Sponsored by McCain Foodservice
Summer is back––and so is dining out. As many customers are feeling more comfortable going out than they have the last two years, diners are eager to enjoy the summer while gathering at their favorite restaurants with their favorite people. A menu of possibilities for your business starts with the foods that bring people together: appetizers. Innovating your appetizers isn’t just fun for your customers, it grows your bottom line and makes the most of your product.
Patio season means bigger business
The essence of summer: lounging outside. McCain research found that having a patio can increase business by up to 30%.1 Not to mention, you can capitalize further on the opportunity by adding related deals or events––like appetizer specials or specific days encouraging patrons to bring their pets to the patio. Even if a patio isn’t a possibility for your restaurant, there are so many ways to gather guests creatively and give them fuel to enjoy the summer.
Multiply your appetizers to double your profit
Appetizers don’t have to stay a side dish. Thinking creatively about your appetizers can add variety to your menu and enthusiasm to your customer base. Appetizers traditionally served as a side can be great toppings for sandwiches or clever pairings with other menu items––serve up variety with a flight of apps for patio specials, or garnish a Bloody Mary with fried pickles for a brunch happy hour. However you decide to use your appetizers, you can expect double the profit when an appetizer is used across the menu.2
Keep it cheesy and creative
One of the most versatile and universally popular options? Cheese appetizers. Fried cheese is the number one most popular fried appetizer. With a 75% increase in consumption in the last forty years,3 fried cheese appetizers continue to grow as a familiar crowd favorite, with endless potential for restaurant operators. Plus, they are a great addition to many other dishes––like mozzarella sticks on a burger. Plus, premium toppings can coax 35% of customers to pay more for a creative take on a classic.4
Upgrading your menu doesn’t always mean making it more complicated, but crafting surprising specials and opportunities for your summer diners to enjoy.
Want more ideas how to take your appetizers even further? Check out McCain’s Summer Profit Finder and download your SPF offer at mccainusafoodservice.com/spf.
Sources:
