As you open your restaurant apps, peruse menus at your favorite spots, and read the chalkboards at the front with the newest promotional items, you are probably seeing a theme. Leaves, pumpkins and all things spice can only mean one thing, Fall is fast approaching and restaurants are beginning to roll out their Fall favorites. If you have not figured out what your restaurant will do for this new season, it’s not too late! Here are some ways you can join in on the Fall fun and profit from some new promotions.
Football
It’s hard to think of Fall without thinking Football. So while a lot of places might add pumpkin and apple to their menu, that may not be something that aligns or meshes well with your restaurant. Football is a great way to offer promotions and get people excited about the new season. You can offer bogo items on football days or happy hour for drinks and appetizers. If your restaurant is a place where people gather to watch games, this is an opportunity you do not want to sleep on.
New Menu Items
If the end of Summer has been slow for you, don’t be discouraged. The end of summer brings the start of new semesters for school and families getting back into a routine. However, shortly after people find their new rhythm and summer is winding down, many people start craving cooler weather and comfort foods. Dive into the new season and offer up some cozy options that will bring people in and get them excited to try new seasonal foods. If you offered seasonal options last year it is important to check your back-offices software to check data and see what sold the most and what was not popular. This ensures you bring back the right foods and know what you can get rid of and replace with something new. Fall promotions are great because there are so many variations and creative ways to incorporate the flavors. Here are some top favorites that people love year after year.
-Maple
-Cinnamon
-Pumpkin
-Apple
-Pear
Add these flavors to your main dishes, soups, desserts, coffee or even find a way to incorporate it into the popular snack foods like french toast sticks and pastries.
Festive Decor
Make your restaurant even cozier and more inviting by sprucing up your place with some classic Fall decorations. Pumpkins, leaves, ghosts, and anything in the orange, green and brown tones will give you that extra warmth that invites people in and makes them want to order some seasonal favorites . Whether people are running in to grab a quick meal or dining at a sit down restaurant with friends, people appreciate the little details that you add.
There are many different ways to celebrate Fall, and the fun part is that you get to celebrate in whatever way best suits your restaurant. If you ran Fall promotions last year, don’t forget to check back to see what brought in the most sales and then from there you can begin creating your new seasonal menu and figure out what promotions you should run this year!
