Summer at the restaurant: 6 tips to prepare for it

Summer is fast approaching, and with it comes the opportunity to delight your guests' taste buds with summer flavors and an unforgettable culinary experience. To help you prepare for this eagerly awaited season, we present 5 essential tips to help you shine and exceed your customers' expectations. 

Whether you're already a restaurant expert or just starting out, these tips will help you optimize your strategy to attract and retain an increasingly demanding summer clientele. From creating refreshing menus to adopting revolutionary digital solutions, you'll discover practical, innovative advice that will help you stand out from the competition.

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1. Don't neglect recruitment

Preparation is an essential link in the success of a restaurant, and a crucial part of that preparation lies in recruiting a good team. After all, what would a restaurant be without a solid, competent team? You probably already know the answer!

Don't leave your restaurant's human resources to chance: 

• Start assessing your staffing needs and identifying vacancies well in advance. Allow sufficient time for a rigorous recruitment process, and identify the skills and qualities required in your future employees.

• Adopt a modern and unique approach to your talent search. Explore online platforms, use social networks and involve your existing team in the recruitment process. Encourage your employees to recommend potential candidates, as they are often in the best position to understand your organization's needs and values.

• Be professional and demanding during job interviews. Look for candidates who are motivated, passionate about the restaurant business and have relevant skills. Don't hesitate to give them practical tests to assess their technical skills and ability to work under pressure.

Ultimately, preparing your work team is an essential investment to ensure your restaurant's success during the summer season. A strong, well-trained team will help deliver an exceptional customer experience, maintain high service standards and increase your sales.

👉 Going further: 9 tips for finding restaurant staff

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2. Offer accommodation for seasonal workers

In addition to offering a stimulating job and a pleasant working atmosphere, offering accommodation to your seasonal employees has many advantages that contribute to their well-being and professional commitment:

• First and foremost, offering on-site accommodation makes life easier for seasonal workers. By providing accommodation close to their place of work, you eliminate the hassle of commuting and reduce logistical stress. This allows your employees to concentrate fully on their tasks, optimizing their availability and energy.

• What's more, on-site accommodation fosters team spirit and camaraderie. Seasonal workers share the same living space, strengthening bonds between colleagues and fostering a friendly, positive atmosphere.

• By offering seasonal workers accommodation, you also show your commitment to their well-being. It shows that you care about their comfort and value their contribution to the team. This attention to their needs contributes to their motivation and job satisfaction.

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3. Prepare and train for heavy traffic

Proper training and preparation are essential to cope with the summer rush in the foodservice industry. That's why it's vital to ensure that your team has the necessary skills to meet the growing needs of your customers during the summer season:

• First of all, make sure your staff is well trained. Organize in-depth training sessions to reinforce their knowledge of customer service, order management and effective communication techniques. 

• Next, preparation in terms of materials is essential. Make sure you have enough supplies and equipment to meet the increased demand. Regularly check the condition of your kitchen equipment, appliances and utensils to make sure they're in good working order. This will help you avoid delays and technical problems during peak periods.

• And don't forget the importance of first aid training. In an emergency, your team needs to be able to react quickly and effectively. 

• Hygiene is another fundamental aspect of catering, especially during busy periods. Make sure your staff scrupulously comply with hygiene and food safety standards. Implement regular cleaning protocols and make sure your team has the products and equipment they need to maintain a clean and safe environment.

• Finally, given the diversity of the summer clientele, it can be beneficial to offer language training to your team and to be a multilingual restaurant. The ability to communicate with foreign customers in their native language can create a more pleasant experience for them. Above all, encourage your staff to learn a few key phrases in different languages to facilitate communication and provide a more personalized service.

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4. Offer your customers an original "summer" menu

To attract new customers and stand out from the competition, there's nothing like an original summer menu. The originality of your dishes will captivate taste buds and delight food lovers in search of new culinary experiences.

Summer is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen. Explore new flavors and combine fresh, local ingredients to create unique dishes that will awaken your guests' senses. From fresh salads to daring combinations of seafood and seasonal vegetables, offer them an unforgettable taste journey.

Don't forget that the customer experience is paramount, especially during the summer season. Your customers are on vacation and are looking for a pleasant, relaxed time. Make sure your service is smooth, your team attentive and your atmosphere warm. Create a friendly summer atmosphere where customers can feel transported and enjoy their meal to the full.

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5. Design your reception area

To offer your customers a memorable summer experience, it's a good idea to optimize your reception area. Two key elements to ensure their comfort on hot summer days are a retractable awning and a misting or cooling system.

• Installing a retractable awning over your main entrance has many advantages. It creates a shaded area, protecting your customers from direct sunlight. This allows them to feel at ease from the moment they arrive, and enjoy their experience with you to the full.

• As a complement to the awning, a misting or cooling system can be of real benefit on particularly hot days. Foggers disperse fine droplets of water that cool the ambient air, providing pleasant relief for your customers. Similarly, a cooling system maintains a comfortable temperature inside your establishment, creating a fresh, welcoming atmosphere.

6. Put digital to work for you

In the digital age, it's essential for your restaurant to stay at the cutting edge of technology and meet the expectations of modern customers. That's why it's time to consider digitizing your establishment.

How to boost sales in summer?

Capture your customers where they are!

Streamline order-taking in your establishment

Promoting the QR code

QR codes work wonders!

Simply display QR codes on tables, menus or even promotional posters, and your guests can easily scan them with their smartphones. In an instant, they'll have access to your full menu, with tantalizing descriptions, appetizing photos and even allergen information.

The benefits:

• Easy to install
• Reducing waiting times
• Save your teams 12 minutes!
• An average shopping basket that increases by 4 to 10%.

👉 Find out why you should use QR codes in your restaurant!

Installing a kiosk or control panel

To enable your team to concentrate on order preparation, the installation of kiosks and order pads makes customers 100% autonomous.

The benefits:

• Queue reduction (waiting time halved)
• Additional sales
• Larger average basket (+28% for Alfi)

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Take advantage of new habits

Online ordering

Home delivery is part of your customers' habits: the French have a monthly budget for home delivery of €83 on average (according to a study by Harris interactive).

How do you reach these customers? By introducing a new sales channel: online ordering!

The benefits:

• Increase average shopping basket
• Boost sales (+25% on average)
• No more wasted time on the phone 
• Collecting data to improve customer loyalty

"I generate 30% of my sales with online ordering." Peggy Garnier, BCHEF franchisee

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Would you like to digitalize your establishment to cope with the summer rush? Contact an Innovorder expert!