Food Trucks – What to Consider

Attendees at the NRA show had an opportunity to learn a little bit more about the intricacies of owning and operating a successful food truck. Ross Resnick, founder of the food-truck-locating website www.roaminghunger.com, offered a variety of tips to succeed in this growing foodservice segment.

Since 2009, the number of trucks listed on the Roaming Hunger website has grown 710 percent, to more than 2,300, Resnick said. Food truck growth is anticipated to grow another 260 percent by 2014.

According to Resnick, food truck success depends on many factors, but mostly dependent upon brand differentiation, reasonably sized menu, sales locations, strong media presence and patience when it comes to growth.

He also warns that owning a food truck is not a get-rich-quick type of business. Food trucks are no longer a novelty and must be built as sustainable businesses where customers want to eat frequently.

Five Easy Ways for Restaurants to Reduce Landfill Waste

Cintas Corporation recently published an article on how restaurants can reduce their footprint in America’s landfills. A typical restaurant generates more than 100,000 pounds of garbage per location each year – more than any other retail business, according to the Green Restaurant Association.

Cintas’ five easy tips to improve source reduction efforts include:

1. Using a chemical top-off service.
2. Implementing a microfiber wipe program.
3. Renting mops
4. Integrating preventative maintenance strategies
5. Using green chemicals.

While much of the focus of “going green” in the restaurant industry is about types of products and systems used, many restaurants can benefit by reducing their inventory and using products that last longer.

For more information on Cintas’ tips to reducing waste, read the complete article.

Restaurants Feeling Effects of Rising Fuel Prices

According to an article published by the National Restaurant Association, a strong majority of restaurant operators feel that the recent increase in gas prices have negatively impacted their business.

With gas prices on the rise, restaurant owners are concerned that consumers’ disposable income for eating out could be in jeopardy. Operators surveyed said that impacts of rising fuel prices have been felt on both the sales and operational sides of their business. They are seeing an average sales reduction of 5% in their restaurants, and they are seeing higher prices from their supplies – mostly due to fuel surcharges.

Do you feel like your restaurant or bar has been affected by the rising fuel prices?

Five Elements of Restaurant Selection

According to a 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast, there are five key elements involved with consumers’ decision to choosing which quick service or takeout restaurant to frequent. Those five elements are food quality, value received for price paid, length of time it takes, convenient service/delivery, and convenient ordering options.

80% of people surveyed responded that food quality was their prime motivator in frequenting a restaurant. With more than one million restaurants across the country, the competition for business is growing in intensity. With so many options available, consumers don’t’ feel compelled to return to a restaurant that does not live up to their expectations.

Customer Loyalty Programs Really Do Increase Business

Does your restaurant have a loyalty program? If it does not, you may want to consider implementing a program soon. According to recent data from the National Restaurant Association, approximately 30% of restaurant operators are offering frequent-diner programs to their customers in order to increase patronage and loyalty. The research found that 57% of all adults said they would be more likely to patronize a restaurant that offered a customer-loyalty and/or rewards program.

By offering a customer loyalty program, or a rewards program of some kind, you can give consumers the feeling of increased value. This is especially important in the mind of today’s consumer who wants to dine out, but may need a little more incentive to do so. A customer loyalty program is a terrific way for operators to thank their guests, as well as continue to build on their customer base going forward.

Spread the Word

According to the National Restaurant Association, word of mouth is the most effective way to spread the message of a restaurant’s popularity.

According to a recent survey, 93% of all adults questioned said they likely would choose a restaurant based on recommendations from family and friends. Word of mouth has also moved beyond face-to-face and telephone conversations. Restaurants must also consider how their establishment is being talked about online, based on the increasing number of people that post to Facebook and Twitter.

Communicate with Your Customers on Pinterest

Pinterest is the latest social network that is getting quite a bit of attention from the media. Pinterest has been recognized for driving referral traffic to websites and blogs.

If you are not familiar with Pinterest, you really should go see what it is all about. Pinterest is basically an online organizational tool for all things your find online. You can create and organize specific pin boards with linkable images that other Pinterest users can share with their friends.

Restaurants can upload images of food from their menu, and then link the images back to the menu on your restaurant’s website. You could also upload images from events, customer appreciation days, and photos of your staff engaging with customers or preparing food.

The most important thing to consider when creating a place on Pinterest, is that the images need to send a message about your restaurant. The images should be compelling enough that other Pinterest users will want to like, comment or repin the images to their own boards. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place for someone to interact and reply with those individuals who interact with your pins.

Customers Enjoy Convenience of Online Ordering

The National Restaurant Association published a study to their website revealing how full-service operators can build business and turn table quicker by allowing time-crunched consumers to order meals online before arriving at the restaurant.

According to the report, 53% of adult diners surveyed said they would likely place their orders online in advance of their visits and schedule the time to arrive at the restaurant so their food would be served shortly after being seated.

Restaurant consumers are increasingly interested in convenience. Anything that a full-service restaurant can do to increase convenience should be received well from their consumer base.

Diners Seeking Healthy Meals

The National Restaurant Association published a study to their website indicating that more and more consumers are seeking healthy fare when dining out.

The report indicated that 78% of adult females are more likely to choose more healthful menu items, while 65% of adult males said they would make healthful choices. Additionally, younger adults are more likely to choose healthier fare than their older counterparts.

Much of this interest is due to the nation’s increased interest in healthful living among adults and children. Consumers are becoming increasingly educated on the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. America’s restaurants are starting to recognize this consumer interest, and seem to be stepping up to the plate by offering more better-for-you items on their menus.

Consumers are more interested in what they are consuming, and are more interested in the nutritional content of their food. Restaurants across all segments can attest to this, as consumers’ interest in nutritional content has increased dramatically in the past two years.

Restaurant Strategies for a Tough Economy

It’s no secret that we are in a less-than-ideal economy at the moment. However, that’s why it is more important than ever for restaurants to promote their services in the most cost-effective way possible. Eating out is a luxury that not all people can manage, therefore it is important for restaurants to make sure they stand out above their competition.

Marketing your restaurant or brand can be difficult to do on a small or nil budget; however with so many free resources available online, it’s certainly not an excuse as to why you are not marketing your business. Restaurants should be actively using free online tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogging websites, if they are not already. There are plenty of topics that can easily be promoted on such sites to gain publicity for your restaurant or bar.

For example:

• New menu selections and product launches
• Promotions for loyal Facebook fans and Twitter followers
• A restaurant remodel
• Community service events
• Charitable donations made
• Celebrating a restaurant’s anniversary
• Holiday and special events marketing
• Personnel promotions

There are also many restaurant-related websites that will help you to market your business with press releases. For more information visit www.restaurantnews.com.