7 Proven Strategies to Boost Restaurant Sales and Stand Out in the F&B Industry

Before the internet went mainstream and wireless communication became the norm, only established restaurants and fast food chains had the means to advertise to the public. Nowadays, nearly anyone can start a food business and advertise for free through social media; F&B entrepreneurship has never been more accessible.

With this rise in accessibility, however, comes heightened competition. When the market seems oversaturated with similar trends and offerings, how do you break away from the pack and outpace the competition?

In this article, we’ll discuss seven proven strategies to increase restaurant sales and establish your food business as a standout in today’s highly-competitive F&B landscape.

1. Online Ordering and Delivery Expansion

Gone are the days when people had to go out to their favorite restaurant to satisfy a craving. Online ordering for restaurants has become so popular and convenient that it’s often treated as the default option, with dining out reserved for special occasions.

Therefore, high-quality offerings aren’t enough. Your restaurant must also have a convenient online ordering system. A bespoke online ordering and delivery platform isn’t just a practical necessity; it also acts as a brand asset that distinguishes you from the competition. Additionally, while outsourcing your online listing and delivery to third-party food aggregators can be convenient, they can also eat away at your profits, with commission fees ranging from 15% to 30%.

Why should restaurants offer online ordering?

Ultimately, having a user-friendly online ordering platform allows you to cater to the increasing demand for convenience, reach a wider audience, and secure your profit margin by owning the end-to-end process instead of outsourcing it to a third-party provider.

2. Menu Optimization

While a restaurant with plenty of food and drink options might sound great on paper, the idea doesn’t always translate well in reality. Gathering your sales data and analyzing it for insights and patterns allows you to optimize your menu to maximize your returns. For starters, take note of the following categories from your restaurant:

• Best-sellers
• High-margin items (low-cost, high-earning items like cocktails, salads, etc.)
• Slow-movers (items with the lowest demand)

By doing so, you can make data-driven decisions on which items to highlight, which promotions to run, and which items to cut from your menu to limit food wastage. Additionally, you can get feedback from your customers to gain deeper insights that help drive sales.

3. Loyalty Programs and Rewards

Running custom loyalty programs and providing customers with rewards and incentives is a great way to encourage repeat business and brand ambassadorship, which, over time, leads to better sales. There are several ways to run your loyalty program, and you don’t have to stick to just one initiative. Some good examples to get you started include:

• Points-Based Programs: Customers earn points for each visit or purchase, which can later be redeemed for rewards such as discounts, free meals, or exclusive offers.
• Referral Programs: Rewards are given to customers who refer friends or family to the restaurant. This could involve giving both the referrer and the new customer a discount or freebie.

Remember that the key to a successful loyalty program is to offer meaningful rewards that incentivize repeat visits.

4. Social Media Marketing

In today’s F&B landscape, having no social media presence is akin to your restaurant not existing at all. In the 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report released by the National Restaurant Association, incorporating social media was listed as the top macro trend for restaurant menus and marketing.

To ensure your restaurant doesn’t fly under the radar, leverage social media platforms in the following ways:

• Customer Engagement: Promptly and politely respond to comments, messages, and reviews. Foster positive interactions, share user-generated content, and showcase customer testimonials to build brand loyalty and encourage repeat business.
• Promote Your Menu and Ambience: Share high-quality photos and videos of your delicious offerings and inviting atmosphere. Be creative with your captions to highlight menu items and specials, enticing your audience to visit your restaurant.
• Announce Promotions: Host giveaways, offer discounts, and run exclusive promotions for social media followers. Encourage engagement through likes, shares, and tagging friends. Utilize features like Facebook Events and Instagram Stories to promote special events and generate excitement.
• Partner with Food Influencers: Selecting the right food influencer to partner with can give you a sales boost through a surge in social media exposure via their large and engaged audience. They can provide authentic endorsements and recommendations, driving foot traffic and online orders for your restaurants.

5. Upselling and Cross-Selling Techniques

You can use active and passive upselling and cross-selling techniques to increase your sales per order.

• Active Techniques: Train your staff to actively suggest complementary items, pairings, and upgrades during interactions with diners. Provide tailored recommendations based on the customer’s individual preferences or dietary restrictions.
• Passive Techniques: Highlight high-margin items on your menu or present them as specials to attract positive attention. Include bundle deals in your menu to encourage customers to order more than they originally intended. Even if you sell bundles at a slightly lower price compared to each item being ordered individually, this is offset by increasing your average sales per order.

6. Enhanced Customer Experience

Aside from the quality of your offerings, the customer service experience is one of the most important aspects of your operation. The last thing you want is to see low ratings from customers because of a bad experience or interaction. To provide a consistent, positive customer experience:

• Train your staff to always smile and greet guests in a warm and friendly manner.
• Take note of regulars and remember their preferences.
• Ensure that staff are knowledgeable about your offerings and communicative about wait times, customizable options, and any changes to orders.
• Train staff to stay attentive, especially during order taking, to minimize mistakes.
• Ensure that both the front and back of the house are cleaned and maintained regularly.
• Promptly and politely resolve customer complaints and concerns.
• Solicit feedback from both dine-in and takeout customers to gain deeper insights into improving your overall customer experience.

7. Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

You can explore partnerships with local businesses such as cinemas or other event venues by offering exclusive discounts or packages for their patrons, further increasing your brand exposure. Another example is collaborating with local farms, bakeries, or artisanal producers to create unique menu items featuring their ingredients, highlighting your restaurant’s commitment to local sourcing and quality.

If your budget permits, sponsoring local events, festivals, or charity fundraisers can also increase brand visibility and attract attendees to your restaurant and online delivery platform before or after the event.

Implementing High-Tech Restaurant Tools to Improve Your Bottom Line

In a recent survey, 76% of restaurant owners said that technology gives them a competitive edge. Having your own commission-free online ordering system is one of many ways to modernize your restaurant to ultimately boost your profits. The competition is fierce in today’s hyper-connected and tech-driven F&B landscape, and integrating the latest in restaurant management technology can help you get ahead.