Catering to Large Gatherings: How Zuppler Can Help You Capitalize on the Thanksgiving Boom
The holiday season is an incredibly rewarding (and busy) time for restaurants, especially when offering catering services. With the demand for time-saving options at an all-time high, more people are relying on restaurants to provide a fully prepared Thanksgiving meal, allowing them to focus on hosting. For your business, this creates the perfect opportunity to deliver a seamless, customized catering experience for customers while driving holiday revenue.
Crafting Your Menu For Success
Start by building out your seasonal menu. Make sure your regulars know you offer catering options through a visible catering menu when they place their usual to-go orders. Providing dietary preferences, such as vegan or gluten-free options, helps you serve diverse customers more efficiently and can open up new customer segments.
Take it a step further by offering delivery for customers who don’t have time for pick-up. Zuppler’s online ordering solution even connects you with local delivery partners for large catering orders.
Here are some other tips to streamline your catering offering.
Managing The Holiday Surge
Offering catering is a big step for many businesses, but it can be streamlined with an efficient online ordering platform. Here are some tips to make holiday catering as smooth as pumpkin pie:
Plan Ahead: Allow customers to book large orders well in advance, giving your kitchen team ample time to prepare.
Controlled Availability: Set specific holiday availability for orders to ensure staff can manage them without overextending.
Minimum Order Requirements: Setting minimum quantities for large orders ensures that holiday events are both profitable and manageable for your staff.
Pricing Strategies For Profitability
Holiday catering is often highly profitable, with Thanksgiving packages set at premium rates. Bundling packages lets you maintain efficient production and minimize food waste. For example, Thanksgiving meals are priced at an average of $65 per person for a three-course dinner, providing a high-margin opportunity.
Incentivize Early Orders With Discounts
Encouraging customers to book their catering orders early not only locks in revenue but also helps your restaurant efficiently plan for the busy holiday rush. By offering bundled deals or limited-time specials on catering, you can create urgency and reward customers for planning ahead, easing the strain on your kitchen and ensuring smooth inventory management.
First-time user discounts are another way to entice new customers to try your catering services, building loyalty for future events. Take a look at our success story with Blue Mesa Grill, where strategic catering solutions led to a substantial boost in seasonal revenue.
Building Loyalty with Gift Cards
The demand for catering during the holiday season also opens doors to a broader customer base. When guests enjoy your food at a catered event, they may become curious about the rest of your menu! Encourage repeat business by offering discounted gift cards for customers to share with family and friends, making it easier for new diners to experience your restaurant. Gift cards also make convenient holiday presents for hosts or a thoughtful treat for friends.
With Zuppler’s fully customized online ordering solution, your business is equipped to tackle the holiday rush and cater memorable meals for every gathering. This holiday season, be the caterer customers rely on year after year!