Many business owners — inside and out of the restaurant industry — are struggling to cope with inflation. In the August edition of the Merchant Digest, we’ll explore the impact of rising costs and share strategies, like menu engineering and pricing tactics, to help you keep your restaurant's sales sizzling and boost your bottom line.
How to fight inflation
If you feel like you'll make less this year, you're not alone. With rising costs of food, labor, and other expenses, 50% of restaurants are expecting a decrease in profits in 2023 according to the National Restaurant Association. Here are some tips on how to cut costs and increase sales during the current tough economic climate:
1. Assess where costs have gone up
Rising prices are a challenge for many restaurants. For example, grain and wheat have gone up in price by 48%, making it difficult to maintain menu prices on items that use these ingredients. One way to tackle this is negotiating with suppliers. Assess cost-cutting measures like bulk ordering or prepaying, try out innovative shipping and packing techniques, and look into alternative suppliers for better prices. Another option is to reduce food waste. The first step is conducting a waste analysis to optimize ingredient usage, use sales data to implement smart inventory management, and consider offering smaller portion sizes. For more suggestions, check out this article on how to reduce restaurant costs and improve profits.
2. Design a high performing DoorDash menu
Make sure to audit and update your menu to cut more expensive, less popular items. An effective means of addressing this is to drive orders with photos. In fact, menus with item photos get up to 44% more monthly sales. If you feel like taking photos isn’t your strong suit, you can request a free photo shoot. Another strategy that increases orders is offering a seasonal menu. Changing your menu to reflect trendy, seasonal items or locally grown produce can help attract more customers while incorporating less expensive ingredients. Take a look at these 11 tips to design a high performing DoorDash menu, to boost orders.
3. Manage supply chain shortages and inflation
Navigate supply chain difficulties by having backup sources and alternatives, even at a higher cost. Another option is adapting your menu. Make appropriate substitutions or even replace a dish entirely during periods of ingredient scarcity. Additionally, make sure you find backup suppliers. Learn how other restaurants take supply chain shortages in stride.
4. Participate in the new and improved Most Loved
We heard your feedback and want to add some clarity on how your restaurant could get more visibility on DoorDash. Starting on August 1st, you’ll see a new and improved Most Loved program, including:
Simplified qualifications and performance goals within your control
Better visibility and recognition in the app
5. Reduce order errors
Certain items or categories of items are more prone to order errors than others — like combos, drinks, desserts, and sauces. Find out which items on your menu are frequently reported as missing or incorrect in the Operations Quality tab in the Merchant Portal. Once you identify these items, add reminders (like in-store signage for your employees) at the point in your process where errors may occur, whether it’s an assembly line, expo station, or right before Dasher handoff. To learn more tips, check out how to avoid missing or incorrect items.
We’ve also heard your feedback on fraudulent error charges and Dasher mistakes and are working to solve these issues. If you feel an error wasn't your fault, here’s how to request a refund.
6. Make the most of upcoming holidays
Download the Restaurant Holiday Marketing Calendar and Toolkit to learn creative ways to drive sales and grow your social media following year-round. Here are a few upcoming holidays you want to keep in mind for marketing:
4 August: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
15 August: National Relaxation Day
31 August: Eat Outside Day
7. Attract eco-friendly customers with sustainable packaging
The BioPak Shopping Portal is a one-stop shop for sustainable packaging. We're delighted to offer you exclusive discounts on handpicked products, including the coveted DoorDash paper bags. Follow the steps below to create your account and unlock the guilt-free packaging:
Log in to the BioPak Shopping Portal.
Under "New DoorDash Merchants", enter your email address and Store ID and click "Create an Account".
Fill in the other information required and start shopping once completed!
8. Apply for disaster relief funds
Australian restaurants impacted by natural disasters can now apply for funding through the DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. DoorDash is offering 100 additional $15,000 grants to restaurants in need. Click here to learn how to apply the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund.
