Since the COVID-19 outbreak has begun, operators have seen a rise in demand for food delivery as dine-in is currently restricted in most states. For operators, this presents a unique challenge in trying to make up at least partially for dine-in sales through delivery and finding ways how to increase restaurant delivery sales. One of the key adaptations that operators can make is to enhance their food delivery menu—focusing on meals that can travel well and excite diners in the comfort (and safety) of their own homes.
Here are a few useful tips for increasing the demand of your food delivery offerings:
Enhance your delivery menu with great food photography to showcase your dishes
According to Grubhub1, adding food photography to your menu page is shown to increase sales by 30%.
Access our free photography course on UFS Academy to sharpen your skills on lighting, composition, styling, and editing. You’ll meet food photographer Remjo Kraaijeveld and Chef Justin Niessen for a masterclass on perfecting food photography, so take the course and get snapping!
Ensure your food delivery options exceed expectations
Your food delivery menu shouldn’t simply be a digital version of your restaurant’s dine-in or takeaway menus - when it comes to winning the food delivery game, everything counts. Here are some tips:
- Keep it simple: Your full menu doesn’t have to be your delivery menu
- Compact delivery menu = easier operations and improving delivery times
- Don’t forget add-ons. Offer avocado, additional sides or extra protein,cheese, sauce, etc.
- Complete the meal. Suggest beverage pairings for your meals to boost check prices. (Iced Tea, anyone?)
- Bring on the food specials. Blast out specials on your Instagram or social media to drum up extra business and excitement about your offerings. Make sure to post with photos to get the cravings going.
- Drink specials. In accordance with your state and local regulations, offer cocktails or mocktails.
- Consider family-style meals. Think beverage, appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. Meals that serve the whole family makes it easier for serving, and it’s less packaging waste for you.
Try these recipes that are simple in prep but big in flavor, and travel well for delivery:
Honey Roast Sesame Chicken Wings: The perfect balance of sweet and slightly spicy, these chicken wings are enhanced with the caramelized onion and garlic flavor of Knorr Intense Flavors Roast Umami. Served with a roasted sesame lime dipping sauce and topped with sesame seeds and scallions.
BBQ Beef Mac Bowl: Classic Mac and Cheese gets upgraded with a Texas twist-BBQ braised beef, crispy breadcrumbs and a brightly flavored avocado crema.
Highlight the wholesome aspect of your dishes
Increase the sales of specific dishes (and your restaurant as a whole) by appealing to the health-conscious side of diners who’d usually prefer having their meals at home, especially relevant during current times.
Here’s how you can do so:
- Identify a selection of dishes that have wholesome ingredients, then group these dishes and place them at the top of your menu—preferably under a “Better For You” section to draw attention.
- Highlight the aspects of these dishes that make them great for the immune system by adding their benefits to each dish’s description. For example, if your dish features turmeric as an ingredient, you can highlight its anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Work with food delivery operators to promote your section of wholesome dishes.
Try out these recipes with wholesome ingredients that will leave your guests feeling better than ever:
Middle Eastern Chickpea and Swiss Chard Bowl with Delicata Squash, Pomegranate and Pistachio: A protein packed bowl of chickpeas and millet with colorful Swiss chard, roasted Delicata squash, orange segments, pomegranate seeds and pistachio, tossed in Hellmann’s Lemon Za’atar Dressing.
Red Lentil Pasta Bowl with Lemony Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Shredded roasted Brussels sprouts, radicchio, butter lettuce, cucumber, roasted yellow peppers, farmers cheese, hemp seeds, pancetta and candied Meyer lemon peel.
Provide great value with family style meals
Diners appreciate good value, and family sizes represent fantastic value for money while making purchase decisions easy. Diners can purchase food, drinks and even side dishes in one set, rather than having to purchase them separately and incurring additional charges.
Be sure to include set meal options for groups of all sizes. A good selection of choices should (at least) include:
- Individual meals
- Meals for two
- Bundled sets or feasts for a family of 4 to 6 persons
Salads and soups are a great way of creating family style meals, while taking advantage of batch processing in the kitchen. Here are a few examples you can use in your menu:
Chorizo, White Bean and Oil Cured Olive Chopped Salad with Smoky Honey Mustard Dressing: A flavorful chopped salad of chorizo, white beans, hard-boiled egg, oil cured olives, red onion, celery and romaine with Smoked Honey Mustard Dressing.
Pork, Lentil and Kale Soup: A warm, hearty soup with ground pork, lentils, kale and vegetables. Serve with crusty bread for a warm lunch.
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