Boost off-premise appeal with these 3 trends

It’s not news anymore that takeout and delivery are important for operators to offer. Since the onset of the pandemic, consumers have placed off-premise orders of food at higher rates than before, and many say they anticipate continuing to order takeout and delivery even after the pandemic. For operators, that’s good news—but for those consumers, it’ll be important that they have some new choices to pick from. In other words, it might be high time for a menu refresh.

But with so many options to choose from, it can be tricky for operators to know what to add to liven things up. Thankfully, there’s help—these three trends will help restaurants attract more diners.

The first way to get more consumers clamoring to make an order is with exclusivity. Signature offerings and seasonal LTOs not only build up the hype around special menu items, but they also serve to differentiate restaurants from the competition. What’s more, according to Technomic’s Oct. 2020 Ordering Online for Delivery report, 45% of consumers cite signature offerings and seasonal LTOs as one of the top purchase drivers they consider when ordering online for delivery. To ensure offerings are exciting without blowing the budget, operators can choose versatile ingredients and customizable dishes. For example, sandwiches open the window for an endless number of choices—from the bread to the proteins to toppings and condiments,

Beyond LTOs, menu differentiation is key, too. At Dog Haus, a California-based chain that uses King’s Hawaiian Bread products for all of its menu items, part of the appeal is the unique bread.

Hagop Giragossian, founder of Dog Haus said, “We were going to be doing hot dogs, sausages and burgers, and one of the challenges, always, in business, is differentiating yourself. I believe that the bread is a big part of everything a restaurant does, but sometimes it’s looked at as an afterthought.” With that in mind, he explained, the chain chose to use King’s Hawaiian bread to set them apart, flavor-wise, from similar restaurants.

Another way to keep diners coming back is by upping the ante when it comes to indulgent offerings. While there are undoubtedly some diners looking for better-for-you-choices when dining out, 46% of consumers say they are looking for “satisfying” offerings, according to Technomic’s Ordering Online for Delivery report. Yet again, the sandwich is the perfect way to kick things up a notch. Consumers love comfort foods—and in fact, turned to them more often during the pandemic than they did before.

When it comes to offering indulgent eats, operators should consider the upcharge potential. According to Technomic data, 53% of consumers said they would pay at least 10% more for products made with King’s Hawaiian bread so offering a bread upgrade can also be a boon to the bottom line.

Finally, consumers will likely still want to see familiar favorites on the menu, even if they’re craving something new. For these diners, offering classics with a twist is key. For example, Sonic Drive-In recently offered a King’s Hawaiian Chicken Club—a King’s Hawaiian bun topped with chicken, bacon, lettuce, Swiss cheese and Sonic sauce. The twist, of course, is the bread; by changing the bread to a new, sweet, indulgent choice, diners can enjoy a classic favorite meal while trying something new at the same time. Not only that, but unique bread offerings can help increase the number of orders on any given day. According to Technomic data, making a product with King’s Hawaiian increased orders by up to 28%. The best part about this trend? It’s easy as can be and requires no new prep instructions, so no additional work for the back-of-house.

With breads suited to any number of sandwich styles, including buns, rolls and classic loaves, King’s Hawaiian products can enhance any LTO—from barbecue, to fried chicken, to globally inspired offerings—and can also up the indulgence factor. For the many consumers seeking a satisfying sandwich option to order for delivery, King’s Hawaiian is the crowd-pleaser operators need.

For more sandwich inspiration to help make delivery sales soar, check out KingsHawaiianFoodservice.com.