Making the Most of Holiday Restaurant Delivery

The year is drawing to a close, and people all over the world are settling in for a peaceful holiday season. But what are the holidays without delicious food? Delicious, hand-crafted meals are a crucial part of all holiday celebrations – but these days, finding the time to cook these meals just isn’t as easy. That’s where restaurant owners swoop in, providing the fun, food, and festivities to make the holidays complete.

As friends and family gather together for the first time in ages, restaurant delivery offers customers convenience, savings, and relaxation, letting them spend more time with the people that matter most. This year, Otter is pleased to help your restaurant take full advantage of the holidays. Together, we’ll make your diners’ Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year celebrations the best they can be! We’ve even got a few presents for you to unwrap. Let’s get started!

Preparing your restaurant for the holiday delivery rush

1. Be inclusive

The holidays are all about warmth, kindness, and compassion, and nothing shows those emotions more than a menu that meets everyone’s tastes. The great thing about classic holiday foods is that they can be easily adapted from recipes you already have and use staple ingredients found in every kitchen.

Christmas cuisine like roast chicken, mince pies, and cookies have simple recipes, but are adored by a wide range of diners. Hanukkah’s flavor profile is also a treat – latkes, sufganiyot, and kugel can be prepped and cooked in minutes, and brisket is one of the cheapest fan favorites there is. Kwanzaa’s indulgent delights are sure to please, too, with scrumptious collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and jerk chicken a joy to all diners.

By including items from many different holidays on your menus, you’ll be broadening your customer base as much as possible – and showing your community how much you care.

2. Be unique

No matter what kind of restaurant you own, you’re in a great spot to service customers over the holidays. Through the power of seasonal menus, there’s nothing keeping your deli, cafe, or fast food joint from engaging customers in a new way.

Think of how you can adapt your existing menu to cater to holiday tastes. What flavors, ingredients, and recipes are best-suited for the season? What are your customers looking for over the holidays? Answer these questions with your own individual flair.

The holidays are great for reaching beyond limits and growing your customer base. Don’t think just because you’re a Christmas carvery, a Jewish deli, or an African bistro that you can’t put your own spin on classics from all cultures. Customers love variety, and by offering them something that other eateries can’t, you’ll gain a strong competitive advantage.

3. Be festive

It’s the holidays! Enjoy yourself! This time of year is perfect for going all out with your restaurant’s festive cheer. Customers love holiday branding and iconography, so keep up with the season and show them how eager you are to win their engagement!

To stoke your business’s festive spirit, we’ve got a present for you: a complete set of original holiday coloring pages! Enjoy a wide variety of adorable holiday illustrations, and make your customers smile! These pages are the perfect way to delight your patrons, and can be easily customized with your restaurant’s own branding.

We’ve also updated our Holiday Spotify playlist for 2022! Keep your restaurant hopping with over five hours of the Otter team’s holiday faves. Add in your staff’s seasonal selections to make this mix your own!

Providing your diners with fun freebies like these shows them that you value their patronage, and encourages them to return the favor with an order. Remember: during this magical time of year, giving is just as important as receiving!

4. Be supportive

Nobody wants to spend the holidays cooking, cleaning, or grocery shopping. Take a cue from Santa’s little helpers and give your patrons the help they need with preparing incredible holiday feasts. The holidays are excellent for running exclusive promotions, sales, or discounts. By giving your customers that extra bit of incentive to order from you, you’ll help them realize the true value of restaurant delivery, and fire up their appetites for convenience.

Did you know that, in 2021, Christmas and New Year’s Day were the two busiest holidays for restaurant delivery across North America? There’s no better time to get in on the holiday rush than the end of December, so let your customers know that you want their business! If you’re looking for a way to make running delivery specials easier, check out Promotions, Otter’s automated marketing solution, today.

Have a happy holiday season!

We’re eager to see how putting these resources into action will help your restaurant succeed over the holidays! For more festive tips, be sure to check out our Halloween and Thanksgiving recommendations, too – these posts contain valuable information no matter what holiday it is. This year, make your customers feel special and make ordering from your restaurant a modern-day tradition. 

Thank you for celebrating your holidays with Otter!

Ready to expand your restaurant’s delivery operations, customer base, and sales? Get started with Otter today, and satisfy your cravings for success!