Springing into the Holidays: How to Prepare for the Busy Days Ahead
Fresh Takes – Issue 06 – March 2022
By Devin Armstrong
Customer Development Director, Brown Foodservice Inc.
March 31, 2022
The issue of product availability continues to throw curveballs in our plans, and it’s often out of our control. However, creating a plan early on gives us more flexibility to manage product shortages. The busy holidays are coming up quickly, and it’s important we prepare for them as early as possible.
1. Order products ahead of time
Customers seek seasonal items for certain holidays. These seasonal items can prove difficult to get right before the holiday. Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so start building that menu today. If you want to offer a popular item like fresh ribeye, get with your salesperson to order that product soon. This will ensure that your product is there when you need it. Since 2019 the Holiday Ham market has shrunk tighter and tighter. It is never too early to plan for holiday hams. If you order a large volume of hams each year, we (your distributor) can give that information to the manufacturers ahead of time and help secure those hams early.
Customers seek seasonal items for certain holidays. These seasonal items can prove difficult to get right before the holiday. Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so start building that menu today. If you want to offer a popular item like fresh ribeye, get with your salesperson to order that product soon. This will ensure that your product is there when you need it. Since 2019 the Holiday Ham market has shrunk tighter and tighter. It is never too early to plan for holiday hams. If you order a large volume of hams each year, we (your distributor) can give that information to the manufacturers ahead of time and help secure those hams early.
2. Strategize your menu
A growing trend in the restaurant industry is offering a special limited menu on holidays. By offering a set menu on the holiday, this minimizes the stress of running out of product. Not only does this give restaurants an opportunity to introduce exciting new items to patrons, but it also helps control inflation costs and reduce labor to keep up with the busy holiday. Taking advantage of social media and promoting the special holiday menu weeks in advance will give patrons a heads up on the limited menu and attract new customers.
A growing trend in the restaurant industry is offering a special limited menu on holidays. By offering a set menu on the holiday, this minimizes the stress of running out of product. Not only does this give restaurants an opportunity to introduce exciting new items to patrons, but it also helps control inflation costs and reduce labor to keep up with the busy holiday. Taking advantage of social media and promoting the special holiday menu weeks in advance will give patrons a heads up on the limited menu and attract new customers.
3. Offer seasonal menus to control prices
Most people hear this and say, “I run the same menu all the time, I don’t need to run a seasonal menu”. While that has been true in the past, with inflation hitting record highs, product availability so tight, one of the best things you can do is keep a concise, efficient menu that will keep your food cost in line. Controlling menu prices is a great motivation to change menus seasonally. Prices are volatile in the current market, so routinely analyze your menu to ensure it reflects those changes.
Most people hear this and say, “I run the same menu all the time, I don’t need to run a seasonal menu”. While that has been true in the past, with inflation hitting record highs, product availability so tight, one of the best things you can do is keep a concise, efficient menu that will keep your food cost in line. Controlling menu prices is a great motivation to change menus seasonally. Prices are volatile in the current market, so routinely analyze your menu to ensure it reflects those changes.
Below is a list of upcoming holidays, and big days for the food industry until July 4. Please reach out to me at darmstrong@brownfoodservice.com, or your salesperson if you need help planning for the upcoming holidays.
Lent: Now – April 14 | Easter: April 17 | Derby: May 7 | Mother’s Day: May 8 | Memorial Day: May 30| Father’s Day: June 19 | Independence Day: July 4