Unwrap Holiday Profits:The 2024 Holiday Success Guide for Restaurants
The holiday season is a pivotal time for restaurants, presenting both challenges and opportunities. As consumer habits continue shifting towards convenience and digital ordering, understanding these trends is essential for staying ahead. This report takes a deep dive into the 2023 holiday season's key takeaways and offers a data—driven forecast for 2024, helping restaurants optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and maximize revenue.
2023 Key Takeaways
The 2023 holiday season saw significant growth in both in-store and online activity for restaurants. Digital ordering and catering services dominated the landscape, fueled by a growing desire for convenience among consumers celebrating holidays with family and friends.
25% growth in online orders
Consumers increasingly opted for online meal solutions for holiday gatherings between October and December.30% growth in catering orders
Catering services grew with more families opting for professionally prepared meals instead of cooking at home, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas.20% surge in gift card sales
Restaurant gift cards turned out to be a popular holiday gifting option leading to a surge in gift card sales.
2024 Holiday Outlook
The 2024 holiday season promises to build on the successes of previous years. With more consumers relying on online ordering and expecting quick, seamless experiences, restaurants can capitalize on this momentum by implementing smarter solutions.
Online Holiday Sales Will Grow
2024 online holiday sales are expected to grow by up to 24% year-over-year as consumers seek convenience during busy times.
Catering Demand Still Climbing
Demand for catering services is expected to grow by 20-25% this season.
Preference for Ordering Catering Online
70% of consumers prefer online ordering for their holiday catering needs.
Use of Technology Becoming More Crucial
~ 50% of businesses plan to use technology to monitor deliveries and manage the holiday rush efficiently.
Gift Card Sales Expected to Grow
Gift card purchases are projected to grow by 15-20% during the holiday season.
Dining Out is Still a Thing!
40% of consumers reported they plan to dine out more frequently during the holiday season.
These insights reveal clear opportunities for restaurants to optimize their operations and capitalize on the holiday season to grow their business. Let’s discover the essentials for achieving success this holiday season and how Zuppler can help.
Your Holiday Success Starts Here!
The holiday season can be overwhelming for any restaurant owner. With higher foot traffic, increased catering orders, and heightened expectations for speedy service, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. But with the right strategies, you can handle the rush and turn this busy season into a revenue-generating opportunity. Here’s how to not just survive but thrive.
Smooth Sailing Through the Holiday Rush: Proven Tips
Prepare for In-store Holiday Rush with Kiosks
Introduce kiosks for self-ordering and handle peak-hour orders effortlessly—ensuring faster service and happier guests when it matters most.Why It Works: Reduces wait times, minimize errors, and ensures your staff can focus on delivering exceptional service.
Drive Revenue with Pre-Ordering for Catering
Encourage guests to order in advance with enticing early-bird deals for catering orders and large groups.
Why It Works: Guarantees revenue in advance and allows you to manage staffing and inventory effectively as demand surges.
Streamline Operations with All-in-One Solutions
Opt for integrated restaurant solutions and centralized dashboards to handle the influx of orders, update menus, manage deliveries and drive marketing efforts.Why It Works: Saves time and boosts operational efficiency
Automate to Maximize Efficiency and Revenue
Let technology handle repetitive tasks! Automate your marketing campaigns, schedule discounts, and activate upsell features.
Why It Works: Minimizes errors and frees you up to focus on what matters most—serving your customers.
Maximize Revenue with These Smart Tactics
Offer Seasonal Menu Specials
Introduce holiday special items or menu to create excitement.
Why It Works: Customers love exclusivity and tend to spend more on festive items.
Promote Gift Cards
Offer digital and physical gift cards and run promotions where buyers get something extra for themselves.
Why It Works: Boosts instant sales, and ensures future business.
Cater to Holiday Feasts
Introduce catering online ordering to fulfill large holiday orders and enable pickup and delivery for additional revenue.
Why It Works: Convenient for you to take large orders while avoiding long phone calls!
Run Flash Holiday Sales
Encourage conversions with time-sensitive deals on popular items, order amount and free delivery discounts.
Why It Works: Compels customers to act fast and brings in last-minute sales.
Gear up for a Profitable Holiday Season
The key to holiday success is preparation. With customers expecting faster service, personalized offers, and seamless online experiences, now is the time to gear up. By using Zuppler’s suite of tools—from kiosks and catering solutions to gift cards and marketing automation—you can tackle the holiday rush with confidence, increase customer satisfaction, and maximize your profits.