Offering ‘Grab and Go’ menu options is a popular trend for fast casual and sit-down restaurants alike. Today’s busy customers prefer quick, high-quality meals they can enjoy on the go without sacrificing freshness. These items are a great way to enhance your menu and increase sales with minimal increase in marketing costs. If you aren’t offering these options yet, you could be missing out on valuable revenue. Here are essential tips for creating an effective Grab and Go menu.
‘Grab and Go’
Grab and Go foods are premade meals or snacks that are prepackaged and offered as an alternative to the typical dining experience at a restaurant or other eatery. They are convenient, can be taken and eaten away from the establishment and are typically quick to eat. Nowadays, people have high expectations for what grab and go food is. They often want healthy meal options, and a simple ham and cheese sandwich will no longer satisfy most customers. Instead, they crave restaurant-style meals that are delicious, high-quality and diverse.
Considerations for Creating a Menu
To satisfy busy customers, include healthy Grab and Go prepackaged food options in your weekly menu. Set up a small station where they can easily pick from a variety of appealing, affordable and easy-to-eat items. Your kitchen team usually prepares these meals, such as sandwiches, wraps, soup or salads, at least 24 hours in advance to ensure freshness.
As you consider creating a grab and go menu, make sure you can meet the expectations of today’s customers. People interested in these options are likely to buy from you only if:
- Food is prepared from fresh and high-quality ingredients.
- Your restaurant provides fast and convenient service.
- There is a wide variety of meal options.
Tips for Creating a Grab and Go Menu
Simple Menus
If you’re new to Grab and Go, keep the menu small and simple. There’s no need to offer 20 dishes right away—start with a few options and expand later as needed. Menu items could include quick lunch options or healthy breakfast ideas. The focus here is attracting attention from people walking through the door so that they can know that your restaurant has these options. Provide a high-quality product, and it’s likely people will be interested in buying from your Grab and Go station.
Consider Seasonality
Your menu should change with the seasons, giving you plenty of chances to introduce new items throughout the year. For example, during summertime, you might want to add a cold pasta salad to your Grab and Go menu. In winter, items like chai tea lattes and soups will be more popular. Here are tips for creating a seasonal menu.
Evaluate Your Existing Menu
When selecting items for your menu, focus on the most popular dishes that customers already love and that can be easily converted into Grab and Go by removing extra garnishes. When you are creating a menu, make it a simple and affordable one that your customers can easily take away with them. When creating Grab and Go versions of beloved dishes, don’t overload the ingredients.
Packaging is Essential
Make the process seamless for customers. Clear packaging makes it easy for them to see what they’re buying. Many customers also care about reducing their use of products that harm the environment. To appeal to today’s eco-minded customers, consider using recyclable packaging or packaging that breaks down more easily in landfills. To catch customer attention and make purchasing easy, consider displaying your grab and go meals in a display cooler or open air cooler.
Follow Food Trends & Accommodate Dietary Restrictions
Try adding trending foods to your Grab and Go menu to boost sales. For example, kale is a popular ingredient that has replaced more traditional lettuce. Monitor food trends to help inform your menu. Also, consider offering options for customers with dietary restrictions, like gluten-free or dairy-free.
The Best Commercial Equipment
Iron Mountain Refrigeration provides quality commercial refrigeration and freezer equipment at competitive prices with an extensive warranty program. We pride ourselves on delivering 5-star rated customer service and offer free shipping to nearly every state! If you need help or have specific questions, our team is standing by, so contact us today.