Making the Most
BEST PRACTICES FOR MAKING MENU ITEMS THAT STAND OUT
You already work hard. Let’s help that menu work as hard as you do. Beyond simply listing your offerings, your menu can utilize tastes and trends to drive traffic, be your most powerful marketing tool – and help your staff use it to increase every check. Here’s how:
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU:
Research | Implementation | Socialization | Training | Execution
RESEARCH
Giving people what they want means knowing what they want – often before they know it. Sound hard? That’s why Scoop™ does the research for you, and delivers resources to help you stay on top of coming trends and beat your competitors to the next big thing. And you can always schedule a free, 1:1 consultation with one of our Food Fanatics® Chefs or Restaurant Operations Consultants (ROCs) to get personalized insights that help your specific needs.
WHAT YOU NEED TO RESEARCH:
Learn consumer interests and demands
For food trends and techniques, as well as efficient prep tips for the kitchen, book a 1:1 consultation with one of our Food Fanatics Chefs »
Discover trending flavors and new-to-market products
Our menu development team stays in step with trends, and brings them to you in the form of easy-to-use Scoop products that help your menu stand out »
Investigate market pricing
Utilize Menu Profit Pro™ – our exclusive tool that ensures your items maximize profitability »
Develop your profit needs
New menu items require an investment in staff training, inventory and marketing costs, so profitability goes deeper than simply food cost.
We can help you better manage your inventory with our exclusive Mobile Inventory tool »
Create a brand-new menu and marketing assets with US Foods® Menu »
IMPLEMENTATION
Now that you’ve got your menu ideas, time to make them reality. This means making sure they maximize profits, are compellingly described and are promoted right.
WHAT YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT:
Think through digital menu strategy
Utilize our powerful digital tools to help diners choose you before they even head out to eat.
Online ordering, powered by ChowNow, helps transform new diners into regulars while expanding your reach and increasing your orders »
Our CHECK Business Tools website marketing partner, BentoBox, can help new diners easily find your restaurant online, stay engaged and become regular guests »
SOCIALIZATION
Time to put the word out to make sure your diners know about your menu. That means taking proper photos of your items, posting them online and using your mailing list. We’ve got the experts and resources to help guide you to do it right – and within your budget.
WHAT YOU NEED TO SOCIALIZE:
Send an email or text to customer database
Our CHECK Business Tools online ordering partner, ChowNow, can help make email marketing easy with customizable templates and targeted offers »
Create a posting schedule for social
Build your action plan for ongoing social media engagement with our checklist »
TRAINING
Nothing kills a great idea like poor execution. From making sure it’s made right every time, to making sure it’s promoted tableside, training your staff is a crucial step to success. Our semi- and fully-prepared Scoop products make training a breeze – and as always, our Food Fanatics Chefs and ROCs are available for 1:1 consultations to make sure your front- and back-of-house are ready.
WHAT YOU NEED TO TRAIN:
Kitchen repetition and prep practice
Book a 1:1 consultation with one of our Food Fanatics Chefs for effective training techniques and tips for your new menu items »
Educate your waitstaff on how to promote the items
Our CHECK Business Tools staff training partner, ExpandShare, includes comprehensive and interactive digital training curriculums complete with operational checklists, social communications and a resource library – all in an easy-to-use mobile app »
EXECUTION
Where the rubber hits the road. Where it either all comes together, or it all falls apart. And where it matters most, after all, it was all for nothing if it doesn’t get your guests to whip out their phones, post online and start planning their return visit. Count on us for the resources you need to make it all happen.
WHAT YOU NEED TO EXECUTE:
Place a test order on all ordering platforms
A POS platform from our CHECK Business Tools partner, Toast, can make things simpler for your staff while helping you grow revenue »
Run sales reports and make necessary adjustments to marketing or line
Numbers don’t lie, so running reports will make it easy to see which items are selling, and which items are not. For support with reports, be sure to reach out to your Restaurant Operations Consultants and lean on your Food Fanatics Chefs for advice on execution adjustments