Keeping up with the latest technologies has become essential for restaurant success. Over the past few years, restaurants of all sizes have been investing heavily in various tech solutions to improve operations, enhance customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge. However, as the tech landscape evolves, many restaurants are now facing a dilemma: Is their brand too stacked with technology? In this blog, we will explore the challenges of managing a complex tech stack and discuss the growing trend of simplifying restaurant tech ecosystems.

The restaurant industry has witnessed a tech revolution, with a multitude of platforms and applications available to address different aspects of the business. From supply chain management technology to back office automation, the list of tech solutions can be overwhelming. Initially, adopting these technologies promised efficiency gains, improved customer service, and better data insights. However, as restaurants continue to add more tools to their tech stacks, they often encounter several challenges:

Management Complexity: Each new addition to the tech stack requires time and effort to integrate, maintain, and train staff. Managing multiple platforms can lead to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.

Data Fragmentation: Different systems may not communicate seamlessly, leading to fragmented data and hindering the ability to gain comprehensive insights into restaurant performance.

Financial Drain: Subscription fees, maintenance costs, and upgrades for each platform can quickly add up, impacting the bottom line.

Overwhelmed Staff: Staff members can become overwhelmed by the sheer number of systems they need to navigate, which can result in reduced productivity and job satisfaction.

In response to these challenges, a growing number of restaurants are reevaluating their tech stacks and opting for a more streamlined approach. This trend involves seeking “one-stop-shop” solutions that consolidate various functions into a single platform. The benefits of this approach are numerous:

1. Simplified Management: With a unified platform, restaurants can reduce the complexity of their tech ecosystems, making it easier to manage and maintain.
2. Data Integration: Consolidated systems enable seamless data integration, providing a holistic view of restaurant operations and customer interactions.
3. Cost Savings: Eliminating redundant subscriptions and reducing the need for IT support can result in significant cost savings.
4. Enhanced Efficiency: Staff can become more proficient as they work with a single, user-friendly platform, leading to improved operational efficiency.
5. Scalability: Many one-stop shop solutions are designed to scale with the business, accommodating growth without the need for constant system upgrades and additions.

While the idea of simplifying your restaurant’s tech ecosystem may sound appealing, it’s essential to choose the right one-stop-shop solution. Consider the following factors:

1. Compatibility: Ensure the chosen platform aligns with your specific restaurant needs, from front-of-house to back-of-house operations.
2. Scalability: Look for a solution that can grow with your business and adapt to changing requirements.
3. Expert Customer Support: Assess the quality of customer support and training offered by the platform provider.
4. Cost Analysis: Conduct a thorough cost analysis to compare the expenses associated with your current tech stack against the proposed one-stop shop solution.

Partnering with Consolidated Concepts plays a crucial role in helping you simplify your tech stack across all your locations in several ways:

Cost Reduction

One of the primary advantages of working with Consolidated Concepts is the potential for cost savings. Through their collective purchasing power and negotiation capabilities, they can help franchisees secure better deals with suppliers. This cost reduction can free up financial resources that can be redirected towards streamlining the tech stack or investing in more critical areas of the business.

Streamlined Procurement

Consolidated Concepts offers a centralized procurement platform that simplifies the purchasing process. Multi-unit franchisees can access a wide range of products and services through a single platform, reducing the complexity of managing multiple procurement systems and processes.

Technology Solutions

Our technology solutions assist franchisees in identifying streamlined processes that integrate well with your procurement process. This integration can help franchisees streamline inventory management, menu optimization, and data analytics, reducing the need for multiple, disjointed tech tools.

Expert Guidance

At Consolidated Concepts, our industry experts understand the unique challenges faced by multi-unit franchisees. A team of foodservice experts provide valuable insights and recommendations on optimizing your tech stack. Our knowledge of the restaurant industry’s best practices can help franchisees make informed decisions about which technologies to implement and how to integrate them effectively.

Vendor Management

Beyond procurement, Consolidated Concepts can assist in vendor management. They can help franchisees assess the performance of their tech vendors and ensure they are meeting their needs. This includes evaluating contracts, service levels, and identifying opportunities for improvement or cost savings.

Scalability

As multi-unit franchisees expand, they need scalable solutions that can grow with their business. Consolidated Concepts can help identify tech solutions that are not only suitable for the current business size but can also adapt to accommodate future growth without causing tech stack complications.

By leveraging the resources and expertise of Consolidated Concepts, franchisees can focus on their core operations while optimizing their technology infrastructure for greater efficiency and profitability.

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, it’s crucial for restaurants to strike the right balance between innovation and complexity. While having a variety of tech tools can be beneficial, it’s equally important to avoid becoming overwhelmed by a stacked tech ecosystem. The trend towards simplifying restaurant tech ecosystems through one-stop shop solutions reflects the need for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and streamlined operations. As you consider the future of your restaurant’s technology, remember that less can often be more, leading to a more sustainable and profitable business in the long run.

Become a member of Consolidated Concepts today by filling out the form below!

38% of operators say their restaurant was not profitable in 2023.

Are you effectively balancing exceptional dining experiences with healthy profit margins across your multi-unit restaurant? 

In this industry, where profitability is a constant challenge, mastering spend management is crucial. But how can you ensure that every dollar spent contributes to your bottom line?

Understanding the intricate differences between direct and indirect spend is key.

While the terms “direct” and “indirect” might sound straightforward, their application within the context of foodservice procurement can be multifaceted and nuanced.

What is Direct Spend?

Direct spend refers to the procurement of goods and services that are directly involved in the production and preparation of food and beverages for a restaurant or food establishment.

These are the expenses incurred on items that are essential for the core operations of the business.

Examples of Common Direct Spend Categories

• Food Ingredients: Raw materials like vegetables, meat, seafood, and spices for dish preparation.
• Beverages: Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and tea fall under direct spend.
• Kitchen Equipment: Expenses for ovens, refrigerators, knives, and utensils.
• Packaging: Costs for containers, takeout boxes, napkins, and disposables.
• Cleaning Supplies: Expenditure on cleaning products for kitchen and dining area maintenance.

Efficient management of direct spend is crucial for controlling costs and impacting the profitability of a restaurant or foodservice establishment.

What is Indirect Spend?

Indirect Spend refers to the procurement of goods and services that are not directly involved in the production and preparation of food and beverages but are essential for the overall functioning and support of the restaurant or food establishment.

These are the expenses incurred on items that are necessary for the smooth running of the business but are not directly related to the core operations.

Examples of Common Indirect Spend Categories

• Facility Maintenance: Covers expenses for building repairs, renovations, and equipment upkeep.
• Cleaning Services: Includes outsourcing for regular and deep cleaning of the restaurant premises.
• Office Supplies: Expenditure on administrative essentials like paper, pens, and printer ink.
• Marketing: Costs for advertising campaigns, social media, and promotional materials.
• Staff Training: Expenses for employee training programs and workshops.
• Utilities: Costs of electricity, water, gas, and internet services.
• Insurance: Payments for property, liability, and worker’s compensation insurance.

Indirect spend, while not directly impacting the food preparation, plays a vital role in the overall efficiency and success of the foodservice business.

Proper management of indirect spend can contribute to cost savings and improve the overall performance of the restaurant.

How do I manage my Direct and Indirect Spend?

At Consolidated Concepts, we understand the challenges of managing direct and indirect spend across multiple locations.

With our innovative technology and centralized approach to procurement, we offer actionable strategies to enhance your spend management practices and drive sustainable growth.

• Leverage Technology and E-Procurement: Implement technology to streamline processes, centralize supplier databases, and automate orders, ensuring efficient spend management.
• Centralized Procurement: Establish a dedicated team to oversee purchasing decisions for all locations, providing better coordination and streamlined processes.
• Standardized Supplier Agreements: Negotiate agreements covering all locations to secure consistent pricing and terms, minimizing spend variations.
• Implement Spend Analysis and Reporting: Utilize analytics tools to track spending, identify patterns, and uncover cost-saving opportunities effectively.
• Supplier Consolidation: Consolidate suppliers to negotiate better terms and achieve economies of scale, reducing administrative overhead.
• Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs): Join GPOs to pool purchasing power and access exclusive deals negotiated on behalf of members.
• Regular Reviews and Audits: Conduct frequent reviews to ensure compliance with policies and identify areas for improvement.
• Implement Budget Controls: Set clear spending budgets and approval processes to maintain financial control.
• Training and Communication: Educate staff on spend management policies and promote adherence to guidelines.
• Share Best Practices: Foster collaboration between managers to share successful strategies and drive continuous improvement.
• Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing: Emphasize responsible sourcing practices to meet consumer demand and enhance brand reputation.
• Stay Updated on Market Trends: Access timely insights on market trends and emerging technologies to optimize spend management.

By partnering with Consolidated Concepts and implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage direct and indirect spend, optimize costs, maintain consistent quality, and drive sustainable growth across your restaurant locations.

Fill out the form below and join Consolidated Concepts today to transform your spend management practices for success.

Rebates and deviations are a great way to help you save some of that hard-earned money, and when you own multiple units, they add up!

Making profits will always be a top priority for you as an operator, but it doesn’t hurt to take advantage of some easy savings, too.

We’re here to show you what rebates and deviations are and how you can take advantage of them as a Consolidated Concepts member.

What are rebates and deviations?

You as an operator earn rebates based off purchases you make with manufacturer products.

These rebates are paid out to you quarterly through marketing funds used by manufacturers as an incentive for increasing sales and building customer loyalty.

Deviations are the off-invoice savings on products you’re currently already buying for your restaurant.

When it comes to manufacturer rebates, our team of experts at Consolidated Concepts track and pay those back to you if the items you purchased are covered through a Consolidated Concepts contract.

As far as deviations go, the end goal will be to lower your spend so Consolidated Concepts will continuously make contract recommendations and give you insights into your spend based on your current data.

How do I take advantage of rebates and deviations?

First and foremost, you will need to become a member of Consolidated Concepts to take advantage of our rebates and deviations contracts!

Once you’re apart of the Consolidated Concepts team, we work with you to see what items you’re already purchasing will qualify for a rebate or deviation.

Based off your “proof of purchase” of manufacturer items you bought, we’ll provide a breakdown of your rebate check to you every quarter!

At Consolidated Concepts, we have contracts with over 350 manufacturers on 165,000+ line items that cover everything you need for your operation across all categories.

Join today and put extra dollars in your pocket!

The restaurant industry can be fiercely competitive, especially for multi-unit operators who must navigate the complexities of managing several locations simultaneously. One of the most critical factors in running a profitable multi-unit restaurant business is procurement, which involves sourcing and purchasing the necessary ingredients, supplies, and equipment for each location.

However, with so many moving parts, it can be challenging for multi-unit operators to optimize their procurement strategies and stay ahead of the game. One of the most significant challenges for multi-unit restaurant operators is achieving consistency across all locations. This is especially true when it comes to procurement, where variations in quality and availability can impact everything from menu offerings to customer satisfaction.

To overcome this challenge, it’s essential to establish a standardized procurement process that can be applied consistently across all locations. This includes identifying preferred vendors, negotiating favorable pricing, and streamlining ordering and delivery logistics.

You can’t do all of that manually. In order to get a consistent procurement process created, you need to leverage technology. Procurement technology has become a foodservice must-have to ensure your multi-unit locations are all sourcing the same high-quality ingredients and supplies in order to maintain consistent menu offerings and customer experience.

Some key procurement insights in foodservice include identifying preferred vendors, negotiating favorable pricing, streamlining the ordering process, having visibility into logistics, establishing standardized procurement processes, and monitoring procurement performance metrics. By leveraging these insights, foodservice operators can optimize their procurement strategies and ultimately drive success in their businesses.

A customer doesn’t want to have the world’s best Caesar salad one visit, and the worst Caesar salad the next. You want that customer to be equally satisfied with every visit – no matter the location.

At Consolidated Concepts, our industry leading foodservice technology can help you create the consistency your brand needs to maintain quality and service in every area at each of your locations. From data visualization you can leverage for better forecasting to detailed reporting of your spend in real-time, you can put your purchasing data to work for you.

Looking to elevate your restaurant’s success with consistency procurement strategies? Here are five reasons to partner with Consolidated Concepts:

Consolidated Concepts technology creates procurement consistency for multi-unit restaurant operators with a range of benefits, including streamlined procurement, centralized procurement, cost savings, performance metrics, and expertise. Optimize your procurement strategies and achieve greater success across all your locations by becoming a Consolidated Concepts member today!

Produce management refers to the process of procuring, storing, and using produce (fruits and vegetables) in a foodservice operation, such as a restaurant. It involves a range of activities and processes aimed at ensuring that the produce used in the restaurant is fresh, high-quality, and safe to consume.

Some aspects of produce management include procurement, storage, inventory management, preparation, menu development, and cost control.

By joining a produce management program, you can streamline the produce procurement process and ensure you receive the best quality produce for your menu.

Joining a produce management program can be beneficial for your restaurant for several reasons:

Access to fresh and high-quality produce

Produce programs typically source fresh and high-quality produce from local farmers and suppliers, giving restaurants access to a wider variety of seasonal and specialty produce that may not be readily available through traditional supply chains.

Support for local agriculture

By joining a produce program, a restaurant can support local agriculture and help to build a sustainable food system. This can improve the restaurant’s reputation and help it to connect with customers who care about sustainable food choices.

Cost savings

Produce programs can help restaurants to save money by offering competitive pricing for high-quality produce and reducing waste through better supply chain management.

Improved menu offerings

Access to a wider variety of fresh and high-quality produce can help a restaurant to improve its menu offerings, making it more appealing to customers and helping to attract new business.

Simplified ordering process

Many produce programs offer a streamlined ordering process, making it easier for restaurants to manage their food procurement and reduce administrative workload.

By joining a produce management program, a restaurant can improve the quality of its menu offerings, support local agriculture, and realize cost savings. These benefits can help to increase customer satisfaction, improve the restaurant’s bottom line, and contribute to the overall success of the business.

At Consolidated Concepts, our produce management program helps multi-unit restaurants stabilize produce prices and increase quality. If you don’t currently have a produce program, not only are you not getting the best quality product on the market, but you’re probably subjected to major swings in the markets as commodity markets shift. Our managed produce programs stabilize those shifts so that your prices are more predictable.

Let’s get straight to the point – there’s no way you’re running a successful restaurant if you don’t have visibility into your spend. Being a multi-unit restaurant operator, you need to a centralized location that breaks down your spend management per location.

By having access to detailed reports on things such as food cost and operational expenses, spend management technology can help foodservice operators identify areas where they can cut costs or negotiate better deals with suppliers.

Spend management technology can help you monitor and improve cost control, providing insights into areas where costs can be reduced and helping to ensure that expenses are aligned with the budget.

By leveraging spend management technology you get access to real-time visibility into your restaurant’s financial data, making it easier to identify trends, make informed decisions, and track the performance of the business.

Having visibility into your restaurants spend management can provide a number of benefits, including:

By having a clear understanding of where and how the money is being spent, operators can identify areas where they can reduce costs and increase efficiency.

With visibility into spend, you can create more accurate budgets and better plan for future expenses.

By tracking and managing expenses in a centralized, transparent manner, you can ensure compliance is met with internal policies and external regulations.

With visibility into spend management, you can provide stakeholders with greater transparency into how money is being used, leading to increased trust and accountability.

By having access to real-time data on spending, organizations can make more informed decisions about where to allocate resources.

Overall, spend management technology can help foodservice businesses improve their financial performance by providing the tools and information they need to make better decisions about purchasing, inventory management, and cost control.

At Consolidated Concepts, we use data visualization and technology to give you a bird’s eye view and insight into your purchasing so you can make more strategic, more profitable business decisions. Connect with our industry experts at RLC at booth #210 to learn how we can help you optimize the supply chain and boost profitability, or schedule a meeting with Luis Lara, our SVP Business Development, here!

You’ve spent the last year adding a tech stack of solutions to your operation in hopes of getting a better look into the health of your brand.

The most important piece of technology you should be investing in is supply chain management technology. It’s impossible to navigate the chaos that is the supply chain and technology can be a huge asset to your brand success.

Supply chain management technology can bring a wide range of benefits to restaurants, helping them to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve the overall customer experience.

How Supply Chain Management Technology Can Help Your Restaurant:

Improved Efficiency

By automating various supply chain processes, such as ordering, invoicing, and payment, restaurants can save time and reduce the risk of errors. This can help to free up staff to focus on other tasks, such as customer service and food preparation.

Better Inventory Management

Supply chain management technology can help restaurants to keep track of their inventory in real-time, allowing them to know exactly what they have on hand at any given moment. This can help them to avoid running out of key ingredients, which can be frustrating for customers and lead to lost sales.

Enhanced Forecasting

By analyzing data on past sales and customer demand, supply chain management technology can help restaurants to better forecast future demand and adjust their ordering accordingly. This can help them to avoid overstocking, which can be costly, and ensure that they have enough product on hand to meet customer demand.

Better Supplier Relationships

Supply chain management technology can help restaurants to establish better relationships with their suppliers by streamlining communication and making it easier to place orders and track deliveries. This can help to ensure that restaurants receive the products they need in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Reduced Costs

By automating various supply chain processes and improving inventory management, restaurants can reduce their overall costs. This can help them to boost their bottom line and remain competitive in an increasingly challenging market.

Enhanced Customer Experience

By ensuring that they have the products they need on hand and reducing the risk of errors and delays, supply chain management technology can help restaurants to improve the overall customer experience. This can help to drive repeat business and positive word-of-mouth, which can be crucial for success in the restaurant industry.

Overall, it is clear that supply chain management technology can bring a wide range of benefits to restaurants. By streamlining operations, improving inventory management, and reducing costs, restaurants can improve their efficiency, boost their bottom line, and enhance the customer experience. As such, it is worth considering the adoption of supply chain management technology for any restaurant looking to stay competitive and succeed in today’s market.

At Consolidated Concepts, we have supply chain technology to support your purchasing team with strong contract management and actionable information to help optimize procurement and increase your margins. Not yet a member? No problem! Sign up today for free!

A restaurant master distribution agreement is a contract between a restaurant and a distributor that outlines the terms of the distribution relationship between the two parties. This type of agreement is often used in the food and beverage industry, where a restaurant needs to source its products from a distributor in order to operate.

Key Components of a Restaurant Master Distribution Agreement

1. The agreement should outline the specific products that the distributor will be responsible for providing to the restaurant. This may include a wide range of items, such as food, drinks, and other supplies. The agreement should also specify the terms of delivery, including the frequency and method of delivery, as well as any associated fees.
2. In a restaurant master distribution agreement, if not the most important, is pricing. The agreement should outline the cost of the products being provided, as well as any discounts or promotions that may be available. It may also include provisions for price adjustments based on market conditions or other factors.
3. In addition to the terms of the distribution relationship, a restaurant master distribution agreement may also include provisions for the handling of any disputes that may arise between the two parties. This may include provisions for mediation or arbitration, as well as clauses outlining the consequences for breach of the agreement.
4. A restaurant master distribution agreement provides a clear and formalized relationship between the restaurant and the distributor. This can help to ensure that the restaurant has a reliable source of products and can operate smoothly, as well as helping to minimize the risk of disputes or misunderstandings.

A well-drafted restaurant master distribution agreement can provide protection for both parties in the event of any issues that may arise. For example, the agreement may include provisions for the termination of the relationship in the event that the distributor fails to meet the terms of the agreement, or if the restaurant experiences financial difficulties.

Overall, a restaurant master distribution agreement is an important tool for any restaurant looking to establish a reliable and effective distribution relationship with a supplier. By outlining the terms of the relationship and providing a clear set of guidelines, the agreement can help to ensure that the restaurant has the products it needs to operate and grow, while also helping to minimize the risk of disputes or misunderstandings.

Interested in learning more about Master Distribution Agreements? Download our FREE e-book!

Nothing beats a warm meal indoors at your favorite restaurant. Even with the cold winter season approaching, restaurant dining remains in full action.

Give your customers the ultimate dining experience that’ll be sure to bring them back. From high-quality uniforms and take-out solutions to delicious, easy to prep food items, tackle cold winter months in ways that save you both time and money.

Let’s take a look at solutions you can use to prepare your operation for the upcoming winter season:

Off-premise dining is just as popular as on-premise dining. To keep your to-go orders blooming and your profits increasing this winter season, secure your customers’ takeout with high-quality disposables.

Consolidated Concepts partners with top manufacturers like Dart, Sabert, Huhtamaki, Fabri-Kal, and StrawFish that give you access to savings opportunities on takeout and delivery solutions. Protect food orders with the right packaging that’ll satisfy customers and give your operation a safe, successful winter season.

Making a good first impression to customers is essential when running a restaurant operation. High-quality uniforms will reflect your brand and please your staff while presenting professionalism and cleanliness.

From slip resistant shoes perfect for battling slippery winter days to customizable uniforms from Cintas that keep your staff looking pristine and feeling warm, you’re guaranteed savings on items that your employees wear every shift.

With uniforms built with moisture-wicking Cool Vent™ technology, your staff can overcome the battle of hot and cold from stepping indoor to outdoor while serving customers through our Chef Works Program.

Warm, comfort foods are key to bringing in profits during the winter season. Keep your customers delighted and back-of-house pleased with quality, easy to prep food and beverage items. We’ve partnered with popular brands to bring you cost-effective food and beverage solutions that are sure to boost sales and help you tackle winter.

Did you know that Barilla is the world’s number one pasta? When you add Barilla pasta to your menu, you’re adding quality, variety, and consistency. Imagine the array of dishes you could create with such a versatile food item that can be enjoyed by everyone, even those with special dietary needs. From protein packed pasta to gluten-free, the options are endless this winter for the perfect, warm, pasta dish.

Another winter staple is a good ol’ bowl of soup. Increase your profits and reduce labor when incorporating Campbell’s soups to your menus! Delight your guests with speed-scratch solutions guaranteed to give them that fresh, homemade taste they’re longing for. Offer soup as a stand-alone or a side to entrees and watch guests line up for this crowd-favorite.

Don’t forget the potatoes! Offer hearty mashed potatoes your guests will love, all while keeping your prep time down, and bottom-line in mind. With Idahoan® Real Mashed Potatoes, you can create signature dishes that’ll thrill both your staff and customers.

That’s not all. There’s nothing better than ending the night with a warm cup of hot cocoa or a rich cup of coffee. Treat your customers and add brands like Folgers 1850® Coffee and Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa to your beverage menus!

Creating a clean and safe environment for guests is key to keeping your restaurant profitable during the upcoming winter months. As a restaurant operator, the last thing you’d want to do is expose your staff and guests to an unsanitary facility, especially during cold & flu season. As a Consolidated Concepts member, you receive exclusive discounts and savings on sanitation products like the Dixie Ultra™ Surface System and Tork® Skincare solutions.

Did you know that cloth towels in the open-bucket environment can lose proper sanitizing strength within 30 minutes? The Dixie Ultra™ Surface System changes everything. Welcome to a new era of surface sanitizing!

Tork® offers a complete line of products designed to meet all your skincare needs for both front and back of house. Whether you prefer foam or liquid soaps and sanitizers, or manual or automatic dispensers, Tork® has the right solution to keep your operation clean and healthy.

Maintenance around the restaurant with hard-to-find items can cause a strain in operations. HD Supply can prepare you for the cooler months with essential items to create a memorable customer experience. Another benefit you get access to is our partnership with Grainger. Take advantage of programs with competitive pricing and savings on all you need to maintain your operation.

Don’t waste any more time, prepare your restaurant today and ensure you’re on the road to tackle a winter season.

Our savings solutions here at Consolidated Concepts are guaranteed to bring your restaurant a clean, healthy, and profitable winter season!

With access to high-quality products and easy to prep menu items, you’ll be able to tackle the winter season while satisfying all your customer and staff needs!

Contact us today!

When consumers are in a rush and looking for something to eat quickly on-the-go, their options are limited. If only their favorite restaurant had a drive-thru window… all of that hunger could be quickly satisfied.

If you’re looking for ways to upgrade your restaurant and increase your bottom line, consider adding a drive-thru window. Maybe this has been a long-awaited goal of yours and you just need that extra push.

More and more restaurant chains are adding drive-thru’s models to their operations. Schlotzsky’s and Tim Horton’s have both hopped on the drive-thru trend and debuted new location designs.

Our restaurant experts at Consolidated Concepts say it’s time to invest in another profitable revenue stream.

Here are four benefits to adding a drive-thru window to each of your restaurant locations:

Not everybody has the time to sit down and enjoy a meal at a restaurant. Sometimes they’re just looking for a quick bite during their lunch break, while traveling, or running a handful of errands. Whatever the reasoning may be, adding a drive-thru window to your restaurant chain will not only benefit the consumer but you the operator as well.

Off-premise dining is slowly making its debut again, especially with the cold weather ahead. Consumers aren’t always going to want to leave their house or dine-in. Sometimes it’s just easier to sit in your car and head through the drive-thru.

With cases on the rise once again, there may be consumers who are hesitant to dine-in at their favorite establishments. They may be immunocompromised, caring for an elderly, or just being extra cautious. Having the option of going to a drive-thru to enjoy a delicious meal from their desired restaurant will give them one less thing to worry about. This will even help boost brand awareness and loyalty.

Drive-thru sales are booming. There’s no doubt that adding a drive-thru window to your restaurant establishment is a worthy investment. The pandemic has helped increase the popularity of drive-thrus’, but even before COVID, these windows have always been revenue boosting machines.

When you have a drive-thru window, you can take more orders at once, which means profits are always coming in. This doesn’t mean you won’t have consumers who dine-in, it just means you’ll now have a wave of both, which is beneficial for you.

One key point to mention, if you are considering adding a drive-thru window to your restaurant chain, is to be sure to create a strategy and identify the best way to incorporate the new design into your operation without taking away from what you already have. According to QSR Magazine’s Drive-Thru Study, 89% of survey-takers say that order “accuracy” was “somewhat” or “most” important with their experience. Followed up by “speed” at 88%.

Consumers are looking for something quick and easy, whether they’re eating their meal in the car or taking it back home with them, their food should be served fast and stored properly to eat on-the-go.

While we all know that mistakes can happen, as stated above, accuracy is what’s most important to consumers when utilizing the drive-thru window. This is why it’s crucial to train your staff to ensure their efforts are both efficient and effective.

Don’t forget, you need to make sure you have enough staff to cover each station because your drive-thru will be busy and may get hectic at times.

In addition to staffing efforts, you want to make sure meals are properly packaged in a way that makes it easy for the consumer to enjoy their food without making a huge mess. Whether this means extra napkins, cutlery, or containers that will keep their food fresh, warm, and well-put together – going above and beyond in your packaging will make consumers want to buy from your establishment again.

Join Consolidated Concepts

Fortunately, for Consolidated Concepts members, we help with everything you’ll need to make sure your drive-thru window is well-equipped to increase your bottom line and bring repeat customers.

Become a member today to help steer your drive-thru window to success!