?? Restaurant Roundup - 21st March 2024
Dawn Gribble
?? Hospitality Marketing Expert | MIH | MCIM | Founder HospitalityMarketingHub.com ?????
Welcome to the Restaurant Roundup. I’m your host, Dawn Gribble, an independent hospitality marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience.
Here's a glimpse of what's inside:
??? Brands Add 'Special Trip' Menu Items
Restaurant brands are introducing new specials to encourage special trip intent. Potbelly has debuted a six-pack cookie box, available in-store and online, aiming to simplify the sharing and gifting of cookies. In related dessert innovations, KFC unveiled a Colonel's Homestyle Brownie. Meanwhile, Taco Bell experiments with a Churro Chillers shake and a chocolate taco in collaboration with Salt & Straw. Wendy's introduces a Cinnabon breakfast option, Shake Shack pilots desserts for potential afternoon boosts, and Burger King Canada brings a Hershey's Sundae Pie to its menu. (NRN )
?? Restaurants can attract customers and create excitement by offering unique, limited-time desserts and special menu items. Collaborations with other brands can also provide fresh, buzzworthy menu additions. The dessert trends predicted for 2024 focus on innovative and collaborative treats that mix nostalgia with modern twists. Churro Chillers Shake and Hershey's Sundae Pie are great examples of the trend toward memorable and shareable desserts.
?? Alchemist Restaurant to Host Dinners on the Edge of Space
Chef Rasmus Munk of Copenhagen's Alchemist restaurant is collaborating with SpaceVIP to craft meals for Space Perspective's luxury space-bound balloon capsules. These capsules, part of the Spaceship Neptune project, promise an eco-friendly journey to the edge of space, with launches planned from Florida in 2025. Fashion house Ogier will provide bespoke outfits for passengers using advanced textiles. A highlight meal, "Memories of Sakura," developed with MIT's Maggie Coblentz, will be served during the six-hour flight, costing US$495,000 per ticket. (GT )
?? Jollibee Launches Exclusive Jolly Merchandise Shop
Jollibee has unveiled its inaugural online merchandise store, Jolly Merch Shop, offering an exclusive selection of streetwear and accessories. The range includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, bucket hats, beanies, tote bags, among other items. The shop will feature staple pieces available throughout the year and limited-edition products available until sold out. Luis Velasco, Jollibee North America's Senior VP and Marketing Head, highlighted that the collection reflects the brand's playful essence,
"Whether you're going out on the town or simply relaxing at home with friends and family, we're thrilled to offer our fans this stylish, creative extension of the Jollibee brand." (FSH )
?? Restaurant merch can boost loyalty, brand awareness, and revenue. But plan strategically! Offer high-quality items that reflect your brand and connect with customers. Look beyond clothing and consider kitchenware or limited-edition food items. Promote online and track sales data to adapt your offerings for success.
? Last-Hour Surge in Cancellations for Takeaway Orders
A study highlighting the economic effects of takeaway order cancellations on UK restaurants revealed a higher likelihood of cancellations in the final operating hour—1.74 times more than other times. About 20% of orders and 31% of cancellations occur in this last hour. Evening rush hours (6-9 pm) saw the most cancellations despite accounting for 36% of orders. In the early hours (10 pm-10 am), there is a disproportionate number of cancellations compared to the number of orders they share. This issue leads to a loss of 0.66% to 1.33% in weekly takeaway sales for UK restaurants, translating to a ￡66 to ￡133 loss on a ￡10,000 weekly revenue. (RNR )
?? Restaurants can take several measures to deal with late-night cancellations. One solution is to simplify the menu during periods of high demand, which can improve efficiency and reduce the likelihood of cancellations. Another is to review and adjust the operating hours to avoid last-minute rushes. Offering incentives for earlier orders, such as free delivery, bundled meals, or discounts, can also be effective. Finally, promoting "early bird" deals and highlighting the kitchen closing times can be a great way to encourage customers to order earlier.
?? Domino’s Unveils ￡4 Lunch Deal and Decade Growth Plans
Domino's has announced a new ￡4 lunch offer for its UK and Ireland customers, alongside ambitious expansion goals for the coming years. This deal aims to attract customers at various times of the day and coincides with Gregg's plan to open an additional 160 stores. The company credits its strategic advancements and value offerings for recent sales and profit growth, thanking its franchisees and staff for their contributions. Early 2024 saw strong performance, with Domino's Uber Eats trial and new store openings, contributing to a 5.7% sales growth and an 11.1% revenue increase in FY23. (FEJ )
?? Value-based pricing like Domino's ￡4 lunch deal can attract customers during off-peak hours. Similar deals could help takeaways level out demand and increase sales. Social media, emails, and in-store promotions can highlight the value. Partnering with delivery services can improve visibility. Careful pricing is needed to avoid cannibalising existing sales, and maintaining quality is vital to ensuring long-term brand strength.
??? How To Optimise Your Google Maps Profile
领英推荐
?? Step 1: Create And Verify Your Google My Business Account
To start with Google Maps, you must create your restaurant’s Google My Business account. Follow these steps:
Once your account is verified, you can optimise your Google Maps profile.
?? Step 2: Complete Your Profile With Accurate Information
To attract potential customers, your Google Maps profile must be complete and accurate. Make sure to provide the following information:
Remember to keep all the information current to ensure a seamless user experience and avoid confusion for potential customers.
??? Step 3: Choose Your Categories And Attributes
Selecting your restaurant’s correct categories and attributes is essential for accurate search results. Choose categories that align with your offerings, such as “Italian restaurant” or “fine dining,” to ensure your restaurant appears in relevant searches.
Take advantage of attributes that highlight specific features of your restaurant, such as wheelchair accessibility, outdoor seating, or pet-friendly options. Attributes provide valuable information to potential customers and can help you stand out from the competition.
??? Step 4: Adopt A Visual First Approach
High-quality visuals are an effective way to showcase your restaurant and entice potential customers.?
Add high-quality photos and videos that promote your cuisine, interior decor, and unique ambience. Follow Google’s recommended image and video specifications guidelines to ensure optimal display quality.
Consider adding photos of your signature dishes, your chef in action, and your restaurant’s unique features, location and happy team. It’s worth investing in professional photography for your listing.?
? Step 5: Monitor And Respond To Reviews
Restaurants’ reputations are built on customer reviews. Check your Google Maps profile regularly and respond to positive and negative reviews. Communicating with customers shows that you care about their feedback.
Enhance your credibility and reputation by asking satisfied customers to leave reviews. Address negative reviews promptly and professionally, demonstrating your commitment to customer care.
?? Step 6: Post Promotions And Updates
Google Posts lets you share promotions, events, and updates directly on your Google Maps profile. You can use this feature to promote your latest menu items, special offers, discounts, or upcoming events. Keep your posts concise, engaging, and visually appealing to grab the attention of potential customers.
?? Step 7: Engage With Customers Via Messages And Q&A
You can communicate with potential customers directly through Google Maps’ messaging and Q&A features. Respond promptly to messages and inquiries to provide helpful information and build a positive impression of your restaurant.
Monitor the Q&A section on your Google Maps profile and address any questions or concerns that potential customers may have. Clear and prompt communication fosters trust and encourages customers to choose your restaurant over competitors.
?? Step 8: Monitor Insights And Analytics
Google Maps provides insights and analytics that offer valuable data about your profile’s performance. Monitor metrics such as views, clicks, and user engagement to assess the effectiveness of your optimisation efforts.
Use the insights to identify trends, understand customer behaviour, and make data-driven decisions to further optimise your Google Maps profile.
We understand that every restaurant is as unique as the vision of its owner, which is why our consulting services are designed to meet each client’s unique needs – as a result of our work with global franchise leaders to social enterprises, national chains and QSRs, The Hospitality Marketing Hub team brings a wealth of experience to the table.
With our expertise, insights, resources and connections, we can increase your brand’s visibility and profitability and help you outshine the competition.
Founder & CEO, Group 8 Security Solutions Inc. DBA Machine Learning Intelligence
7 个月Thank you for your valuable post!
Thriving in restaurant marketing requires embracing change and innovation! ?? Remember, Henry Ford once hinted - obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. Let's innovate and captivate our audience! ?? #RestaurantMarketing #Innovation
Developmental Editor ?? Gospel Poet ???? Your family memoir in 4 steps ?? Publishing House Services, Project Specialist, Business Copywriter & Author ?? Visit my page for my RATE SHEET and PUBLISHING GUIDE ??
8 个月Love the information provided especially about the Business Google Maps profile.