Category: Dining Experience

It is no surprise that more and more people are becoming calorie conscious. With obesity becoming a major issue in the United States, restaurants need to re-evaluate how they prepare and serve their food to keep their customers. According to the National Restaurant Association, “Two out of every three American adults are now either overweight or obese.” Restaurants need to adjust, by offering healthy alternatives and smaller portions to keep their customers coming back.

More than 80 percent of dinners eat out once or more throughout the week. In order to keep that percentage high, restaurants have to modify their menu to accommodate all types of diners. Excluding fine dining establishments, everyday eateries should consider offering half portions and healthier options to keep people coming through the doors. Displaying nutritional information is a great way to attract customers who are concerned about eating healthfully.

Using smaller bowls and plates and taller, narrower glasses is a strategy that many dietitians recommend for curbing portions. Dietitians also recommend using more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to make plates look fuller and attractive without overdoing it.

With the FDA mandating that restaurant chains display their calorie information on all menus, portion sizing is bound to be affected. Dinners are taking the time to be informed about what they are choosing to put into their bodies and restaurants that want to stay competitive need to begin planning to meet these needs by allowing for increased transparency.

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Culinary trends aren’t just about what customers like to eat; they influence how a restaurant operates its business. Currently, the environment is on everyone’s mind. Transitioning to locally sourced ingredients or incorporating eco-friendly practices in your business can appeal to environmentally conscious eaters. However, these changes can incur unnecessary costs if not properly understood.

Locally Sourced Ingredients

According to the National Restaurant Association’s annual culinary forecast report, locally sourced meat and seafood and local produce comprised the number one and number three spots, respectively, of the top food trends in 2016. In fact, 57% of people in 2015 said they were more likely to seek out a restaurant that offered locally sourced items on the menu. In terms of revenue, the local food movement has seen an increase from $5 billion in sales in 2008 to over $11 billion in 2014.

One of the major obstacles restaurants experience when purchasing local is their need for such large quantities. Regional food hubs are being established to solve this problem and provide a steady supply chain for local produce. Concerning the costs of local sourcing, there is a common misperception that local ingredients are much more expensive than wholesale or traditional ingredients. In reality, as a recent USDA study proves, local produce costs are cheaper than those sources from groceries or super centers.

With costs and sourcing becoming less of a problem, your restaurant can enjoy the benefits of bringing in new, locally conscious consumers while participating in eco-friendly practices (local food uses fewer transportation-related emissions). The best methods to participate include partnering with local farms, shopping at farmers’ markets, or using a local food distributor.

Environmental Sustainability

As people become more eco-conscious in their daily lives, this awareness is affecting their consumer behavior. For restaurants, this translates to people consciously seeking out establishments that align with their personal beliefs and implement environmentally friendly practices.

According to the 2014 National Restaurant Association study, over half of 18-24 year olds look to frequently dine at restaurants that practice environmental sustainability. This means your restaurant would not only attract new diners, but also they would be more loyal as they feel personally attached to the cause.

One of the major ways to practice eco-friendly behavior in your restaurant is to reduce food waste and use all parts of the ingredient. Showcasing these menu items and highlighting your food waste elimination efforts bring positive attention to your business and attract the conscious consumer who’s willing to pay more for such peace of mind.

Your restaurant can start small with eco-friendly strategies such as printing menus on recycled paper, using linen napkins instead of paper, and educating yourself and your staff on environmental sustainability. Eventually, sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, investing in energy-efficient equipment, and giving your restaurant an eco-conscious overhaul are all strategies to consider.

Considering 77% of consumers think national chains offer more competitive pricing, it is essential to set your small business apart by delivering quality and customer service. Providing customers with a personalized experience enables your business to be chosen over name brand stores.
Beat out national chains and get chosen by customers with these local business strategies:

• Emphasize Quality

When it comes to national chains and local businesses, 72% of consumers are willing to pay your small business more for a higher quality product, even though 77% of consumers say national chains offer more competitive prices. When it comes to purchasing a product or service, price isn’t necessarily a factor – but quality is. Ensuring that your business offers a high-quality product that satisfies customers’ needs in both the short and long-term will ensure they choose you over national chains.

• Cultivate your Customer Service

Creating a positive experience by providing stellar customer service not only engages your customers with your brand, but also creates loyal customers; 88% of consumers say local businesses offer better, more personalized service, in comparison with national chains. While national chains may offer lower prices, customers will opt to purchase from you if they know they’ll have a positive customer service experience.

• Promote your brand through online reviews

If asked by a business owner to post a review online, 89% of customers say they would if their experience was positive. By promoting your business online and encouraging customers to post about their positive experiences with your business, you not only create brand ambassadors (and loyal customers), but also provide testimonials to potential customers that your business consistently delivers personalized service and satisfaction.

Understanding the customer advantages of using a local business, and capitalizing on them, ensures your business will be chosen (consistently) over your biggest competitors: national chains.

Check out our full infographic here:

When it comes to dining (and drinking) out, visual presentation is everything. It takes 1.5 seconds for a wine label to make an impression on us. Talk about fast right? Before someone can speak two words, they will have been affected by the design of a wine bottle.

Deciding to purchase is based on three key factors; if it grabs attention, looks expensive, and sells for a value price, the consumer is more likely to convert to a customer. Overall, it is clear that when something is aesthetically pleasing it is more likely to be a popular purchase amongst consumers.

This concept doesn’t just apply to wine. Restaurant chefs have noticed that in order to have the top dishes on their menu sell, the food needs to be presented in a way that is appetizing to the eye as well as to the palate. Perhaps this is because the effort put into the presentation of a dish makes consumers feel that their food is made with their dining experience in mind. According to Charles Spence, a Professor at The University of Oxford, “When you see presentation, you can see that someone has put effort into it, and that may convey expectations and impact the experience.” When people see that a chef put a personal twist or extra pizzazz into the presentation of an entrée, they are more likely to not only have a positive dining experience, but also visit the restaurant again in the future.

By appealing to diners’ senses through visual presentation, you empower your business to not only increase your sales, but your customers’ overall satisfaction as well.