‘Tis (almost) the season, are you ready?

Pumpkin spice and cinnamon sugar are in the air, but how do you capitalize on these seasonal sensations and a general season of cheer to boost your bottom line?

Let’s take a look at the top five ways you can get your restaurant or foodservice ready for the holiday season.

1. Start prepping your restaurant early
   This includes taking an inventory of what you may need to get through the holiday season. You’ll likely have needs from decor to uniforms.
   Your holiday food order may be larger, require seasonal products or ingredients or longer lead times for delivery. Plan accordingly to get what you need at a price that fits your budget. Do you know how a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) can help you? Check out this list of frequently asked questions about GPOs.
2. Develop amazing Limited-time-offers (LTOs)
   The holidays are a great time to roll out LTOs. Whether it’s an appetizer, entree or a new dessert, adding these menu items can deliver a big boost to your sales. Holiday diners are ready and willing to spend, with the National Restaurant Association reporting that:
   * Two-thirds (63 percent) of consumers surveyed plan to eat out during the holiday season
   * Nearly half (48 percent) plan to order takeout or delivery
   Your LTOs can be an additional enticement to increasing your foot traffic. Join Entegra and Nation’s Restaurant News for an upcoming webinar: Reviving diner interest with smart LTOs.
3. Work with culinary consulting experts to optimize your operations
   Your operation may need the expertise that only someone with an outside perspective can bring to your business. Menu development is just one service that culinary consultants provide. They can also help you with SKU rationalization, food-waste management, kitchen layout and time and motion studies, product selection and much more. With the pending holiday rush, you’ll want to be at your best from front-of-house to back-of-house.
   Explore the services offered by Entegra Culinary Consulting.
4. Use social media to promote your restaurant
   You’re probably already building your restaurant’s brand on social media. But it’s time to step it up and make your menu and dining room a destination spot for family gatherings or corporate events.
   Ideas: publish your menu, show images of special menu items and create backdrops for guests to take pics and tag themselves at your restaurant.
   Learn more about Entegra’s Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E) program.
5. Stock up on favored flavors for cocktails and mocktails
   Welcome fall and winter with sparkling drinks that capture the moment. Ginger, cranberry, eggnog, pumpkin and peppermint add a dash of festiveness to your drink menu. Mocktails continue to be on trend and coffee-flavored drinks are having a moment in 2024. Whichever flavors you choose, highlight a high-profit drink list with tips from the menu engineering guide.

Does your restaurant need expert guidance to get ready for the holidays? Entegra can help with that.

Contact us to learn about putting the power of Entegra to work for you.

October 11, 2024