Amid the pandemic, consumers turned to takeout and delivery at record rates. Even as things get back to normal, many diners are still ordering off-premise eats. For restaurants, takeout and delivery were a life raft over the past two years. Now, as consumers continue to order takeout and delivery, restaurants have to step up their game. How can operators rise to the occasion? Here are three ways restaurants can add a bit of a “wow” factor to to-go orders and prepare for future success:
- Offer opportunities to customize meals
It may sound obvious, but diners love to customize their meals. In fact, according to Technomic’s 2021Flavor Consumer Trend Report, 59% of consumers say it’s important or extremely important that they are able to customize their order or choose from a variety of toppings and ingredients, while 53% say the same about customizing their meals with sauces and condiments. Condiments like ranch dressing and sauces like cheese sauce are two popular options that consumers love to add to their meal to up the indulgence. Offer cheese sauce as an upgrade for items such as French fries, cheeseburgers and tater tots.
- Use recipes that travel well and hold well
Next, operators should be sure to refine their menus to ensure that dishes can withstand the longer hold times that takeout and delivery orders precipitate. For example, using ingredients like melted cheese and cheese sauces specially formulated to resist breakage/separation can help maintain the quality of every dish on the menu en route to its destination. For consumers looking forward to enjoying a favorite food, nothing is worse than a cold, gritty cheese sauce or items that are soggy when they’re meant to be enjoyed crisp. Operators should choose ingredients and packaging that can withstand transit, whether the food is being picked up and driven home or delivered.
- Choose high-quality ingredients to boost the sense of value
Finally, operators will want to make sure their menu items aren’t just able to withstand longer hold times, but also that they taste great and deliver a positive dining experience for customers. For example, Land O Lakes® Performance Dairy products, like Extra Melt® Cheese Sauces, contain 50% cheddar cheese per pouch, which is considerably more than standard canned and in-house bechamel sauces. By choosing ingredients that include more of the things consumers love, foods taste better. And by choosing prepared foods that taste great and have multiple usage options, operators are able to carry fewer SKUs that work harder for them and trim back-of-house labor without having to sacrifice quality.
By elevating the menu to ensure dishes taste great when ordered for takeout or delivery and when enjoyed onsite, operators set themselves up for future success. And by choosing ingredients from Land O’Lakes Foodservice with that great taste, consistent performance and menu versatility both customers and restaurants win. To learn more about how Land O Lakes® Performance Dairy cheeses, sauces and butter products have the solutions for your BOH challenges, visit landolakesfoodservice.com/restaurant.
This post is sponsored by Land O'Lakes Foodservice