Restaurant takeout and delivery aren’t just convenient options anymore. They’ve become a regular part of how consumers dine. In fact, 50% of consumers ordered restaurant takeout or delivery in the past week, according to the National Restaurant Association.
With off-premise dining firmly part of the restaurant experience, it’s more important than ever to invest in high-quality protective solutions that support your takeout and delivery services. From secure packaging to proper food handling, every detail can impact the experience customers have once their order leaves your restaurant.
You want customers to feel confident ordering from your business and remember you the next time they’re looking for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Strategies to Improve Takeout, Delivery, and Food Safety
Here are some ways to tackle takeout, dominate delivery, and give your customers a safe, high-quality off-premise dining experience.
Use The Right Disposables
Safety does not stop once the order leaves your restaurant. It’s vital you continue to protect your customers’ restaurant takeout and delivery orders from the time it leaves your operation to the moment it’s handed over to them.
Investing in the right disposables is crucial to ensure your customers order arrives safely sealed and not tampered with. Here are some solutions that guarantee orders stay safe from your kitchen to the customers doorstep.
Tamper-Proof Stickers and Bags
Using restaurant disposable solutions from Hoffmaster strengthens your commitment to health and safety. Their peel and seal tamper proof bands and stickers protect your customers’ food delivery and takeout orders. Give your customers piece of mind by placing tamper-proof solutions to takeout containers, bags, or boxes.
Another way to discourage contamination is with the Seal-2-Go Delivery System. Their permanent-closure adhesive strip is a simple to use safety benefit. You no longer have to worry about restaurant staff or delivery drivers jeopardizing your business by tampering with customers’ food.
Individually Wrapped Cutlery and Napkins
Enhanced clean disposable containers are nothing without safely protected utensils. Simple, pre-wrapped cutlery and napkins can distinguish you as an operator who cares about health safety both on and off restaurant premises.
Brand leaders such as Tork and Georgia Pacific have carefully created solutions to help you equip your takeout and delivery orders with everything your customers need to enjoy their meal in a safe way.
Make Sure Your Staff Is Practicing Good Hygiene
Not only do your disposals need protection, but so does the staff who is handling the food and deliveries. Both front-of-house and back-of-house staff should be equipped with the right tools to protect themselves and your customers.
Washing hands, using the right protective equipment, and cleaning the surfaces where food and beverages are prepared are all must do’s when handling food and beverage orders.
From hands-free soap and paper towel dispensers to hand sanitizer and PPE, we partner with top brands such as Georgia Pacific and Tork to bring you the best savings on everything you need to ensure your staff is following food safety and hygiene best practices.
Washing hands, using the right protective equipment, and cleaning the surfaces where food and beverages are prepared are all must do’s when handling food and beverage orders.
From hands-free soap and paper towel dispensers to hand sanitizer and PPE, we partner with top brands such as Georgia Pacific and Tork to bring you the best savings on everything you need to ensure your staff is following food safety and hygiene best practices.
Don’t Forget to Market Your Secure Off-Premise Services
You’ve invested in all these safe off-premise solutions but do your customers know that? If someone does not want to dine-in but also does not want to cook at home, they may not choose your restaurant if they are not aware of your secure takeout and delivery options.
Social media is a great way to promote your takeout and delivery services. Customers are spending more time online and on social than they ever have before. By promoting your off-premise services, you can increase brand awareness and boost off-premise sales.
How to Grow Your Restaurant’s Takeout and Delivery Business
Website
Online ordering is a restaurant customer’s new go-to, and the market’s largest segment is restaurant-to-consumer delivery. If it is currently unavailable, be sure to add an online order form. If you are only going to offer specific menu items for delivery, update your website with a delivery menu. Promoting new menu items that are exclusive to delivery entices customers, and creates a means of converting “lookers” to online customers.
Email & Social Media
Keep your establishment in the forefront of your customer’s minds by sending email blasts on a regular basis. Keep posts and videos updated on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. People will be spending more time online as their activities lessen and many find themselves homebound. While other businesses falter, video game purchases are on the rise.
If possible, use geographical targeting to get the information to customers within your delivery zone. Another way to draw customers in is to consider shows on television that have a strong following—and think about ways that you can connect these with your delivery or pickup menu. Many of your customers will be, after all, binge watching some of their favorite shows with the extra time they have on their hands. Is Survivor a big hit in your area? For those cities that allow liquor-to-go, maybe mai tais and jerk chicken with coconut rice are in order.
It’s also important to consider the time of day. Implementing a marketing plan that includes paid social media advertising can be particularly beneficial if you time your ads so that they appear shortly before the most popular times for pickup and delivery orders.
Incentives
You’ll want to include incentives in your email blasts and social media platforms. Some restaurants are offering free delivery while others offer special discounts for those who order within a certain time frame. States, such as Wisconsin, are allowing delivery or pickup of alcohol when purchased with food, offering an opportunity for restaurants to offer pairing specials.
Become a Dining Alliance Member and Start Saving on Off-Premise Supplies!
Dining Alliance wants to make sure you have everything you need to safely serve your customers no matter the service they choose. As a Dining Alliance member, you get exclusive savings on the supplies mentioned above. Not a member? No problem! Click here to contact us today and start saving!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my restaurant’s takeout and delivery safer?
Use tamper-evident packaging, securely wrapped utensils, proper food containers, and strong hygiene practices to help protect orders from your kitchen to your customer’s door.
How do I market my restaurant’s delivery and takeout?
Promote takeout and delivery across your website, social media, email, and other customer channels. Highlight convenience, popular menu items, special offers, and how easy it is to order.
How can I improve the quality of food during delivery?
Choose packaging that helps maintain the right temperature and prevents spills, leaks, and sogginess. You can also design your takeout menu around foods that travel well.
Are third-party delivery apps worth the fees?
Third-party delivery apps can expand your reach and make ordering more convenient, but fees can impact margins. Compare the costs with the additional sales and customer exposure they generate for your restaurant.
What packaging should restaurants use for takeout and delivery?
Choose durable, leak-resistant packaging designed for the food you’re serving. Tamper-evident seals, properly vented containers, and individually wrapped utensils can also help protect food quality and safety.
