Seasonal menus can result in many benefits for restaurants!
Because off-season foods can be more costly, seasonal menus can save you money on ingredients. At the same time, seasonal food is fresher and more flavorful.
Additionally, when certain menu items are only available at certain times of the year, it can generate enthusiasm for customers and staff alike. In fact, seasonal menus have about 26% more orders than typical menu items!
However, creating a seasonal menu means you have to roll it out. Rolling out your seasonal menu is a process that involves communicating changes across all your restaurant locations.
In this article, you’ll learn how to roll out quality seasonal menus for your restaurant. Keep reading to learn how to get started!
The Process of Rolling Out Seasonal Menus
Plan Your Menu in Detail
If you haven’t already created your menu items, it’s important to start crafting each dish before doing anything else.
Research local produce, seafood, and other seasonal foods in your area to create a delectable menu.
Get creative with it! Take advantage of the herbs, vegetables, and fruits that grow certain times of the year.
Design an On-Brand Menu
Design an on-brand menu that creates a lasting impression and encourages customers to come back.
Use colors that match the ambiance of your restaurant. Choose menu fonts that are legible and showcase your brand effectively. Lastly, your menu paper or takeout menu should be durable, easy to clean, and high quality.
A first-rate graphic design platform will help you create a custom menu that looks great and sells menu items!
Invest in a Custom Roll Out Kit
Roll out kits help implement menu changes within your business and is one of the most important aspects of integrating a new menu in your restaurant.
For example, a roll out training manual or guide can explain all the menu changes taking place, how to cook those items, how to plate them, and how to market them to customers. A manual is one of the best ways to educate everyone on your team, whether it be the chefs, servers, managers, or hosts.
Another item to include in your roll out are reference cards for servers to distribute. These cards should be small and highlight the new menu items or have a quick script for the servers to use when mentioning your specials or advertising your new items.
In addition to the reference cards, hanging posters in the kitchen allow staff to reference new recipes quickly.
When you order a custom roll out kit from a quality printing company, you can choose any roll out items you need. Those items will then be shipped to each of your restaurant locations.
Advertise Your New Menu
It’s always a good idea to start advertising your seasonal menu at least a month before the initial launch. You may decide to do so on social media, print door hangers, create restaurant loyalty cards, or distribute flyers.
As an option, test your menu with a soft launch and gather customer feedback. This is a great way to see first hand what seasonal menu items work well and what might need to be adjusted. Advertise the soft launch on social media and invite the press, which will help draw attention to your menu change.
Start Your Roll Out Today!
The Print Authority has everything you need to design and print restaurant menus as well as create a custom roll out kit.
We can create just about anything you might need for your restaurant with the highest quality in mind. With nearly three decades of experience, unparalleled customer service, fast shipping times, and the lowest prices around, we can assure that whatever your schedule, you’ll be ready on opening day!
For more information, contact The Print Authority today!
