When the pandemic hit, restaurant takeout and delivery saturated our areas and became the way of survival for many. There is no doubt restaurants were hit with a hard impact. Restaurants were forced to rebrand and remarket, particularly when it came to the stream of restaurant takeout and delivery, restructuring menus, increasing staff to deliver, and of course, calling upon third-party services to help feed our communities—all at an unexpected high-cost.
However, two years in, and not out of the clear, it seems the “new normal” is here to stay. Patrons are now more accustomed to restaurant takeout and delivery and rely heavily on food brought right to their doorstep. As more and more potential customers are choosing to stay home, this is a trend expected to last longer than anticipated. If you haven’t transitioned, offering dine in services as well as restaurant takeout and delivery, you may just be missing a huge part of your demographic, making it more difficult to maintain your business and lifestyle. For businesses who are not trying to add restaurant takeout and delivery, or even just improve, we have supplied some tips that will make the branding and marketing of your restaurant takeout and delivery game that much stronger.
Here To Serve
First and foremost, your main objective is to ensure your customers that you are open for business and that your food and beverages are available for restaurant takeout and delivery. Goal number one. Something to consider that is highly recommended is to create custom-printed, branded takeout bags to alert the community. Prominently display your logo, tagline or other marketing messages like website, social media channels and/or contact information on this collateral.
Don’t Keep Your Customers Waiting
Long wait times on delayed delivery, inaccurate orders, and of course, low-quality unappetizing food are the biggest complaints from customers, and the deciding factor between ordering from your establishment or a local competitor. It is so important to always be always on top of this type of industry service, no matter what challenges arise. Potential consumers look at restaurant takeout and delivery, just as they would going out to eat. They still want an experience!
Be Ready To Whip Up Fan Favorites
It should be at no surprise that the most popular and the most ordered takeout foods are Chicken Wings, Chicken Sandwiches, and French Fries.
With that noted, expert restaurateurs like Ghost Truck Kitchen offer a variety of up to 8 different, distinct specialty wings. An assortment of sweet and savory coatings and rubs keep their clients coming back for more—giving them a taste of what they crave, mixed with a bonus twist. And according to the Food Network, the most common request is “extra sauce”. What does that mean? Condiments are just as important as the meal. Spend time creating a signature sauce customers can’t live without, and one that they can use with many dishes on your menu.
Another classic? The chicken sandwich. The staple, fresh ingredients are what make or break this crispy, well-rounded delight. Like Estancia 460, they offer a Chicken Milanese Sandwich with breaded chicken breast, arugula, tomato, mayo on a toasted baguette—YUM!
Technology Paves The Way
With the help of modern-day technology and media, restaurants have more efficient delivery options. First, take a hard look at your current restaurant takeout and delivery program if already implemented. Now, let’s figure out the areas that can use adjustment to offer a better, faster, tastier takeout and deliver to customers. Use this to your advantage to integrate customizable ordering forms, user-friendly interfaces, and even social media marketing. Think photos. Create moments and dishes that we like to refer to as “Instagrammable”. Then, hashtag, geographically target, and deliver!
The Four Key Ingredients
The best way is to begin to focus on the four critical factors and components that make up successful restaurant takeout and delivery.
- Create an optimized takeout and delivery menu
- Offer online ordering
- Update your packaging
- Streamline your pick up and delivery process
What To Know About Online Ordering?
First thing, offer it. If you offer it, they will use it. Second, third-party services like DoorDash, Ubereats, Postmates, and Grubhub will take care of online ordering, payment, and the delivery of your food. This is an alternate solution when you are understaffed and time is of the essence.
However, if you plan to use more than one third-party service, it’s really important to use a platform that automatically integrates all orders onto a single device. This cuts down on order confusion, human error, decreasing mistakes and creates an effective system for restaurants to fulfill orders. Otherwise, your restaurant still is recommended to offer online ordering directly from your own website or online menu, but please make sure this is being monitored timely by said staff. One benefit of keeping everything in-house and using your own online menu and ordering system is that you will continue to earn the maximum revenue on each order. All third-party organizations have commission fees so they can function too. But these costs can be avoided. You will also be able to maintain valuable customer data and contact information for your own future marketing initiatives.
Create Your Unique Restaurant Takeout and Delivery Menu
By creating a specialized, simplified takeout and delivery menu, consumers develop another reason to view and be enticed by your offerings. Most critical, you want to make sure that your menu is easy to locate, read, with alluring descriptions and Calls to Action (CTAS) like ‘ORDER NOW!’ to add items into the online cart.
PROTIP: Pick menu items that will travel well.
Examples:
- Undressed salads, grilled meats and veggies, pre-packaged sides.
- Avoid items that tend to fall apart, melt, or spill during transit.
- Provide proper reheating instructions and deliver at the appropriate temperature.
- Always include special add-ons like hot sauce, condiments, salt and pepper, and more into every restaurant takeout or delivery order. There’s no bigger disappointment than your lust after pizza delivery without red pepper flakes, oregano, or parmesan.
- Pay attention to the details
Upgrade Your Packaging
Update your carryout packages and containers, especially as consumers become ‘greener’ and more conscious. No better time than now to re-evaluate the eco-impact of your takeout containers, cups, utensils, napkins, and carrier bags. Did you know almost 60% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable or environmentally friendly takeout or delivery containers? If your current packaging is less than environmentally friendly, consider swapping to a greener option. Sustainable containers like Fabri-Kal Greenware are an ultimate packaging option for these reasons.
If you want to improve on subpar packaging for restaurant takeout and delivery, first you need to ask yourself the below:
- Are the packages and cups that we are supplying sturdy to support the meal?
- Do these containers prevent leaks, spills, and drips?
- Are boxes easy to open and close?
- Do boxes stay closed?
- Do drinks stay cold or hot in their cups?
- Do napkins hold up or shred immediately?
Consider the Presentation
Does the food look appealing inside the container? Or is it prone to slipping, sliding, flipping over, or sloshing around? Restaurant takeout and delivery food should be presented just as beautifully as it would be served in your restaurant or a home-cooked treasure.
Streamlining the Delivery Process
Everything you function as an assembly line- and all individuals involved should have a role to streamline this delivery process and prepare your delivery drivers for success. It’s best to assign a specific kitchen staff member to handle restaurant takeout and delivery orders, including the management and double-checking of orders.
- Be sure to address standardized safety and deliver protocol with all drivers. Every driver should be aware of the policies and practices.
- Where do drivers pick up food?
- Who gives out orders?
- How do drivers receive customer addresses?
- Ensure delivery drivers understand their coverage area and have access to GPS.
- Make sure drivers always have the correct address and the customer’s phone number.
Revival of Restaurant Takeout & Delivery Service
When on-premise dining is no longer an option or if it is simply suffering from the aftermath of a pandemic, your restaurant can still serve great food to diners via carryout or delivery. When it comes to restaurant delivery, you can neither compromise on the time taken for delivery nor the efficiency of the preparations. Restaurant takeout and delivery service (online food ordering) is flourishing and has completely changed the way more traditional restaurants function. With evolving technology and changing demographics, the future of restaurant delivery is now brighter than ever. It is important to learn the information available in the food service industry and receive the support that you need to feed your hungry customers and keep revenue coming in—ultimately feeding your business!
