Over the past few years, restaurants have needed to get more creative than ever when it comes to new ways to keep their restaurant up and running. We definitely wouldn’t wish struggling business on anyone. All small business owners deserve success as a reward for all of their hard work! But there’s no denying that the hard times of the past few years have brought about some extremely creative sales strategies for restaurants. One of these amazing new innovations are meal kits that families can take home and cook together.
The Basics of Restaurant Meal Kit Services
Meal kits have been around for a while. Services like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron have grown rapidly in popularity. They allow families to make delicious, fresh meals conveniently. Busy families and less-than-experienced chefs love these kits for their ability to help even the worst cook create something delicious, without the hassle of grocery shopping.
But what makes meal kits such a great sales strategy for your restaurant? First of all, your pre-established business has already done the work of opening up your market. Sure, the usual demographics that meal kits attract–like families and busy people of all ages, as well as those who are looking to eat more fresh ingredients–will likely check out your new offerings. But even customers who don’t fall into these categories will be intrigued. This is because your restaurant already has a loyal fan base. Customers will love the option of being able to craft their favorite dishes to order in the comfort of their own homes.
Creative Sales Strategies: Meal Kit Logistics
There’s another reason that meal kits are such a great idea for restaurants. This is because of the fact that your restaurant already has many of the resources you’ll need at your disposal. Ingredients, refrigeration and freezer space, and more are all things that you won’t have to worry about. Aside from a few quantity adjustments when you place ingredient orders, you’ll be all set!
What do you need to think about? Supplies like paper bags, small disposable coolers, and more will all need to be ordered. You’ll also need to prepare recipe cards to go with each kit. Consider starting with one or two of your most popular dishes to keep things simple. You’ll also need to create new workflows and processes in order to assemble kits and ensure that ingredients remain at safe temperatures until they’re received by the recipients.
Key Considerations to Keep in Mind
Make sure that you check your local and state laws before your business gets too far into planning its meal kit service. While they’re usually not entirely illegal, running a meal kit service can sometimes require certain licenses or certifications that regular restaurant service doesn’t.
All in all, restaurant meal kit services are a great way for your restaurant to repurpose many of its existing resources and branch out into new sales avenues. Creative sales strategies for restaurants can be the key to success! Best of luck with your new venture!
