Why your restaurant needs to have a seasonal menu
Posted on: 15 October 2015
Being a restaurant owner is no easy task, especially when you consider that 90% of restaurants fail in their very first year of opening. But one way you can ensure that your restaurant stands the very best chance of surviving is by putting a seasonal menu in place. Sure, it's easier from a logistical point of view to have a fixed menu that never changes – you can teach your cooks to perfect the dishes that go out every day, and you can tell suppliers exactly what you require year round without fluctuation. But in the long run, having seasonal menus will be better for business. Here's why:
Save money. When so many restaurants fail in the beginning stages, it's important to have a good sense of where you should be spending your money. Of course, ingredients are important, but you are going to be paying more than you need to if you choose off-season, imported products. Save money by seeking out local farmers and suppliers and finding out what is seasonal and what can be transported to your restaurant at a minimal cost.
Keep customers excited. The restaurant industry is totally saturated, and this means that you have to stand out from the crowd. You can do this by keeping your customers excited by always offering them something different, and what better way to do so than with a seasonal menu? Of course, you can still offer some staple items throughout the year. If people expect to see your pepperoni pizza on the menu, then don't get rid of it. But also switch things up to keep your customers excited and trying new things.
Help the environment. In the 21st century, it is incredibly important to have a green business. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the planet and by creating a seasonal menu from local ingredients, you can do your bit for the environment. How so? When you use off season products from abroad, the transport toll on the environment is considerable, but with local products you don't have to worry about that at all. Many consumers now actively seek out green businesses so having a seasonal menu could also work as a valuable promotional tool for your restaurant.
Beyond this, using fresh local ingredients that are free of preservatives will simply make your dishes taste better, and that's what will keep people coming back to your restaurant time after time.
Share