Plan Well in Advance
As the old saying goes, those who fail to prepare, are preparing to fail, and there is no time more important than the festive period to make sure that you have carefully planned out every detail. From the menu itself to promotional activities and logistics, Christmas takes months of planning to get right, otherwise, you run the risk of missing out on the increase in profit that most dining establishments experience.
In terms of the food served, the key to bringing in diners and maximising your profit is to provide a mix of much-loved dishes, along with some more modern additions to delight guests such as this recipe for Smashed Mince Pie Tart and Hazelnut Meringue.
While food is, of course, the most important aspect of Christmas preparation for any food operator, you’ll need to properly plan out your staff rota to account for increased footfall too and remember to liaise with your suppliers about increasing your stock order as well procuring any additional supplies that you will need for your seasonal menu.
Invest in Multi-Use Products and Ingredients
The best way to both prepare for the festive season and maximise your profit is by talking with your supplier to find ingredients and pre-made products that you will be able to utilise in multiple dishes. Doing so will help you cut down on your costs and increase your profitThe Country Range selection of ready-to-use fillings, salads and dips is a perfect example of the types of products that will help caterers not only cut down on their prep time during this busy period but will also help to keep overheads low due to their multi-use nature.
Include a Seasonal Drinks Menu
To accompany your Christmas food offering, you should also plan to add some seasonal drinks to your menu. The festive period is often the best time to upsell on pre and post-meal drinks, as these are ideal for corporate booking and large dining parties. Mulled wine and egg nog are both classic Christmas tipples but don’t forget to keep an eye on the latest cocktail trends and include some of these too, along with some non-alcoholic choices.
It’s also a good idea to order plenty of different fruit juices as you’ll likely be using plenty in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. To cover the most popular choice, stock up on orange juice, apple juice, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice.
As consumers are increasingly looking for new and unusual flavour combinations to try, you’ll want to make sure that your drinks menu is diverse enough to stand out from the competition.
Remember to Cater to Dietary Requirements
While Christmas is all about tradition, and diners often seek festive dishes that they have loved for years, you should still cater to those with dietary requirements, whether that be a lifestyle choice or due to food intolerance.
There’s no reason why you can’t adapt popular Christmas dishes to make them suitable for customers with dietary requirements, and doing so will likely gain you some extra bookings in return.
Desserts are often the area where those with dietary requirements tend to miss out, so make sure that you have plenty of decadent options on offer that will be suitable for all of your customers. Here at Country Range, we have a wide selection of gluten-free sweet treats and vegan desserts on offer to help you do just that, including this luxurious gluten-free Chocolate Fudge Cake, and our vegan and gluten-free Billionaire Bar.