Ron Goldblatt • November 18, 2020
The Future of Dining Out in a Global Pandemic
Key take-a-ways and action steps for local businesses to survive the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Summary of a WSJ article October 10, 2020. By Heather Haddon
Summary:
The big chains have a huge advantage over the local eateries. They have more capital, leverage, terms, space, numerous geographic locations, and flexibility. They have also had prior experience for carry out and delivery.
Chipotle sales tripled this summer, Dominos and Papa John’s sales doubled and Wingstop created a delivery only item that was a huge success. On a local level for small busineseses, the news is not so rosy, in any given year, 60,000 restaurants open and 50,000 usually close. This year that closed number is expected to hit 100,000.
Interesting some of the Big Chain casual dining places also had casualties. Ruby Tuesday, Shake Shack, California and Pizza Kitchen all filed for bankruptcy. Many other chains had to close locations, but at the same time opened new ones.
One theme across the board, now is not the time to sit back as the major chain get more aggressive. There are valuable lessons and action steps that small businesses can do as well. We reviewed these trends and laid out an 8-step action plan that can help small businesses.
These 8 steps are in two main categories, Physical Location and Mobile Trends.
Physical Trends/Action Points
- There needs to be less focus on premise dining with fewer people indoors
- Need to look a multiple drive through options including converting parking space areas
- Even in the cold weather, more outside dining options need to be added but follow local safety guidelines
- Need to bring staff to the outdoors. Offer pick up windows, offer curbside pickup and Fast Service outside dining
Mobile Trends / Action Points
- Digital menus are more common, make it easy to upload on a mobile phone using QR codes
- Online ordering needs to minimize clicks, remember past orders, and offer a credit card check out
- Need to connect digitally with current customers using email, social media, and text messaging
- QR codes are trending! Look at using them for signing up customers for messaging or to order on premise.
The restaurant staff also need help. Their hours are cut back, there are less tips with less table service and these new ways to order usually means less tips overall for servers, chefs and staff who share the tips. We have heard from our North Shore restaurants
that locals have been very generous with tips on pick ups and window orders. We hope this trend continues through the winter months.
Other trends to consider:
- Packaging meals for the customers to cook is growing. Premium meats, seafood and chicken all make great takeout items when package with local sides or spices.
- Offering specially drinks with takeout meals is growing. Many local laws now allow alcohol takeout sales. Focus on specialty drinks like Margaritas, Mojitos or offering flights of Beer or Wine.
- Steak establishments are offering some of their premium wines at a discount with any takeout order.
- Family Packs of meals that feed four for under $50 are popular or offering lower cost proteins to hit a price point.
About NorthShore Loyalty:
NorthShore Loyalty
is a community-focused digital services company. Our business purpose is to create measurable engagement with new and existing customers to drive more traffic to our clients and increase their revenue. Our social purpose is to amplify our client’s community involvement. During the pandemic
we have provided our clients, new websites, more online reviews, an improvement in their search engine ranking, and most important an easy way to connect with customers using our Text Messaging and Loyalty services. Call or text us at 847-477-0429 to learn more.
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