Maximizing Success Through Restaurant Catering Services
Restaurant catering is booming in the United States — in 2023, the sector was worth a staggering $12.2 billion. Caterers prepare food for a variety of events, from special-occasion celebrations to office lunches and home gatherings. This lucrative market creates a valuable opportunity for restaurateurs; it’s a way to build an additional revenue stream and reach new customers in the process. Whether your catering segment is established or you’re just getting started, understanding how to get more catering orders can help you create a successful service offering.
Why Your Restaurant Should Offer Catering Services
It’s a big deal to add a new service to your restaurant. As you determine whether it’s right for your business, consider how diversifying your offerings could give you an edge in the challenging restaurant industry. Catering is an effective way to introduce your food to large groups of potential clients. Some may be familiar with your restaurant but have never had the occasion to try your food; others may be hearing about your restaurant for the first time.
Effective Exposure and Customer Acquisition
If you can get into corporate catering, the benefits can be even more extensive. According to Grubhub data, the majority of employees who try food during a catered office event will visit that restaurant in the future. Catering can be more persuasive in attracting new customers than traditional advertising. While advertising relies on messaging, catering wins over potential customers through firsthand experiences. Prospects won’t need to be convinced your food is good — they’ll be able to taste it for themselves. The best part? You don’t need to pay to reach these new customers; in fact, you’re being paid to do it.
Meeting the Demand for Convenience
Another way to make customers happy is by addressing their need for convenience. Busy people have less time to prepare meals; they’d rather spend free time with loved ones. They crave convenience when planning daily meals, entertaining, and corporate events. By offering catering services, you can provide customers with a stress-free way to feed their families, guests, and colleagues.
Increasing Revenue and Profitability
A catering service generates an entirely new sales segment for your restaurant — one that often has higher profit margins than in-house orders. This is particularly true around holidays and on special occasions, when catering services are in higher demand. With catering, you provide meals for a large number of people in a single order; it requires less prep and a streamlined workflow. People may be more inclined to splurge on higher-ticket items and a wide variety of foods to please their guests. Group orders also give you the opportunity to buy ingredients and supplies in bulk, helping you get the best prices. Because you’re providing delivery, supplies, and other services in addition to food, you can set premium prices. When it comes to special occasions, customers are often willing to pay for the convenience, reliability, and value you bring.
Leveraging Technology for Operations
Technology makes it easy to implement these services. Advanced catering management software can help your restaurant run a successful catering operation without negatively affecting other aspects of the business. For instance, Grubhub can help you accept and process catering orders easily. You can confirm the order through email, the Grubhub platform, or even by fax. The detailed order specifications in Grubhub help your managers plan, schedule staff, and accurately prepare orders. Partnering with Grubhub for your catering services can help bring in new business. Your restaurant will be visible to an extensive database of corporate accounts and regular customers, which creates opportunities for large orders and repeat business.
Key Resources and Support Tools
To help simplify your operations and build your business, you can utilize several specialized tools and marketing resources:
- Direct: Your commission-free branded online ordering website.
- Technology integrations: Point-of-sale and tech integrations to help simplify your operations.
- Marketing tools: Proven tools to build your business and gain more customers through loyalty and customer experiences.
- Merchant portal: Grubhub for Restaurants serves as your hub for your entire Grubhub account.
- Profit calculator: A free tool to calculate your profitability and ROI.
- Delivery options: Delivery and pickup solutions that fit your needs.
- Guides & Webinars: Download free guides, webinars, and reports to help run your business and maximize your success.
Improving Your Digital Presence
You can learn how to increase your digital presence according to experts and find tips for efficiently running your restaurant. Furthermore, you can explore partner success stories from real restaurants and access support resources to help you make the most of your account. By focusing on community impact and how we serve restaurants and their communities, you can build a stronger brand while improving your bottom line.
