As I enjoy another forkful of my favourite crispy chicken with a glazed balsamic, it reminds me of a night out sitting at one of my beloved restaurants. Except I am not. I am sitting at home and genuinely concerned that I may never experience the hustle and bustle, the energy, the stories and smiles with the friendly staff and owners.
With so many establishments closing and/or barely keeping their heads above water, the industry is in dire straits. The owners and operators have evaluated all aspects of the business, have pivoted to take out, prepared ready to cook meals and developed a variety of drink kits-anything not to become another victim of the pandemic.
For some the only hope of survival are the suppliers. The tier one companies with the ability and wherewithal to support their customers. Not by giving handouts but developing meal solutions and recipes that demand less labour, leverage similar ingredients and products that carry well. The other is to leverage their marketing and promotional capabilities, their brand bandwidth to develop simple yet effective strategies to increase customer awareness and drive incremental sales.
The result is a win-win, and actually another win for me the customer, as the incredible crispy chicken meal always tastes better surrounded by the friendly sights, smells and sounds.
Scott Moore, President of Stir Creative Communication Inc., has been helping foodservice and hospitality suppliers and operators increase sales for over 30 years. For innovative and revenue-increasing programs, marketing and promotional campaigns and much more, contact Scott at 905-484-3094, scott@stircommunications.ca, or visit www.stircommunications.ca.