'Tis the season, so expect more and more guests to turn to you to bring their parties to life. Whether they're looking for large tables, private rooms or renting the whole restaurant — businesses, families, and groups of friends will be booking their holiday celebrations with your restaurant. Plus, more and more busy customers are choosing to entertain at home and turn to the restaurants they love and trust for off-site catering. They're looking to you to take away the stress of the holidays and serve up a great experience.
Consumers expect operators to entice them with something new and different.**
Executing the busy holiday season well is essential to retaining and strengthening ties with current customers. Moreover, their guests may be making their first visit to your restaurant, so impressing them is also key to building new sales.
Are you ready? We've made a list — and checked it twice.
Be menu-ready
Develop special holiday menus for on- or off- premises catering as well as takeaway catering. Order seasonal ingredients and test them early to have time to perfect the recipes.
Set the Scene
Set up holiday décor. Make sure indoor/outdoor lights are adequate and in working order. Get rid of those dust bunnies and cobwebs! Light fixtures are a frequent culprit.
Take Stock of Tableware and Servingware
Inventory place-settings, centerpieces, serving pieces, table lights, linens, buffet setups, platters, etc. You don't want to fall short during your busiest time of year!
Reach Out
Get in touch with customers who've used your catering services or ordered takeaway catering from you before. Start your ordering reminders early to increase sales.
Gear up for Catering
Arrange for additional equipment and staff, as well as takeaway packaging. Consider hiring seasonal staff specifically for takeaway-catering fulfillment to allow for uninterrupted service for in-house guests.
Catering affords the opportunity to grow your business within and outside your operation.
Benchmark Your Business
Study your sales from the previous holiday season to project when your busiest times are likely to occur, then plan and staff up accordingly.
Train for the holiday rush
Educate staff about practices such as gracious ways to handle increased traffic at the front door, how to serve large parties and how to keep order in the back of the house.
Be Mindful of the Great Outdoors
The parking lot and exterior of your restaurant create guests' first impression. Make sure it's pristine, free of pavement hazards and clear of debris or ice.
Plan for the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Visit ShamrockORDERS to order the tableware and gear you need, and reach out to your sales representative for holiday ideas and seasonal opportunities.
**Source: Datassentials
Share this Post
Get Rewarded Like Never Before
Get more great menu ideas and great savings on items you already purchase. Enjoy exclusive offers, rebates and promotions, and the chance to win great prizes, including trips to some amazing destinations with Shamrock Rewards.
Continue Reading
Prep, Weigh, Measure
Use these tools to help manage your inventory and optimize your kitchen.
MyShamrock
Your online portal to place orders, track your deliveries and access your transaction history.
Conversion Charts
Quickly convert measurements for your recipes with these helpful conversion charts for your kitchen.
Kitchentelligence Magazine
Find fresh ideas for your menu, tips to enhance your operations and customer success stories in our magazine.
Talk food to us.
Our team of seasoned professionals is ready to help you choose the right products for your business, and put our deep knowledge of the industry to work for you.