as Millennials entered the workforce and became a more powerful consumer demographic. And the drive for more takeout and delivery has only gotten stronger since the pandemic.
Due in part to COVID-19, approximately 62% of food vendors and sellers have incorporated a takeout option. Several new startups have entered the market, addressing the need for designated takeout areas. And, an estimate of 40% consumers in the United States have chosen takeout over on-premise dining.
Nevertheless, the increased demand for takeout means an increased level of competition. Continue reading to unravel five tips to maximize your takeout profitability!
Tip 1: Include Family Deals in the Menu
Perhaps, the first and most effective way to maximize your takeout profitability is to upgrade your restaurant’s takeout menu.
Include a few family platters, combos, and deals that serve about 8 – 10 people each. It cuts down the argument times and hassle in the families trying to decide what to order and makes the process convenient for them. This makes your restaurant one of their most likely options for family orders while also driving higher sales in your restaurant.
Depending on your budget and business status, you can offer a 10 - 20% discount to large-family orders to allure additional customers.
Tip 2: Add Customization Options for Cutlery
Next, do yourself a favor and cut down your costs. No doubt your has dealt with immense losses during the pandemic. You need not invest unnecessarily.
Don't see what we mean there?
It’s simple. Remove extra cutlery from the takeout orders, such as additional or primary plastic spoons and forks. Surveys tell that most consumers find this additional plastic cutlery useless. Note that we're not saying remove these without your clientele's permission. Some people might find the absence of these annoying or disappointing too.
So, instead of setting up a hard and fast set of rules, ask your guests to opt-in or out of receiving plastic dining ware in their takeout and delivery orders. You may find it surprising to know the number of people who dislike it and drop it, saving you money. It also gives your restaurant a little bit of a green business reputation which plays well with the younger generations.
Tip 3: Keep Your Restaurant’s Hygiene Check
Considering that restaurants closed down due to health concerns, you need to pay special attention to the hygiene standards of your food place. Make sure the food you offer gets cooked properly under hygienic conditions and also pack it up in clean, disposable items.
Also, when your customers get themselves a take-out, make sure you offer them sanitizers. Ensure that your staff wears masks and that the environment is up to the par. It will build trust and encourage your customers to order from you again.
Also be sure to promote your extra hygiene and cleaning efforts in your email and social media marketing.
Step 4: Consider Digitalizing Your Services
These days, everything is pretty much virtual. And, people love the convenience that these digitalized things offer. So, you can level up your takeout by incorporating digitalized services. Perhaps, you can introduce an app that allows your customers to pre-order their meal and pick up the food from your shop once it’s ready for pick up.
They could be attending a meeting, settled on their mid-century modern desk, or completing a work-related task in their home office while placing the order simultaneously. Hence, saving their time and giving them to look forward to some yummy food once the work-day ends. Collectively, this gives birth to feelings of joy, excitement, and relief. Thus, strengthening your guest’s bond with you.
Or, you could set up self-service kiosks that allow the consumers to customize their meals. This particular creative technique lures in many customers!
Tip 5: Invest in Little Presents for Your Guests
Everyone loves getting free stuff. So, considering luring repeat customers with some presents or prizes.
Yes, you’ll have to invest initially. However, it will reward you with more loyal guests in the long run. And, presents do not need to translate into free meals. You can simply put some coupons, discount vouchers, new food samples, or even goodies for kids.
Step 6: Hype it up on Social Media
Approximately 3.8 million people of the globe use the internet regularly. And, each individual spends an average of two hours on social media only. Thus, social media is an outstanding platform to boost your takeout sales. Using it, you can promote your products to millions of people. Hence, increasing the takeout profitability. Good luck!
About the Author
Shawn Mack is a content writer who offers ghostwriting, copy-writing, and blogging services. His educational background in business and technical field has given him a broad base from which to approach many topics. He is also fond of writing interesting blogs on technology & digital marketing related topics.
