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Just like a well-crafted mission statement will help guide your business decisions, identifying and understanding your target customers and competitors through restaurant market research will give your business a competitive edge. Do you want to find out which food items your customers love the most?
Modern payment solutions that provide the ultimate convenience and enable customers to order and pay how they prefer are on the rise this holiday season, empowering restaurants to deliver an improved experience without sacrificing the quality of service. remain eager to dine out. In the U.S.
I knew I wanted to own my own business, and I was familiar with franchising in general Since my shop is the first Capriotti’s in Alabama, and there are really no others close to me, I had never tried the food. I have learned that restaurant experience does not necessarily make a great employee! I am in the shop a lot.
With customers streaming in for festive gatherings, teams work harder than ever to keep up, often feeling the strain of long hours and packed schedules. Bonuses with a Twist: Experiences and Perks Holiday bonuses are always a welcome way to show appreciation, but adding an experiential element can make them even more memorable.
With limited seating capacity, even a couple of absent parties can transform a potentially profitable evening into a financial loss, pushing these already vulnerable businesses closer to the margins of financial health. This not only offers businesses a layer of financial security but also simplifies the process for their guests.
A well-utilized smallbusiness loan gives the financing required to scale your restaurant effectively and turns prospects into real outcomes. Expanding Operational Capacity to Meet Higher Demand When customer demand increases, businesses that do not scale up quickly lose valuable opportunities to competitors.
Growing a restaurant or catering business is no small feat. If your catering business isn’t growing as fast as you’d like, you might be facing some common roadblocks. Inefficient Operations and Workflow One major hurdle that can slow down the growth of your catering business is inefficient operations and workflow.
The restaurant experience isnt just about great service and ambianceits deeply tied to ingredient sourcing and food costs. Pressure on Small Operators Small and independent restaurants, which often operate on razor-thin profit margins, are especially vulnerable. With new U.S.
Scaling an artisan food business is no easy feat. Many small food businesses reach a critical point where they must decide whether to remain small and exclusive or expand into wholesale, manufacturing, and broader distribution. As business owners, we know how expensive turning a gray shell into a gorgeous restaurant is.
It is atop the list for restaurants looking to modernize, differentiate, and elevate experiences. The question now becomes – how to make sense of that data and use it to elevate the dining experience. consumers now use digital wallets as they seek a convenient, contactless payment experience. Data, Data, Data.
In the modern dining landscape, where convenience and customerexperience are paramount, restaurants increasingly rely on electronic payment systems to facilitate transactions. It’s important restaurants meet the needs of their customers, while also protecting their bottom line.
Many restaurant operators have misconceptions about average order volume (AOV) and how it works, making statements like: I need more customers to make more money. or That sounds like something for big chains, not a small independent restaurant like mine. or Upselling feels awkward. Finding your AOV is actually quite simple.
Efficient electric heating keeps guests warm, extends seating capacity and helps maintain the lively, inviting atmosphere your business is known for — no matter the weather. Efficient electric heaters extend your patio season, improve customer comfort, and encourage longer stays and higher spending.
I often travel alone as a result of my career, and business travel is changing too: for many companies, having large numbers of employees traveling isn’t financially prudent – but being a solo diner doesn’t mean our expectations around our dining experience have changed. Just the “cover count.”
Pizza restaurants are poised to continue their evolution this year and incremental changes, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence, operational efficiency and customer preferences, will create both challenges and opportunities for pizzeria owners. This not only frees up labor but also reduces order errors.
With the rising costs of goods, consumers growing more conscious of spending habits, and private equity-backed brands popping up in communities large and small, mom-and-pops are in danger of adding to the failure statistics. Scalable solutions like self-service kiosks and predictive analytics are transforming the way smallbusinesses operate.
Tableside caviar service A prosciutto cart An authentic kaiseki tasting experience and members-only Japanese whiskey lounge Tableside s’mores These are just a few examples of ways restaurants across the country are hoping to attract guest by elevating the dining experience and creating a vibe highlighted by superior food and presentation.
Throughout her career, Ellen Linardi has been driven by the passion to build products that help smallbusinesses hold their own against big companies.That desire fueled the Global Head of Product for Clover and her team to help restaurant owners struggling during the pandemic pivot operations and compete in the now digital-first world.
“Through expansive experiences that inspire our guests paired with the ambiance of the space and the food on the plate, we’re setting new standards for the industry and creating truly spectacular moments for all who enter our restaurants and bars.”
At this time of year, guests want to get all wrapped up in sharing festive and fun experiences with friends and family, while restaurant operators want to provide joy and goodwill to boost traffic and revenue. What is the process of organizing pop-ups that fit the brand? ’ Then match it across your brand standards and adjust.
Loyalty programs are the secret sauce for keeping customers hooked, whether you're a cozy corner café or a massive restaurant chain. In a world where third-party delivery apps dominate, securing customer loyalty through personalized rewards and direct communication is the equivalent of having the best table in a packed restaurant.
To learn how these layouts can help maxmize efficiency while still providing optimal guest experience, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine received insights from Aleksandra Kaplan, partner at Swan Dive Design Studio. It's a crucial business asset that can make or break your competitive edge.
Operators are leaning into four types of AI—Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Conversational AI, and Predictive AI—to streamline operations, reduce waste, and personalize the guest experience in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago. That’s especially challenging for smallbusiness owners already wearing too many hats.
In the food service industry, branded apparel is a critical extension of your business's identity. The uniforms worn by staff, from kitchen to counter, represent your brand in every customer interaction, making apparel a strategic business decision rather than merely an operational requirement.
Rifrullo Café, a cozy farm-to-table restaurant in Brookline, Massachusetts, hums with customers on a steamy July mid-morning. As a chef, I have a responsibility to do my best to create good environments for people, customers, and the community,” says Marnell-Suhanosky. These restaurants try to tackle them all. Community, environment.
When customers are looking for a new place to eat, one of the first steps in that journey is checking reviews. Reviews give your restaurant the credibility it needs to attract new customers on a daily basis. Collecting direct feedback from customers and sharing it with the world is pivotal to growing your business year after year.
This leads to a decrease in the service they provide customers and may even lead to them quitting. You can also consider whether opening an hour later or closing an hour earlier might keep your employees from burning out while not dramatically limiting hours of operation or disappointing customers.
In business, those choices can lead to success or failure, prominence of subservience, profit or loss. At times the choices may seem insignificant but where customers are concerned nothing is insignificant. The small decisions add up and establish the type of operation you choose to offer, the reputation you hope to gain.
Providing a seamless, enjoyable restaurant experience is essential for long-term success. Heres how to craft an experience that leaves customers delighted and eager to return. Staff should be knowledgeable, offering helpful suggestions based on customer preferences and dietary needs.
Just like banks debate on whether or not to lend you money based on your credit history, customers will decide whether or not to eat at your restaurant based on your overall Yelp rating. A study by Harvard Business School found that a one-star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5% to 9% increase in revenue.
This makes business tight causing a hard look at any extra costs. Building a Competitive Menu We’ve seen that with chains building out a competitive menu featuring specialty items and showing off their culinary skills to attract customers. Relationship The operator/buying group relationship is very much B2B.
The real wins come from small, smart shifts; things like improving your online ordering system, highlighting your most profitable dishes, and giving existing customers more reasons to come back. Create Limited-Time Offers That Drive Action Limited-time offers (LTOs) give potential customers a reason to order now, not later.
Regular customers make up the backbone of any restaurants sales , but if you put a group of restaurant owners around a table, the conversation inevitably focuses on growth through new customer acquisition. But first, why is customer retention such a big deal? Thats huge! All you have to do is keep them happy. And when you do?
Restaurants collect a ton of customer data. Think about it: What if you could automatically send a special offer to a customer who hasnt ordered in a while? When used strategically, customer data can help you personalize marketing, streamline operations, and create a better dining experience for your guests.
These small, unassuming eateries—often with fewer than 20 tables—have long been celebrated for their cozy charm, unpretentious cuisine, and a welcoming spirit that turns every meal into a moment of connection. Small dining rooms feature dim lighting, vintage decor, and closely spaced seating that fosters conversation.
Its actively managing how your business is perceived across platforms like Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and social media. Youre not just serving foodyoure managing impressions, experiences, and expectations, all in the digital world. Most customers wont leave a review online unless theyre encouragedso give them a simple way to do it.
If youre one of the thousands of restaurants that added online food delivery in recent years, you might be wondering: is it actually helping my business grow? The only way to know for sure is by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive business growth.
For a deeper dive into brand messaging, strategy, and authenticity, creating unified guest experiences, and the orchestration of physical and experiential touchpoints, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine reached out to The Plaid Penguin’s Founder and Sir Idea Man Joe Haubenhofer. A strong restaurant brand goes beyond a logo.
By eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and the transportation associated with them, businesses can significantly reduce their day-to-day costs, as well as the time needed to coordinate these deliveries. From a long-term perspective, integrated water systems are a smart financial investment.
Bad reviews can come from anywhere and stay on the internet for thousands of potential customers to see. Some reviews point out small, one-off incidents and others touch on systematic problems. Not responding to negative reviews tells potential customers that you don't care about your reputation and your customers.
Menu pricing isnt just about covering costsits about finding that sweet spot where profitability, customer perception, and operational reality meet. Too high, and youll drive customers away. High-end restaurants can charge more for the experience, leaving wiggle room for a higher food cost percentage.
The pandemic has ravaged many businesses in the country and few industries were hit as hard as the restaurant industry. Consumers and customers have changed their behavior due to the events of the previous year. Consumers and customers have changed their behavior due to the events of the previous year.
Its the number one way customers discover new restaurants and if your business isnt showing up in the search results, youre losing diners to competitors who are. Local restaurant SEO is the best way to attract new customers, and its easier than you thinkyou dont need to be a technical expert to start seeing real results.
With the right payment optimization strategy, restaurants can reduce costs, streamline processes, improve customerexperience, and enhance security. That’s time many busy restaurateurs just don’t have to spare. Diversify Payment Options Customers today expect restaurants to offer a frictionless payment experience.
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