More than 25,000 restaurant lovers from across the country participated in the Takeout Shout Out Sweepstakes which spanned across 10 days beginning on July 16. Throughout the sweepstakes, one winner was chosen daily – ten winners total – to receive a $1,000 gift card to use at their chosen restaurant compliments of Ventura Foods, U.S. Soy and The Great American Takeout, which spearheaded the initiative.
With 17 years of professional experience working within the food and beverage industry and an affinity toward dining out, Ryan Cigler, one of the Takeout Shout Out winners, from Madison Wis., was thrilled to learn of his sweepstakes win. He chose Café Hollander, a concept from the Wisconsin-based Lowlands Group, for his $1,000 restaurant gift card.
“Café Hollander is one my family has visited many times – while it can sometimes be challenging to find a place everyone agrees on, Café Hollander is one of those places where everyone can find something they’ll enjoy on the menu,” said Cigler.
Café Hollander was inspired by European grand cafés found throughout the Low Countries, especially the “Benelux” region of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Grand cafés are traditionally known as a place where neighbors can meet over a cup of espresso, a snack, a meal or a strong ale.
“We were so excited to be the local Takeout Shout Out participant’s restaurant of choice for their entry and $1,000 gift card,” said Kim Bell of Café Hollander. “Right now, working in the restaurant industry can feel like a bit of a struggle; however, we are reminded our community still loves the experiences we offer. Whether dining with us on our outdoor patio or taking their order to go, it’s a great feeling to know that our patrons support our business.”
An avid champion of raising awareness and support for restaurants during their greatest time of need, Cigler said he actively encourages co-workers, friends and family to support their favorite restaurants.
“Whether sharing on a post about a restaurant on social media or purchasing a restaurant gift card for a birthday gift, we want to do our part to help struggling restaurants throughout the pandemic,” said Cigler.
Takeout Shout Out marked the first-ever multi-day event from The Great American Takeout, which has previously implemented 10 single-day promotions since launching in March – all designed to support the struggling restaurant industry. It also represented the first-time restaurants were directly able to share in the rewards with their guests. Ten restaurants each added $1,000 to a single day’s sales from the gift cards purchased making a total impact of $10,000 on the industry.
The Takeout Shout Out promotion included all restaurants nationwide. Restaurants could leverage the Takeout Shout Out promotion on their social media to promote their menu and connect with their guests. This is especially beneficial for smaller and independent restaurants that may not have the marketing resources right now to generate awareness.
In supporting this effort, U.S. soybean farmers understand what it’s like to face seemingly insurmountable challenges when working hard to feed the nation. With many of America’s restaurants using heart-healthy soybean oil and nutrient-dense soy protein, farmers are committed to supporting their value chain partners during this unprecedented time. This is why Ventura Foods joined forces with U.S. Soy to rally thousands of consumers to order takeout and award 10 restaurants, including Café Hollander, with a $1,000 increase to a single day’s sales.
ReThink. Restart. ReRestaurant.
Ventura Foods continues to passionately champion restaurant operators who have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the company has actively participated in efforts to drive traffic to restaurants through The Great American Takeout movement and continues to provide actionable information, tips and solutions to help operators adapt and evolve their business through its “ReThink. ReStart. ReRestaurant” initiative.
To access resources and solutions from Ventura Foods, visit www.venturahereforyou.com.