I find it truly amazing how large the portion sizes are at most restaurants! For some restaurant owners this may be a strategy to help your restaurant get know. Large portions…. cheap prices. But to those restaurants have they ever considered the impact on the profitability of the restaurant?
This past week, my wife and I went to dinner at a local restaurant. We had both been out at separate meetings and rather than go home and cook dinner, we decided to meet at a restaurant that was convenient for both of us. The meal was good, service was excellent but the portions were just too large. We walked away with a To Go bag that had enough food for lunch and dinner the next day.
What is the impact of portion sizes on restaurants profitability?
For the restaurant owner, large portion sizes have a direct impact on food cost as a percentage of sales. If your food costs are running high, consider how large your servings are. Are most of your customers asking for a To Go box? This is a clear sign that your portions are too large.
For the consumer, are large portions healthy for you? In our country, obesity is a major factor in health issues and rising medical cost. It can lead to several types of diseases which are not good. In fact two thirds of all Americans are technically obese .
Large portions as a marketing tool may be your strategy but I would ask restaurant owners to consider other alternatives such as excellent customer service, consistent food quality and impactfull marketing activities. Increasing profits can be significantly improved with restaurant marketing programs that get more customers in the door and raise check averages. Getting to come back more often can be achieved without large food portions.
With over 30 years of experience in the food industry, CORE Restaurant Marketing’s mission is helping restaurants improve their revenues. To learn more about how CORE Restaurant Marketing can bring value to the restaurant industry, download the Free White Paper “Key Drivers to Restaurant Profitability”. We can also be reached at 1-888-890-9492 x 101.
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