Categories
Uncategorized

The Functional Ingredient Movement is Here to Stay

How Restaurants Are Keeping Up

The Functional Ingredient Movement will bring in happy customers

Not to get too nostalgic, but there was a time when running a restaurant meant providing your customers with good tasting food that looked appetizing on a plate and was affordable to your target demographic. Today, consumers have a seemingly infinite set of choices when it comes to their next meal fueled by ever-changing food trends promoted in every app and website.

However, there is one trend that has had enormous staying power due to its macro view on eating dishes with ingredients that provide a specific health benefit. That’s right, we are talking about the Functional Food Movement.

What is Functional Food?

A functional ingredient can be defined as an edible component of a dish that provides a specific health benefit, whether proven or perceived. Consumers today are more health-conscious and selective when it comes to what they eat. Marketers and the food industry took notice, promoting everything from greek yogurt to avocados to acai berries for each ingredient’s health benefits.

The Functional Ingredient Movement uses healthy ingredients in their menu items

Healthy choices are no longer picking between salad or burger and fries. Today’s restaurant goer is looking at the ingredients.

What are some examples of Functional Ingredients?

You’ve likely heard of the key players or seen them marketed in grocery stores or on competitor menus. Food items like kombucha, matcha, turmeric… the list goes on.

All all matcha burger from a restaurant following the Functional Ingredient Movement
Matcha Mylkbar is an all-matcha restaurant in Melbourne Australia. Pictured above is their matcha burger. Image Source: Matchamyklbar.com

A good way of conceptualizing the functional foods landscape is to put yourself in the shoes of a restaurant diner (though you are one too). A customer will have a concept in their mind of the type of health benefit they would like to achieve and connect it to foods that have been presented as promoting that benefit.

Let’s look at some of the possible health benefits your customers will have front of mind when dining at your restaurant.

Building Our Brains

Ingredients that enhance the brain are part of the Functional Ingredient Movement

Diners who are looking to boost their brains and slow down cognitive decline will be looking for the answer on their plates.

Leafy green vegetables, fatty fish like salmon and tuna, and a variety of nuts, but especially walnuts, have all been promoted as being foods that boost your mental function.

Strengthening Our Hearts

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, so it is no surprise that promoting heart health is a priority to many.

Ingredients that are healthy for the heart are part of the Functional Ingredient Movement

Some of the functional ingredients that claim to support brainpower are also key for strong hearts. Tuna and salmon are big ones thanks to Omega-3 fatty acid, but fortified foods such as some yogurts, eggs, and soy beverages offer similar benefits. Green vegetables, flaxseeds, berries, and nuts are all said to promote stronger hearts and reduce the risk of developing different types of heart disease.

Improving Our Digestion

Diners worry about their digestive tracts. They might not be consciously thinking about it, but it is always a concern. Foods that are known to promote healthy guts, reduce heartburn, and minimize the risk of bloating or constipation are in demand.

Food that promote the digestive system is part of The Functional Ingredient Movement

The most common foods that are touted to help are almost always fermented, like kefir, kimchi, and kombucha. Yogurts have been making a splash as well. Overall, the key thing they all have in common is the promotion of healthy gut bacteria and improving digestion.

How Can Restaurants Get Onboard?

Many already are! Jumping on every new food trend is inefficient and expensive to your bottom line and reputation. However, the functional food movement is far from a passing phase. The entire concept of the movement is the long-term promotion of healthy eating overall, it is just that different ingredients have been getting their own 15 minutes of fame every once in a while.

Promoting Your Restaurant’s Functional Foods

Restaurants can increase their profits and attract new customers by highlighting the functional ingredients that they already use. While you shouldn’t claim that your foods are wonder cures, it is still important to promote some of the ingredients we mentioned on your menus and in your marketing.

Add a short description to your menu items to highlight the fact that your salmon dish is high in Omega-3 and heart-healthy or your yogurt and berries breakfast item promotes digestive health.

Do you have a new functional food item on the menu? Add it to the chalkboard in front of your restaurant, put it on your social media; whatever you do, promote the dish and the healthy thinking behind it. 

Just remember to use the appropriate terminology. Buzzwords work, as long as you are being accurate and never misleading your customers. Omega-3, protein-rich, high in fiber, cage-free, antibiotic-free, organic; if one of those terms applies to ingredients in your dish, then you can help your customer be informed by highlighting that fact on your menu, or have your server remind them when making recommendations.

Conclusion

The functional ingredient movement is a wonderful trend that as massive staying power for two reasons: it promotes living a healthy lifestyle and it helps restaurants make a greater profit without much need for change.

The reality for most restaurants is that they more often than not offer a dish with a functional ingredient. All that is left to do is highlight it and promote it so that your existing customers and potential customers are aware of it.

Most people will not come into your dining room and demand functional ingredients. Often times, you won’t know that they made a choice to go elsewhere because they didn’t know you had a functional food offering or, perhaps, you really didn’t. The goal is to always have that option and make it known so that your restaurant can capitalize on the movement and help to promote a healthy way of living at the same time.

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Categories
Uncategorized

Healthy Restaurant Dishes in Atlanta that Are Not Salad

Great Examples of Healthy Menu Items from Atlanta Restaurants

In recent years it has become more and more apparent that diets such as paleo, meditteranean, keto, vegan and plant-based are no longer considered ‘fads’. People who choose these diets do so long term and consider them to be healthy lifestyles rather than diets.  

It is with this in mind that restaurateurs have realized that they need to do more than offer a wide range of salads to cater for these lifestyles. In order to attract and impress the growing number of diet-followers in Atlanta, restaurants are adding creative, delicious dishes to their menus and we want to highlight our favorites.   

If you are unfamiliar with popular lifestyle diets like keto and paleo, you can catch up through our previous blog post where we demystify lifestyle menus!

Ginger Crusted Wild Ahi Tuna – R Thomas Deluxe Grill 

R Thomas Deluxe Grill on Peachtree Street offers an incredible tuna dish which is ideal for keto, paleo and Mediterranean diet followers. Fresh, wild-caught ahi tuna is coated in aromatic ginger before being seared rare and served on a bed of orange sweet potato, leek and a salmon reduction alongside a seaweed salad and shoestring ginger beets. This healthy menu option is ideal as there is no batter, oil frying and no naughty carbs like potatoes or flour. This dish is delicious and pleases both regular diners as well as diet followers, without feeling like they are having to make any compromises. 

My Farro Lady – Recess 

Source: AJC

Perfectly engineered for those following a plant-based or Mediterranean diet, this grain bowl has a wide range of delicious ingredients that keeps customers coming back for more. Farro makes up the base of this bowl. A popular super food that not only provides loads of protein, fiber and magnesium, but also tastes great! The nutty flavor given by the Farro pairs perfectly with the array of roasted, crunchy charred broccoli and the peppery arugula. Thanks to healthy menu items such as this, Recess on Krog Street is always full and bustling with happy diners. 

St Phillip’s Island Crab Cakes – Ted’s Montana Grill 

Source: TripAdvisor

This healthy menu item from Ted’s Montana Grill on Luckie Street is a must for anyone on a ketogenic diet. The Southwestern seasoned crab cakes are pan fried until they are crispy and golden on the outside and served alongside guacamole, Parmesan roasted broccoli and an eye-catching kale salad. No potatoes, flours or sugars in sight and yet this dish is decadent and delicious! 

Grilled Sustainable Salmon – True Food Kitchen 

Source: TripAdvisor

True Food Kitchen on Peachtree Road has perfected the art of gluten-free cooking. They do however have popular grain-based dishes as well that better serve those on the Mediterranean diet. This grilled salmon is ethically sourced and served on a bed of rich caramelised onions, farro and quinoa as well as grilled asparagus topped with pumpkin seed pesto. This healthy menu item is packed full of superfoods and flavor to boot with the added benefit of being grilled and free of any heavy processed carbohydrates. 

Grilled Pork Chops – Miller Union 

Who says healthy entrees can only consist of chicken or fish? Trendy Miller Union on Brady Avenue provides paleo and Mediterranean diners with a meaty option that is out of this world. The pork chops are trimmed and grilled before being served with a side of butter beans, sweet corn succotash and blueberries. This creative dish is a perfect example of the new healthy alternative trend. Guests can also choose one of many healthy and exciting side dishes such as field peas, snap beans, tomatoes served with peaches! 

Following Health Trends Doesn’t Have to be Boring

As you can see from this small list of examples, creativity knows no limit when it comes to healthy menu items. Following trends does not have to give you a sense of restriction, rather it should open up a whole new world of discoveries that will equally strike your diners with awe.

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Categories
Uncategorized

Emerging Restaurant Trends in 2020

Trends Restaurant Owners Should Be Aware of

Woman with mask dining out at a restaurant

Without exaggeration, it’s never been harder to predict new restaurant trends. The pandemic has rocked the restaurant industry, and 2020 is shaping up to be a reactive year for restauranteurs compared with recent decades full of strategy and promise. 

However, there are some restaurant dining and technology trends that are starting to emerge halfway through the year that cannot be ignored. 

These trends provide opportunities that restaurant owners can seize to maximize their profits in both the short and long terms. Have a read through our list of new restaurant trends in 2020.

Space Reduction

This trend was years in the making, so it is unfair to accredit it to Covid-19. For years, restaurants in densely populated areas have been moving towards models that mirror the QSR (quick-service restaurant experience). 

In previous years, with lease prices outpacing profits, many restaurants have been forced to rethink their dining room spaces and focus on reducing their seating in favor of takeout and delivery options.

In a city like New York, the average cost of rent for a restaurant is between $150 and $400 per square foot, depending on location. Combined with the growing minimum wage and employee benefit costs, it is becoming harder to justify the costs of a large dining room.

And then there’s food delivery. The proliferation of food delivery apps like UberEats, Seamless, and Postmates had reduced the number of walk-in patrons when staying in and binging Netflix had become the norm.

Man watching netflix while ordering takeout

So, even before the pandemic hit at the start of 2020, many restaurant owners began considering reducing their spaces in favor of layouts that promoted quick-serve foods for takeout and delivery.

With Covid-19, many restaurants were forced to close or reduce their capacity to anywhere between 25% to 50% depending on their state’s policies. This capacity reduction combined with new bylaws around outdoor dining (again, looking at New York City, many restaurants have moved their dining rooms to sidewalk patios) has sped up the trend of reducing spaces permanently.

After all, it is becoming harder to justify a large restaurant’s cost if the majority of the dining room sits empty for the foreseeable future.

Everything is Going Digital

While downloading nutrients into your diners’ bellies is still a futuristic proposition, everything else has been moving into the digital sphere where data is king, and opportunities to profit are increasing. As you may already know, updated restaurant technology is a requirement of the present and not just a dream of the future.

Restaurant business owners have been looking at creating an omnichannel experience for their patrons by integrating their menus, marketing, websites, and PoS systems into one large ecosystem rather than a collection of platforms without any connectivity.

To catch up with restaurant trends in 2020, you need to interpret data

Wise restaurateurs can now add the title data analyst to their long list of credentials, as the story that their client data tells does require a bit of Shelockholmsing.

Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising has yet to catch on in the restaurant industry in a meaningful way, but there have been some creative examples of larger chains directing their marketing efforts towards digital advertising via artificial intelligence.

Programmatic advertising is a restaurant trend in 2020 that is rising fast

Through programmatic advertising, restaurant brands can “serve” ads to a specific audience within a millisecond based on a collection of relevant data points. In short, with a little bit of help for a programmatic advertising vendor, you can make sure that your ideal client will see an advertisement for your restaurant at the right time.

Big data can yield big profits. Burger King famously used the location services of people who downloaded their official app to offer a 1 cent Whopper deal if users happened to be within 600 feet of a McDonald’s franchise. Their phones would ding with a notification offering a digital coupon and directions to the nearest Burger King location.

The free media exposure for the stunt alone was well worth the investment in the marketing campaign, and things of this caliber no longer require proprietary software such as the app. All business owners need is to contact a programmatic advertising partner to get started.

Automating the Kitchen

Of course, not everyone is thinking about big picture marketing campaigns right now, and there are some other ways that restaurants have been optimizing their operations and diner experiences.

If you are using a printed ticket system in your restaurant, then listen up! We’re talking about the kitchen display system (or KDS for short).

Restaurant KDS system is getting boosted as a restaurant trend in 2020
Source: Hospitality Hotline

Owners have been turning to kitchen display systems to optimize their restaurants to run as efficiently as possible. A KDS improves the communication issues that plague the front and back of house staff by instantly sending orders to the kitchen as they are entered and to the appropriate station.

Food preppers and chefs love the system for its ease of use and ability to cycle through different displays. Furthermore, the systems improve meal pacing by showing when different dishes need to be prepared, cooked, plated – you name it. So, rather than checking orders ticket by ticket, a screen can show the total number of a specific dish that needs to be made, making it easier to prepare all together and the collected data in the platform will inform restaurant owners where there are delays in preparation and room for improvement.

And, naturally, there is the added benefit of going paperless and reducing the waste your restaurant produces which has remained in an inclining restaurant trend in 2020.

Restaurant Trends in 2020 Shaped by Covid-19

With the pandemic showing no signs of slowing in the US, reactive measures that restaurant owners were forced to take have become the new normal, at least for the foreseeable future. 

These technicalities include enhanced cleaning procedures, an abundance of sanitizing stations, and the removal of unnecessary high touch surfaces. That means everything from keeping doors open to reduce contact with handles and doing away with menus completely.

QR codes are fast becoming a norm for restaurants and customers alike, with both parties feeling more comfortable with clients scanning the codes with their personal devices with links that take them to an updated menu.

Woman relaxing in restaurant during covid-19. Restaurant trends in 2020 still need to focus on dine-in because customers look for a way to get out safely

Dining outdoors is another trend that is tough for restaurants to ignore. Depending on your location and local bylaws, it is worthwhile to look into designating a space in front of your restaurant (or in the back) for some socially distanced al fresco eating. As diners are getting stir crazy in their apartments, they are expecting to find some solace at cafes and restaurants; outdoor seating provides an opportunity to get out and dine in safer environments than enclosed dining rooms.

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Categories
Uncategorized

Plot Twist: Eco-Friendly Restaurants Reduce Costs

You’ve been thinking about making your restaurant eco-friendly, but don’t think you can manage the associated costs. This is a concern that many small business owners have when the sustainability conversation comes up. While it’s true that going green can come with additional financial requirements, we’re here to say that a slow and steady transformation to an eco-friendly restaurant will reduce costs over time and make your clients happier.

When speaking about sustainability, restaurant owners are quick to point to the price of eco-friendly packaging as a frustrating signifier of the price-problem with going green. Yet the focus on take out containers would do a disservice to the numerous ways restaurateurs can make quick changes that will save them money over time, without bringing foam and recycling containers into the conversation. So, let’s save that talking point for last and look at a few other ways that restaurants can cut costs and become eco-friendly at the same time.

Plastic straw alternatives: Paper straws (left) and glass straws with cleaner (right)

How to be Eco-Friendly and Cut Costs

Waste not, want not

an Eco friendly restaurant saving money by reducing waste

Food waste can quickly become a huge drain on your restaurant’s budget. Cutting down on food waste means cutting down on operating costs and becoming more sustainable. This includes both food waste and packaging, but let’s look at food for now.

Food waste typically piles up from excess portions or excess stock orders, especially with off-season produce. You can cut down on your waste by keeping a rotating menu and reducing portion sizes. Offering dishes that use seasonal produce will reduce their cost and build greater rapport with local farmers (especially if you’ve chosen a farm-to-table model, which we wrote about here). Food that travels a shorter distance is much more sustainable.

Your chef will be able to do a lot with a little. Very few patrons are dazzled by pages and pages of menu items. Turn that book into a pamphlet and make the most of a small selection of ingredients from your local farmer’s market. There’s a second half to this equation which involves using the reduced food waste in your brand positioning. Ensure that your customers know the efforts you are making on behalf of the environment while using fresh and tasty ingredients in their meals. Your clients need to know that your business is a sustainable one

Another big source of food waste is portion sizes that are far too large. You might be hesitant to reduce portion sizes thinking your regulars will be disappointed, but if you notice servers bring plates back to the kitchen with plenty of food left behind or you see a lot of doggie bags leaving the dining room, it might be a good opportunity to put less on the plate and keep more in your wallet.

Be efficient with your power

An eco friendly restaurant with energy saving lights

Let’s talk about energy efficient appliances. If it’s been a while since you experienced sticker shock just hearing some of the prices of commercial kitchen equipment, you’ll be happy to learn that those upfront costs have gone down. This is due to Energy Star certified equipment gaining popularity in the restaurant industry. Yes, you will still be paying a bit more upfront, but think about the benefits.


Energy efficient commercial restaurant equipment can save hundreds of dollars over each machine’s lifetime on electricity and water consumption. And then there’s the rebates. Depending on your state, you may be eligible for a cash rebate as part of government campaigns or restaurant association memberships in addition to 0% interest loans to purchase the equipment. Go green and reinvest that money into your business.

Have you thought about your restaurant’s toilets? Don’t take those porcelain thrones for granted as a restaurant’s bathrooms are part of this conversation. Installing sinks and toilets that use less water will save you money in the long run. A good example of this is looking at toilets installed in the 1980s and 1990s, which use nearly 5 gallons of water per flush on average. Modern high efficiency toilets reduce the water waste by nearly 5 times!

Make your competitors your best friends

This might seem counterintuitive, but your neighboring restaurants are a perfect partner on the road to cutting costs and going green. However, before you reach out to the pierogi place across the street, you need to decide what your ask should be. Remember those styrofoam containers we mentioned in the introduction? Here’s how you can stop ordering them for good and replace them with compostable or recyclable take-away boxes instead. 

Instead of paying an arm and a leg, select a handful of local restaurants that offer to-go options and place a bulk order with a distributor. You will likely receive a preferential rate that is equivalent (or even lower) than what you pay for your foam or plastic take out containers. This will work even better if your new partners in sustainability serve different cuisines as it provides an opportunity to cross-promote the partnership and let your respective customer bases know that you are working together to make the neighborhood more eco-friendly.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly restaurant appliances

There can be significant upfront costs for restaurants that are looking to go green including eco-friendly commercial kitchen appliances and recyclable packages. Many restaurants are just not interested in paying the cost or passing it onto their customers. However, as we have shown, there are plenty of ways to get creative with sustainable solutions including cutting down on food waste, rotating your food offering, and waiting for those appliances to pay off in the long run.

With a bit of marketing magic, you will be able to associate any possible cost increase of going green to your branding budget; making sure that your business is known as an eco-friendly restaurant where the owners care about their impact on the environment and, more importantly, their local clientele and neighborhood.

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Economic Benefits of Farm-to-Table Restaurants

Farm-to-table. Organic. Free-range. Non-GMO. Sustainable. You’ve heard it all before. 

These terms have been floating around for decades, but they have finally entered the vocabularies of average consumers. In a world where diners are far more conscious of what is on their plates, it is important for restaurants to understand what each one of these terms means and how they benefit restaurant owners. We’ll start with the economic benefits of farm-to-table restaurants.

What do we mean when we talk about farm-to-table?

This is where things get a little bit murky. We believe that farm-to-table means locally sourced food that is grown sustainably. Many diners and restaurateurs agree, but there is dissent in the restaurant industry and among diners in how the term should be applied. Some industry gatekeepers claim that farm-to-table is local food that must be non-GMO and completely organic. Critics of the movement argue that farm-to-table is nothing more than a fad or even food fraud, a public relations opportunity for restaurants.

We’re here to tell you that farm-to-table, when done right, is all about sustainable agricultural practices, feeding hungry customers food that is nutritious and delicious, and just smart business. There are many benefits of operating a farm-to-table restaurant. The short list includes reduced travel time resulting in fresher produce and lower carbon emissions, and greater transparency into the supply chain. Then there’s the thing we’re here to discuss, the economic benefits of farm-to-table.

What are the economic benefits of farm-to-table?

Benefits for the local economy

Farm-to-table simplifies the process of getting food from the farm to a diner’s plate, removing geographical distance and industry middle-men. A farm-to-table restaurant benefits the local economy by cutting out all of the extra fat in the supply chain and allows local restaurants to build relationships with local farmers. 

These relationships do more than create transparency that results in fresher food. After all, studies have shown that produce is consistently picked early to travel the average 1,500 miles that it takes to get to its destination restaurant. What we’re talking about is the increased profit for both partners and circulation of a single dollar in the local economy. Reducing the average 1,500-mile journey and overreliance on massive corporations to a 50-mile journey and local partnership means a customer’s dollar is spent in a restaurant, then to the farm it goes for food products, and then back in the area of the local farmer. The Farmers Market Coalition found that farmers receive only 17.4 cents from every dollar spent on food in America, but nearly 90 centers from every dollar spent on food at farmers markets. That’s a huge difference!

Today’s diners value sustainability, variety, and freshness above all else. If your farm-to-table restaurant chooses to transfer part of the added cost to your consumer, that’s your prerogative. If you use the moniker as a differentiator, you will certainly be perceived as a good neighbor and provider of fresh and nutritious seasonal food. Which brings us into the benefits for restaurants.

Benefits for the restaurant

There are two general types of farm-to-table restaurants: those that own the farm and those that source their food products from a local farm. There are important economic differences for the owners. 

Farm-to-table restaurateurs who also own a farm are forced to invest more capital into their business. With greater investment comes greater risk, especially if there is a lack of experience in the agricultural space. Of course, there are obvious benefits of owning the entire supply chain. A farm-to-table restaurant that has focused its efforts on vertical integration can cut costs associated with dealing with food distributors (many of whom are several states away, or even international) and can assure the quality and freshness of the ingredients used in their dishes.

Farm-to-table restaurants that choose to partner with local farms will also find that their food products are fresher and more varied. While higher costs can be a concern for restaurant owners, these depend on your relationships with your partner farms and might even be worth the added cost to guarantee the quality of your food.

We have already mentioned the most obvious benefit of a farm-to-table restaurant: happy customers. A restaurant that bills itself as farm-to-table, and walks the walk, shows local diners that they are passionate about quality ingredients, sustainable agricultural practices, and supporting the local economy.

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Categories
Uncategorized

How to Adapt Your Restaurant Marketing During Coronavirus

As businesses continue adapting to the changing times, marketing plans are some of the first to face the chopping block. Restaurant marketing during coronavirus has taken a hit due to cost cutting measures. But restaurateurs would be remiss to pause their marketing efforts, especially online, where web browsing has increased by 70% and social media usage is up 61% according to Kantar, a data and insights consulting company.  

The key for restaurant owners who are looking to adapt to the changing times is to resist the urge to be reactive. We know that this is an especially stressful time for the restaurant industry. The pressure to protect the livelihood of your employees and maintain your business might make you want to try as many new things as possible, all at once. Instead of repositioning your marketing efforts, and possibly confusing your existing patrons, get creative with the online tools at your disposal. 

Here’s how you can adapt your restaurant marketing during coronavirus. 

Good Proactive Steps for Restaurant Marketing During Coronavirus

Restaurants owners can be proactive with restaurant marketing during coronavirus and stop the domino effect
You can be proactive and lessen the domino effect on your restaurant business

With the coronavirus keeping many people indoors and foot traffic dwindling to a trickle, your customers will be turning online to get information and place orders. Now is your opportunity to take stock of the online platforms you use to market your restaurant and ensure that you’re checking every box of a strong restaurant marketing plan that will take you through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. 

Audit Your Restaurant’s Website 

Restaurant owner modifying his restaurant's website and social media pages
You can really utilize this time to audit your website and fix or optimize functionalities that will help your restaurant run smoother in the future

Your restaurant’s website is more than a billboard on the internet. During the coronavirus, patrons of local restaurants will at the very least use your website to find out if you are open for delivery and take-out. And while you’re updating your pandemic hours of operation, make sure you do everything you can to keep your audience captive. Answer these key questions: 

  • Have your hours of operation changed? 
  • Do you offer order delivery? 
  • Has your delivery zone expanded? 
  • Do you offer curb-side order pick-up? 
  • Do you have an adjusted menu? 
  • Are icons that link to your social channels in the header or footer? 

Make sure the information on your site is up-to-date so that your customers are not confused or alienated. The last thing you want is to have someone show up, because your hours weren’t changed on your site. 

If you are offering a limited menu or specials, make sure that these are listed clearly on your website. Many website platforms allow for banners or pop-ups to be placed on your site; a great way to let your customers know that you have something special for them. While restaurant marketers have been advocating for the abolition of pdf menus, this is a time for agility. If your menu will require frequent changes due to availability of produce, revert to pdf menus that you can quickly replace as needed. 

Review Your Restaurant’s Social Media Strategy 

Diner taking photos of food for social media
It’s 2020 and people still like to eat their food through their phone

There’s a reason why so many diners let their phones eat first. That Instagram photo of your delicious dish goes a long way in marketing your restaurant. You didn’t even need to do anything beyond what you always did, make good food and plate it well. But with diners staying home, you’ll need to go the extra mile and become your own photographer. 

If you haven’t already, create a schedule around your new operating hours and menu updates to showcase your meals and ingredients. Food safety is front of mind for diners and sharing photos and videos of your menu items is a great way to show that you’re preparing food in a safe environment, the quality is still there, and that there’s even something new in addition to items they know and love. 

Keep your Facebook hours of operation up-to-date and be sure to post (at least) once a day on all of your platforms. Make your content as visually impactful as possible. Remember that your customers can visit your channels at any time, 24/7. If you last posted in 2017, they’ll assume you’re no longer around and might not return. 

Also, be sure to adapt your captions and content dimensions to the platform you are using. 

Leverage New Online Platforms to Market Your Restaurant 

Very few restaurants have turned to YouTube to market their meals. This is a missed opportunity as YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine, after Google. Creating short clips of food preparation or plating — especially for food that has that “viral” look — will help promote your restaurant to customers who are cooking at home for the first time and searching for new recipes.  

Chipotle with their youtube restaurant marketing content videos
Chipotle has been creating quality content through their Youtube channel to connect with their audience. This playlist features a look into each of their ingredients.

Burger King France had the same idea when they tweeted the recipe to a “quarantine version” of their famous Whopper. While you might not have a menu staple that’s as well known, you can create a piece of video content around a local favorite, or even your take on a common homemade dish. Be sure to include calls to action in your content to funnel those viewers to your site or anywhere else you want them to order from. 

Twitch is another platform which hasn’t received enough attention from restaurant marketers, but with 15 million daily viewers. Host a weekly cooking show and let your patrons know to follow along. A one hour long stream will let you engage directly with your customers, teach them a recipe that they can recreate, build good will in the community, and remind them that you’re going to be there when their own version just doesn’t turn out as good as yours! Twitch can also act as a new revenue stream as followers can subscribe (for a fee) and send something called bits (of monetary value to streamers) while you cook. 

Do Good with Your Food 

Partnering with local organizations and other essential services is a great way to let your food do good in the community. Get in touch with a local hospital, transportation organization, or other service that has hungry mouths to feed. You can strike up a partnership for weekly lunches at discounted rates and share the deeds on your social channels. If the food is delicious, and the service impeccable, the word of mouth will turn into online orders from grateful family members. 

Final Thoughts on Restaurant Marketing During Coronavirus 

Not everything will work in your particular situation, so be sure to adapt this advice to the needs and bylaws of your area. With regions opening up all over the United States, keep your channels and website up-to-date with what’s coming. Will your patio open up? Will you serve take-away alcohol for a new happy hour? Local customers will want to know. Document your journey and create content your clients will devour. 

Looking for a fun way to grow your restaurant business? ChowEasy is a restaurant marketing app that helps locals discover your restaurant by matching their appetite and mood. Get full control of your promos by offering them on YOUR schedule and YOUR terms with your restaurant name revealed ONLY to committed diners. No upfront costs or commitments! Learn more now.

Categories
Dine In Diners Organic & Local Restaurants Trends Uncategorized

The Most Cost-Efficient Plastic Straw Alternative is…

If you haven’t heard yet, you might want to jump on this new restaurant trend fast. Well, it’s not quite a trend yet but it’s right at the tipping point. There is a movement to ban plastic straws and replace them with sustainable alternatives.

Don’t believe us? Then consider the fact that Starbucks announced plans to eliminate plastic straws by 2020 and that McDonald’s has already started mobilizing plastic straw alternatives in Europe. Then there is the State of Seattle, which jumped ahead of all of us by banning plastic straws back in July 2018!

As you may know, many restaurant trends involve going green such as using biodegradable packaging. It’s become so widespread that almost any restaurant you visit today will have an eco-friendly take-out box. Just like this, plastic straw alternatives are the next to take over the restaurant industry.

Which Plastic Straw Alternative is Best For Your Restaurant?

It takes a whopping 200 years for plastic straws to decompose and 500 million are thrown out daily. That’s a gazillion straws in the ocean over two lifespans.

Whether you care for the environment or not, eco-friendly alternatives are a trend and adjusting to them can help you win over customers. In addition, these alternatives are reusable and can help you actually save on costs.

So which is the most cost-efficient plastic straw alternative? Let’s take a look.

Paper Straws

Plastic straw alternative - paper straws

Paper straws are a relatively cheap alternative to plastic straws that are quite high in supply. They are great for the environment for their fast decomposition time in the ocean of 2-6 weeks and won’t harm wildlife if ingested.

What about on the business side of things? Well, just like the great contradiction of saving the environment by taking from forests, it’s not so brilliant.

The straws actually get a little soggy and alter the taste of your customer’s drink. For this reason, restaurants that use paper straws usually provide multiple straws for one drink. So although paper straws are cheap, they can add up to a more costly option for you and the change in taste can give customers a bad experience.

Bamboo Straws

Plastic straw alternative - bamboo straw

The idea of bamboo straws is undoubtly cool and can really add to the aesthetic of an Asian Fusion or Tiki-themed restaurant. In addition to their cool look they are reusable unlike the paper straws.

Being naturally grown and free of preservatives they also offer many attractive natural benefits. These benefits include being naturally anti-microbrial and highly resistant to rotting.

The strength and durability of bamboo also make it great for use with hot beverages. All-in-all they will save you money because they are cheaper than most alternatives and you can reuse them for a long time.

While they do have many great natural benefits, it may not actually be the right fit for your restaurant. Bamboo straws can actually absorb drinks and alter taste. It can even absorb saliva which would pose a health risk. Also, due to having a smaller hole, it is not ideal for thicker drinks like smoothies. So if you serve mostly water and can dedicate time to clean the straws effectively, it might just work out for you.

Pasta Straws

Plastic straw alternative - pasta straw

Unlike bamboo straws, pasta straws don’t alter the taste and they are more durable than paper straws because they hold their shape up to 3 hours. Their make up of wheat and water make it an ideal alternative for eco-conscious restaurant goers for it’s 100% biodegradability.

The issue with pasta straws however, is that it could be a health risk for those who are allergic to gluten. This makes it an alternative that can’t be catered to every guest and therefore isn’t the most efficient for your budget. And even though 1 pasta straw lasts as long as 3-5 paper straws, it is still a 1-time use alternative.

So even though it may be a better alternative for the environment, it isn’t outstanding for the bank. The goal is to find the plastic straw alternative that hits the sweet spot of benefiting both the green in the world and in your wallet.

Glass Straws

a glass straw in a drink

Glass straws are perhaps the most versatile of them all. They can be made with various colors and withstand both hot and cold beverage temperatures. They also don’t alter taste like paper and bamboo straws do.

All in all, they are a pretty good cost-efficient plastic straw alternative that can save you a lot of money because of their re-usability and easy cleaning. The only real big disadvantage is that, well, they are glass and still breakable. If your kitchen is careful enough, the glass straws may be a great long-term investment.

Metal Straws

metallic straws with cleaners

There are metal butter knives, forks, spoons, and cups so why couldn’t metal straws be a norm? Obviously the strongest of all the straws mentioned in this post, metal straws are reusable and if needed to be disposed of, the most recycle-friendly.

Metal straws do have some drawbacks however. They are very sensitive to temperature and can become hot or cold with the beverage. Hot beverages in particular could pose burn risks and would be a restaurant liability.

What is the Most Cost-Efficient Plastic Straw Alternative?

The best plastic straw alternative that will save your restaurant the most money varies widely across manufacturers since it is still considered a novelty. Regardless of the price differences, we can conclude that reusable straws will be a better long-term investment than single-use straws.

This leaves glass and metal straws the winners of this plastic straw alternative shootout. Both are highly versatile and reusable but have their own unique disadvantages. Which one do you want to use in your restaurant?

Categories
Uncategorized

The Movement To Ban Tips In Restaurants

Restaurants are banning tips and increasing prices
Some restaurants are joining the no tip movement by banning tips and increasing prices

Why Are Some Restaurants Banning Tips?

We all know the protocol after finishing a great meal. You receive the check and pull out your phone to calculate how much to pay in tips. This standard courteous gesture however, has lately been challenged by a growing movement to ban tips in restaurants.

Restaurant tipping is a practice that dates back a few centuries. Tipping was adopted among wealthy Americans in the 1800’s and stretches back as far as the 17th century.

Like many ‘norms’ today, society is mostly accustomed to it without question. Sure, restaurant tips have been important in helping servers pay the bills and we don’t suggest you stop. Some restaurants however have been joining the movement to ban tips altogether. Diners have also been joining in the movement claiming that tipping is outdated and even unethical! Continue reading to learn why.

Tips Are Unfair To Kitchen Staff

An objective of the no tip movement  is to equalize pay between the kitchen and front end staff
One objective of a no tip policy is to equalize pay between the kitchen and front end staff

The purpose of the movement to ban tips in restaurants is to equalize the wages between untipped and tipped employees. In a restaurant setting, this means closing the gap between kitchen staff and servers. The average federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13/hr. Although the wages are low, tips often accumulate to a higher income than Dishwashers and cooks. The initiative taken by restaurants is as follows: ban tipping, raise menu prices, and pay everyone a higher wage.

Tips Are Often Paid With Biases

Amount of tips earned can sometimes be determined by discriminatory factors rather than quality of service
The amount received in tips can vary between servers and sometimes may not be dependent on level of performance

Restaurants are also joining the movement to ban tips because of the bias behind tip amount paid. There are many factors that affect the amount of a tip given. Some are based on the quality of service provided where higher tips would be rewarded on excellent service. Others however, tip the same regardless. This means extra effort given by exceptional servers sometimes goes unrewarded. The amount paid then is in many cases, random. Not only are there arguments for the biases between servers on a performance level, but also on demographics. For example, studies have shown that women in general are paid higher tips than their male counterparts.

Why Some Restaurants Are Abandoning The No Tip Movement

Joe's Crab Shack is a pioneer of the no tip movement for restaurants
Joe’s Crab Shack is a pioneer for the no tip movement. But even they are abandoning the no tip policy in a few locations

There are a handful of restaurants that agree with the flaws of tipping and proudly became pioneers of tip banning. Even a major restaurant chain like Joe’s Crab Shack decided to ban tipping. Joe’s Crab Shack and other restaurants haven’t stayed with the changes for too long however. So what is stopping restaurants from continuing the no tip movement?

Negative Customer Feedback

Joe’s Crab Shack was a pioneer of the no tipping movement, initially testing it in 18 locations. As a result of banning tips, the prices of menu items were increased. 60% of Joe’s Crab Shack customers showed opposition to the new policy. Customers doubted that extra payments were distributed to employees from management. They also believed that a no tip policy would decrease the quality of service. In response, Joe’s Crab Shack turned away from the policy but kept it for 4 locations.

Server Complaints

Customers weren’t the only ones to show negative feedback. Servers have also responded in opposition. The Bar Agricole Restaurant in San Francisco was losing servers in two locations because of the no tip policy. Thad Vogler, owner of the restaurant, said that management and kitchen staff were happy but servers left for other restaurants. Clearly, the no tip policy benefited the kitchen with raises and left servers with less. He said the mistake was in not raising the prices high enough to benefit both ends of the restaurants.

Categories
Dine In Diners Marketing Organic & Local Restaurants Technology Trends Uncategorized

7 Ways To Attract Millennials To Your Restaurant

Social media, health trends, and social responsibility are among a few things that millennials value in a restaurant

According to Forbes, “millennials have over $200 billion in buying power and will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025.” This means that millennials are an important target for restaurants and learning how to reach them will be crucial. So how do you attract millennials to your restaurant? With endless dining options available at the fingertips, you need to stand out but also align with their values. Keep reading to learn 7 things you can do to keep them coming back!

Use High Quality Ingredients

Appeal to the health conscious generation by using high quality ingredients

Studies have shown that Millennials are willing to fork over more money for high quality food. Since healthy eating is a trend more than ever before, be sure to use wholesome ingredients for everything. These include organic vegetables and meats that are free of hormones/anti-biotics. It would also help to emphasize phrases like “sourced locally” and “non-GMO” in the menu.

Boost Social Media Presence

Stay engaged and present in your millennial guests’ lives through social media

Since Millenials and Gen Z are tuned into the world of social media, grab their attention there. Your internet presence speaks volumes to these generations. Promote your restaurant and menu in engaging ways like posting a question or a raffle for a free giveaway. Also leave trails in your restaurant that lead to your social media. A couple ideas include inserting hashtags or your social media handle in menus or cups. Finally, update your directory listings and ask guests for 5-star reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor.

Prep Food For The Gram

Posting food photos on social media is still a trend and shows no signs of dying

You’ve seen it. Pictures of food being posted by the millions. Food pictures are hot content for Instagram and Facebook feeds so why not use this in your favor? First, you’ll want to make sure the presentation of your dishes are worthy of a photo. Then, take a handful of snapshots yourself and experiment with various lighting edits and filters. Don’t be afraid to spend significant time on these. The photo you select needs to be captivating enough to stop people from scrolling. And you have lots of competition.

Build a Brand and Tell a Story

Fatt Matt’s reinforces their brand through merch items and even their very own BBQ sauce

Your restaurant is a brand and should have a compelling story. Make sure your social media, theme colors, and logo all reinforce the story of your brand. Millennials love their brands and aren’t afraid to endorse them through purchased merchandise. Make T-shirts, stickers, and other merchandise to make them a part of the story. You can somewhat easily attract millennials to your restaurant but a cool story will keep them.

Host An Experience

Create an experience to keep them coming back for more

To keep millennials coming back, you have to transcend beyond just providing a great meal. You have to provide an experience. It’s been shown that millennials prefer to live for new and unique experiences. This priority extends to eating out which you can thank the wave of pop-ups, food trucks, and food festivals for. If you don’t know where to start, just put some heart and soul in the atmosphere. You can use ambiance, art displays, music and aesthetic interior design to help create an experience. Additionally, you can keep them coming back through game nights, live music, art shows, and open mic nights. When in comes down to it, you want to envelop them in an immersive world they can’t to return to.

Have A Unique Menu

Millennials like taking risks with bizarre novelty menu items like the donut burger from “Sublime Donut Burger” in Atlanta

As mentioned in the paragraph before, Millennials live for experiences. This means that novel menu items will go a long way with this generation. This generation is the most diverse and open to new cultural cuisines. With that being said, offer something fusion and even quirky. To top it off, give your dishes distinct names that’ll catch their attention. You don’t want to only offer what millions of restaurants can. For instance, offering only pizza in a market where you can get pizza anywhere. This is why many restaurant chains are closing.

Be Socially Responsible

Being a restaurant that demonstrates corporate responsibility will go a long way. With the accessibility of information through the internet, any news of unethical or controversial actions can be found. Studies show that millennials would rather support businesses that do good and have no hesitancy to boycott. Due to this, establishing a good online reputation and supporting a good cause would be key for longevity. To start, you can make it known that you use biodegradable wear and consistency recycle. “Millennials don’t mind spending more money on things that are good for the planet.”

Take Your Restaurant To The Next Level

Going through the list, it can seem like a demanding task to attract millennials to your restaurant. Though it takes a lot to catch the attention of this generation, your restaurant will improve in many ways. Have fun with it while you become more than just a restaurant, but a brand!

Categories
Uncategorized

Iconic Restaurant Chains That May Close In 2020

Get To These Restaurants While You Can!

It’s the last call for several restaurant chains in 2020

When visiting another state or city have you immediately craved a particular restaurant chain for that one-of-a-kind dish like we have? You may like everything on the menu or just the complimentary bread rolls and nothing else. More than just food, some iconic restaurant chains can provide a familiar environment that is consistent across the map. The result can be a ‘home away from home’ type of comfort for some. Though these restaurant chains have multiple locations and seem like they’ll be around forever, time isn’t on their side. Millennials, Gen Z, and endless food options available at the fingertips have hit these restaurant chains hard. Continue reading to learn which major restaurant chains we may lose in 2020.

Steak ‘n Shake

Shaken up to see this prime steak burger and joint on the list? Forming from the depression era, Steak ‘n Shake lived up to it’s slogan, “Famous for Steakburgers.” The steakburgers were made up of T-bone, sirloin, and round steak parts. What attracted customers was founder Gus Belt’s campaign to prove the wholesomeness of his steakburgers. At the time, there was much skepticism regarding the purities of ground beef. To break this stigma, Gus Belt performed live meat grinding demonstrations within the vicinity, leaving no room for suspicion. This stunt was groundbreaking at the time, but Steak ‘n Shake neglected other aspects that would sustain them today. Steak ‘n Shake stated in a letter to shareholders that their outdated kitchen design was anchoring them down. High overhead costs and slow service lead to the decision to close 100 locations until a franchise partner is found.

Steak ‘n Shake newspaper campaign ensuring purity of meat

Golden Corral

Only a few restaurants can even come close to Golden Corral’s range of adaptability over the past few years. Formed in Fayetteville North Carolina in 1973, this classic all-you-can-eat buffet and grill has taken many punches and rolled with them. Salad bars were expanded after news of under cooked meat and renovations were made to appear more hip. Golden Corral also implemented a takeout component a few years ago and recently integrated delivery services like Grubhub and Ubereats. If anything, Golden Corral deserves acknowledgement for proactive adaptations. Despite this, incidents including salmonella outbreaks, norovirus epidemics, and improper food storage allegations hit the franchise hard.

Pizza Hut

Can you remember when Pizza Hut was a popular hub for birthday parties, teenage hangouts, and even dates? Pizza Hut’s prime days are like a distant memory. Pizza Hut is split into several different formats such as dine-in, carry-out, and bistro. There is talk of Pizza Hut moving in the direction of becoming a takeout establishment only. Pizza Hut Express, a fast-food version of the chain with a limited menu, has kept it relevant today. These days most customers are acquired through the express version of the restaurant. It is almost exclusively found in venues, college campuses, theme parks, and food courts. They are also often conjoined with sister brands like Wingstreet, Tacobell, or KFC. Pizza Hut announced its decision to close up approximately 500 dine-in locations within 2021. Go dine-in at the Pizza Hut around your corner while you can in 2020!

Applebees

Would monthly $1 drink specials convince you to make Applebees your new pregame spot? Applebees’ $1 drink specials successfully rallied enough attention from millennials and helped make an astonishing comeback in 2018. Before the drink specials, the casual dine-in almost completely disconnected from their millennial audience upon introducing pricey $20 steak dinners. Millenials were likely to eat at home or spend that kind of money at a local novelty restaurant. Applebees, like other casual dine-in restaurants, are struggling to juggle their mixed-generation audience. With over 200 restaurant closes since 2016, Applebees needs to carefully plan their next strategy. The $1 specials proved to be a success but will it be enough to carry them through 2020?

TGI Fridays

TGI Fridays is planning to go back to its roots – a trendy gastropub for singles

Fridays was yet another classic American dine-in that filled a unique demand for the time period but it isn’t aging quite nicely. Founded in Newyork in 1965, Allan Stillman wanted to create a public space to meet single women. With interior designs like brass rails, Tiffany lamps, and stained glass windows by the bar, the perfect public “cocktail party” environment was created. TGI Fridays nowadays is going through the same types of problems that all casual dining restaurants are facing. One possible solution is breaking away from the casual-dining industry altogether. TGI Fridays is doing this in 2020 by rebranding themselves as a trendy gastropub and shifting their focus to the urban market. 

2020 – The End For Many Restaurant Chains

It might be unbelievable that 2020 may be the last year for these famous American restaurant chains. Millennials, food-delivery apps, health trends, and Gen-Z brought a whole new dynamic to the industry. Options are endless for today’s consumers and unless restaurants can learn to adapt to new demands, they will fade away. 

Close Bitnami banner
Bitnami