Increasing lunchtime sales can be a key driver of growth for any business that serves food. There are several strategies that can be employed to boost sales during the lunchtime period. First and foremost, it is important to have a menu that appeals to the lunchtime crowd, with items that are quick to prepare and easy to eat on-the-go.
Offering lunchtime specials or deals can also be effective in attracting customers. Additionally, promoting your lunchtime offerings through social media, email marketing, or targeted advertising can help to raise awareness and drive traffic to your establishment.
Providing a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, with plenty of seating and a speedy ordering and checkout process, can help to ensure that customers are satisfied and more likely to return for future lunchtime meals
Restaurants are usually busy during lunchtime and weekends, but dinnertime crowds can be challenging. The following tips and tricks will help you increase lunch sales at your restaurant business.
Why should guests leave their desks and sit down at your restaurant? Visa found that Americans spend approximately $1043 a year eating out at restaurants for lunch. $53 a week and $2746 a year were the more expensive options for brown bag meals and takeout meals. Lunch is a popular time for people to eat out, but how can you make your restaurant stand out from the crowd?
Strategies to increase lunch time sales
There are several strategies that businesses can use to increase lunchtime sales. One approach is to offer meal deals or lunch specials that are priced attractively and emphasize the value proposition. Another strategy is to cater to the preferences of the lunch crowd, such as offering healthy or vegetarian options, vegan, quick and easy-to-eat items, and meals that can be customised to individual tastes.
Promoting lunchtime offerings through various channels like social media, email, and in-store signage can help to increase awareness and interest in your menu. Providing faster service, express checkout options, or online ordering can also appeal to time-pressed customers.
Creating an inviting and comfortable atmosphere can help to draw in more customers and encourage them to stay longer, increasing the chances of repeat business. By employing a combination of these strategies, businesses can effectively increase their lunchtime sales and drive overall growth.
Decide on your target market
What sort of people do you think will visit your restaurant during lunchtime? Students? Retired people? Office workers? To adjust your strategy, you’ll need to determine your target audience. Your messaging and audience will be more effective if you identify a target market. Additionally, it helps you save money because you won’t waste resources on the wrong groups. Your marketing strategy should be developed after determining your target audience.
Millennials will appreciate personal and transparent messaging, for example. Over 60 percent of millennials’ decisions are influenced by social media, according to Entrepreneur. As a result, you’ll want to ensure that your social media presence is strong. Millennials prefer mobile over desktop, which is why you should have a mobile-friendly website and a waitlist and reservation app. Listed below are a few strategies you can use to make lunch more profitable.
Off-premise dining
Lunch may be eaten at the desk, on the go, or when people leave for lunch. In-store checks are 23% smaller than online orders, according to Toast POS. It is more convenient for guests to dine at your restaurant if you offer delivery and carryout.
A number of factors will need to be considered before implementing off-premise dining. What are your plans for digital ordering and delivery? Will you choose a third party or do your own? In addition to a commission per order, you can access a network of diners through digital ordering partners. Customers will also need to consider where they will pick up their orders. Do you need a takeout station? Can you tell me about your menu items and packaging?
The dishes on the menu should be easy to prepare and should maintain their taste for a long period of time if not consumed right away. It is important to package foods in a way that is considerate of their temperature. Prepare your off-premise dining strategy fully before you launch it when you’re ready.
Targeted mobile ads around lunchtime
Advertise on social media later in the morning to reach potential customers. The best way to target customers near your restaurant is to use geofencing. GPS or RFID technology is used in geofencing to create virtual boundaries that allow mobile devices to trigger responses based on their movements.
Among shoppers who received location-based alerts, 53% visited a specific retailer. Your ad might be most effective if you target office workers on LinkedIn. If you wish to reach all other audiences, Facebook might be the best choice.
During lunchtime, you might want to highlight your daily specials, coupons, or just a reminder to come on over to your restaurant. With geofencing mobile ads, Potbelly restaurants have been successful. They have written a case study that you can read here.
Respect your customers’ time
You will want to ensure your kitchen is efficient with the correct number of staff so that food can be served quickly to customers during their lunch break. Consider offering items with ticket times of less than 10 minutes on your menu. Additionally, you should make sure your employees are trained and you have the right technology in place to improve your service speed.
Hand out coupons and menus to local business ventures
You can drop off coupons, flyers and menus at local businesses if you know office workers frequent your restaurant. Provide a flyer highlighting the catering and group discounts you offer. Your restaurant could even be promoted on coupon sites such as Groupon to generate more traffic.
A partnership with a local business would also be an option. Providing employees with discounts at local stores and restaurants is a popular idea among businesses. It would be a good way to get business from around your area to visit your website.
You can use numerous free online coupon creators to design coupons with extra branding and visual appeal. Designed for those seeking professional-looking designs that are easy to create and don’t require a lot of experience, these programs can save you time and money.
Make sure you have enough staff at lunchtime
It is not uncommon for people to avoid dining out at lunchtime because of long lines. It’s important to have enough staff to deal with the rush. In case you have difficulty determining this, consider using a labour management program. Think about ways to get guests’ orders in quickly so they can get out faster. You can order from iPad POS tablets walked around by staff at some restaurants, so when you reach the front of the line, your food will be ready. Making the lunch experience convenient for guests is key to increasing lunch sales.
Look out for others that are successful around lunchtime
Lunch sales at Jimmy Johns and Panera have been largely successful. Jimmy Johns, for example, only delivers to locations within a 2-mile radius of their restaurant to ensure orders arrive quickly, according to Spoon University. In addition to offering delivery and carryout, Jimmy Johns also offers an app.
‘Rapid Pick-Up’ at Panera means customers can avoid long lines by selecting products from the pick-up shelf. All of this can be done online. You can also order from your table. Panera Bakery-Cafes offer their customers the convenience of ordering from their phones, paying online, and receiving their order at their table without waiting in line. The restaurant also offers delivery for those who prefer not to come for lunch.
Our peach delivery service has helped many restaurants generate sales by delivering bulk orders to businesses. Don’t forget to take notes on what made these front runners successful and implement what works for your restaurant.
Read more: Increase restaurant sales
Frequently asked questions
How do you attract customers for lunch?
Attracting customers for lunch at your restaurant you need to Promote Yourself on Social Media. Offer Free WiFi. Provide Live Music. Use Email Marketing. Sign up With Online Ordering and Food Delivery Apps. Give Away Gift Cards. Use Social Media Influencers.
How can I grow my lunch business?
To grow your lunch business you need to use these effective ways to attract a lunch crowd and boost your restaurant's revenue. Offer a Pre-Fixed Lunch Menu. Offer a Lunch Special. Offer a Group Special. Offer High-Energy, Super Foods. Deliver Samples. Offer Free Delivery to Local Businesses. Schedule the Right Staff and Boost Customer Service.
Conclusion
Increasing lunchtime trade is crucial for restaurants and food-based businesses for several reasons. Lunchtime sales can contribute significantly to overall revenue and profitability. Restaurants that are able to attract more lunchtime customers can increase their daily turnover, which can lead to increased profits and sustained growth.
The lunchtime trade can help to optimise the use of resources, such as staff and equipment, which are typically underutilized during this period. By increasing lunchtime sales, businesses can maximise their efficiency and increase their overall productivity. Building a strong lunchtime trade can also help businesses to establish a loyal customer base, which can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Overall, increasing lunchtime trade is a key driver of growth for restaurants and food-based businesses, and it should be a priority for any business that is looking to improve its bottom line and build a strong customer base.
Lee Jones is a seasoned Business Finance Specialist with over two decades of invaluable experience in the financial sector. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for helping businesses thrive, Lee has become a trusted advisor to countless organizations seeking to navigate the complexities of finance.