Takeaway boxes, vehicles, suppliers, the well-chosen apps, additional equipment, flyers… The list of things you need to keep in mind before launching takeaway orders seems to be endless? We understand this and that is why we have prepared for you a set of practical tips.
Thanks to them you will quickly and effectively implement this additional (and extremely profitable!) sales channel in your restaurant. Ordering delivery of food is a global trend that is worth introducing. How to add takeaway orders to your offer? Use our tips, choose food packaging and serve food with delivery.
The boom in takeaway food boxes. Catering versus pandemic.
The pandemic reality and its strict regulations have greatly affected the development of the delivery market. How have restaurants coped with this difficult situation? Here is the opinion of one restaurateur we know:
“Home delivery food is an option that has become an opportunity for us to stay in business. The deliveries allowed us to continue our business despite the unfavorable conditions. Thanks to them we did not lose our clients, nor our jobs. All we needed at the start was good takeaway boxes and a car. Will the delivery of food be included in the offer on a permanent basis? Of course! Our customers often use this option, so we see great potential here.”
A properly organized takeaway channel is currently an extremely important aspect of a successful catering business. It’s worth setting it up so you can serve your meals even in times of pandemic.
Takeaway food boxes
Takeaway food boxes is an extremely important issue when it comes to implementing takeaway and delivery orders. It is very important that food takeaway boxes – burger boxes or fries boxes – both meet all standards of functionality and affect the aesthetics of the food being delivered.
The offer of food takeaway packaging on the market is rich, however we know very well that not all of them will meet your expectations and not all of them will be suitable in delivery. So how to define a perfect to-go packaging?
Ecological takeaway food packaging
Takeaway boxes, in order to perform their function, should first of all be solid and made of good quality material. They should be resistant to damage, protect the content and provide proper thermal insulation for the food.
It is also worth ensuring that food takeaway packaging products like takeaway food containers, paper food boxes or even paper cups take into account the current trends and ecological issues.
Choosing eco-friendly and recycled takeaway paper boxes will be an important signal to your customers that ecological, environmentally friendly solutions are important to you. Environmental packaging provides the same functionality and durability as plastic packaging, and it’s save for our planet so keep this in mind.
Boxing-up – the standards
When choosing takeaway food boxes, it is good to select self-assembly boxes. They are convenient to store as they require little space.
In order to make the process of folding takeaway paper containers and packing ordered food into them as efficient as possible, it is worth developing a scheme that will make the process of preparing a takeaway order easier and faster. Thanks to it, it will be easier to maintain high packing standards and aesthetics of the served dishes. It will certainly be necessary to train your staff.
On time delivery
Time is an extremely important factor which determines the customer’s satisfaction. Long waits and cold dishes are an effective deterrent to ordering from a particular restaurant. Therefore, in order to ensure fast and smooth deliveries, it is good to invest in transportation, which will allow the orders to reach the right address on time.
Fast deliveries? Invest in a car
It is worth investing in your own car. Whether you buy or lease it, it will definitely allow you to become independent from external courier companies.
Make sure the car is in good working order, always refueled, with a valid inspection and insurance. It is also advisable to agree on who will be responsible for cleaning the car, where it will be left after work and how the charges for refueling will be settled.
The driver – the business card of the restaurant
Implementation of delivery is also associated with the recruitment of additional employees who will work as drivers. How many? It depends on their availability and the volume of traffic in the restaurant at the most critical times of the day. You should also think carefully about the issues of accounting drivers for their work as well as their responsibilities.
The driver is the business card of the restaurant. Be sure to specify what kind of appearance you expect from him. Equipping the driver with a fleece or T-shirt with the logo of the restaurant is a great way to promote yourself. Using the marketing potential of the uniform always benefits.
Necessary equipment for the driver
What should a delivery driver be equipped with? We asked the delivery people at the restaurants we work with. Here’s what they said:
“When driving to a customer with an order, I always carry a card payment terminal and petty cash. It is most convenient to have a kidney style bag with me where I can keep my documents, money and phone.”
“To avoid traffic jams and get to the customer in the shortest time possible, I use Google Maps. That’s why it’s very important for me to take my phone and a car charger with me in the car.”
A thermal bag is certainly a crucial piece of basic driver’s equipment. The best bag is the one with a heater that plugs into the cigarette lighter or a power bank. Whether you’re serving fries or pasta, this version of the bag will keep your food warm long enough.
Placing orders
Introducing to-go orders to your offer also requires technical preparation. Telephone orders are increasingly being replaced by online orders, which the customer can place via a website.
When deciding on a particular application for online ordering, it is worth checking whether it is compatible with the website of your restaurant. When working on a menu that will be used by the customers, start by preparing a list of dishes. Make sure that only the dishes that can be served in delivery appear there. Choose dishes that will not suffer in transit.
It is also worth making sure that customers can see a photo of the dish ordered for takeaway. In catering industry the visual side is extremely important, so take care of attractive photographs that will arouse the appetite of the customers.
Task division in the restaurant
To avoid organizational problems in the restaurant it is worth taking care of the smooth production, especially at the time of heavy traffic. How to do it? The coordinator of the chain of restaurants cooperating with the Holly Powder brand suggests:
“A common organizational mistake in restaurants is focusing on only one segment of work – only on-site orders or only delivery. The solution to this problem is to properly divide the roles of employees in the kitchen. This division implies that when traffic begins to intensify on both sales channels, employees divide and each takes a predetermined place: one person takes over the processing of on-site and take-out orders, the other takes over delivery.”
Sharing the news – effective advertising
The introduction of food delivery orders is a great opportunity to remind your customers about you, refresh the image of your restaurant and open out to new customers. It is good to prepare a large-scale promotional campaign, which will give the opportunity to present the novelties. What channels can be used to promote new products in your offer?
- information about promotions on the website and in social media
- distribution of leaflets
- advertising spots on the local radio station
- posters in your restaurant
Disposable food takeaway boxes with a note
Paper bags and disposable food boxes are a great space for marketing activities. It is worth to use their potential. Boxes can be sealed or sticked with a sticker with the name and logo of the restaurant. A great way to build relationships with customers at a distance is also handwriting nice slogans inside the box.
Messages such as “See you soon”, “We already miss you” or “Especially for you” will make your customers feel special and make them think warmly of your restaurant. The positive impression you make with such messages will certainly pay off.
A special offer for your guests
Introducing a delivery option to your offer is a great time to expand and gain more customers. In addition to the above-mentioned advertising actions, it’s also worth preparing a special promotion for the restaurant’s guests.
“A loyalty card is a good way to build customer relationships,” argues the restaurant chain coordinator quoted above, “It builds brand loyalty and also ensures an increase in the average receipt! It is a good idea to invest in two stamps – one for the restaurant and one for the driver, so that delivery customers can also use the card.”
When introducing the Loyalty Card, special discount offers can also be developed: lunch, neighborhood or school discounts.
Home delivery food – a new trend
Ordering food with home delivery is not just a passing fad. It is a trend that will stay in catering industry for a long time. That is why it is worth enriching your offer with this additional sales channel as soon as possible. This is an important step on the road to success of your restaurant. We will help you take it!
As experts we provide support and assistance at every stage of running a restaurant. More information can be found on our website in the tab Marketing and Training. Check our offer and products in our assortment and … start food delivery with good results!
