Breakfast is a great daypart for operators to capitalize on. Meals are centered on comfort foods that are easy to prepare, ingredients can be used across an array of dishes—boosting versatility while minimizing food cost—and the breakfast menu is populated with crowd-pleasers customers clamor for. For operators looking to maximize profitability, here are three best practices.
- Seek convenient solutions to support fast service while saving labor
Amid unprecedented labor challenges, operators are continuously looking for ways to trim staffing needs or streamline processes. According to a June 2021 report, Technomic’s Take: Roadblock to Recovery, the foodservice industry is short by about 1.5 million workers compared to its pre-pandemic state, making low-labor foods a huge help—if not a must-have. Convenient ingredients, such as ready-to-heat or pre-cooked proteins, for instance, help cut down on prep time for the breakfast menu, allowing workers to focus on other items that typically require fresh preparation, such as toast, pancakes or waffles. Other convenient options operators can look to include premade gravies as well as Sigma Foodservice’s fully cooked 2-ounce Chicken & Beef Breakfast Sausage Links. With their smoky maple flavor and notes of sage, they’re a fast-prep, delicious addition to a variety of breakfast options.
- Use versatile ingredients with an extended shelf life to accommodate fluctuations in demand
Versatile ingredients such as eggs are perfect for the breakfast menu; they can be prepared in a number of ways, are a breakfast-plate staple and are generally low-cost. But other items can also offer the versatility needed for a profitable breakfast menu while also offering an extended shelf life—perfect for planning for rushes and lulls in demand. Frozen proteins, for instance, that need only be heated before serving, offer operators the ability to buy in bulk without worry of waste or spoilage. Sigma Foodservice products, such as 2-ounce Chicken & Beef Breakfast Sausage Links, offer a 1-year shelf life under frozen conditions and come in 30 links per package and 90 links per case, making them a perfect addition to the breakfast lineup.
- Prioritize quality without sacrificing profit margins
Oftentimes, when operators upgrade ingredients, those upgrades come with a steep cost that then has to be passed onto the consumer. This creates a bit of a conundrum—consumers may turn to less expensive options, and restaurants have to consider if quality is worth the extra price. Thankfully, there’s another option on the table—choosing high-quality ingredients that don’t require sacrificing profits. Look for products that are made with no artificial flavors, colors or ingredients, and for proteins, consider gluten-free products to ensure a broader appeal among customers. Sigma Foodservice offers an array of quality breakfast products that fit the bill, including its 2-ounce Chicken & Beef Breakfast Sausage Links, that allow operators to serve the high-quality options they want and their customers demand without breaking the bank.
By balancing convenient, low-labor products with high-quality attributes and versatile ingredients, restaurant operators can make breakfast a profitable daypart with ease. To learn more, visit sigmafoodserviceus.com.
This post is sponsored by Sigma Foodservice USA