Mother’s Day Madness

By Schiff's Food Service

Mother’s Day is certainly a day to celebrate one of the most important people in our lives- our moms! However, for those of us in the restaurant business it is also literally the busiest day of the year. Did you know Mother’s Day is the most popular day to eat out, even surpassing Valentine’s Day? Below we are going to provide some tips on how to optimize your opportunity for sales on Mother’s Day- and most importantly- how to make your customers feel extra special.

  1. Accommodate large parties – Families might be visiting from out of town and need a place to get together, or families might like to celebrate mom and grandma in one swoop. Last year, about 17% of guests dining out were made up of parties of 6 or more. Don’t be caught by surprise! Be ready to accommodate a crowd.
  2. Offer Brunch- Even if your restaurant doesn’t normally serve breakfast items or vis versa, come up with a menu that incorporates both breakfast and lunch, and extend your hours on either end. This is a way to guarantee the entire party gets what they wants. Having a fixed menu of brunch items lets you control the planning if this is a new territory for your establishment as well.
  3. Advertise, advertise, advertise- Whether it’s through social media, an email marketing campaign, or a sign out front a few weeks ahead, make sure you let your customers know you are open for Mother’s Day. Many customers have a favorite spot they may not know opens especially for the holiday. Advertise early and advertise often so you can make sure to lock in reservations as early as possible.
  4. Confirm Reservations- Have staff call the day before to confirm the time and number in the reservation’s party. Avoiding errors is a way to keep traffic flow moving and hopefully avoid any forgotten or no-show reservations that could be given to hungry customers!
  5. Be sure to offer and advertise gluten free options- Gluten free is becoming more than just a trend, it’s a medical necessity for menus. For a holiday when many parties will be coming in groups, the last thing you want to do is lose a table of 4 or 6 because an individual in their party cannot find anything to eat on the menu. Set yourself apart from the competition by having a section devoted to gluten free items. Use social media to advertise your options, as many are checking these platforms and doing their homework before they make a reservation. Lastly, make sure your staff is knowledgeable on gluten free options so they can instill confidence in your customer.

Follow these tips and hopefully you will have a happy and prosperous Mother’s Day. To all of our moms, we hope you’re staying out of the kitchen this mother’s day and have a seat at the table instead!

Products

Choice isn’t only an option at Schiff's, it is our standard. That is why we offer a robust selection of products to fill your needs.

Cost Control

Controlling costs in the restaurant business is critical to your success. Want to better control your costs?

Business Development

Looking to increase sales? Better manage labor costs? Increase check size? Attract new customers?